GREEN PAWS.. ...Adding Life to Life Sciences... AUGUST 2010 BOTANY DEAPATMENT NEWSLETTER ISSUE 2: VOL 3 GREEN PAWS BOTANY DEAPATMENT NEWSLETTER PAGE 4 QUIZ TIME Here is a tree quiz. So, put on your thinking caps and climb to the top. 1. Gods and Goddesses love to bathe in the water of my fruits. I am a tall and stately tree. Even a full moon day is named after me. Who am I? 2. I am a small tree, but my leaves are in big demand during Dussehra. They are equal to gold. Who am I? 3. Lord Shiva loves my seeds, so do the sadhus and saints, who am I? 4. Grind, grind, grind! I rub myself to death to provide everyone with perfume. My wood is precious and you can also smell it in soaps, oils and powder. Who am I? 5. Devi Sita spent her days in Lanka, seated in my grove. Who am I? 6. Before the advent of paper, my leaves served as writing material. A hint, I also give ‘niva’ to drink, ‘nungoo’ to eat, wood to build and leafy fans as well. Who am I? 7. My nuts are used on all festive occasions. I am tall. Who am I? 8. My flowers are small, star-shaped, brown coloured and richly perfumed. Garlands of my flowers are sought for poojas. I’m found in many temples and even men- tioned in Sanskrit literature. Who am I? 9. Lord Krishna is often depicted in paintings as stand- ing under me. When I’m in full bloom, my flowers look like golden balls. Who am I? 10. Lord Dhanvantri, the doctor among Gods, is por- trayed holding my fruit in the palm of his hand. My fruit by the way, is considered as a panacea for all hu- man ailments. My fruits are part of the well-known medicine ‘triphala’. Who am I? INNOVATIVE ASSIGNMENT FOR SYBSc S.Y. BSc Botany students were assessed for their Se- mester III, Paper V, ISA II examination in a different way. They were given experimental assignment in phys- iology. A group of 5-6 students designed and set up an experiment and compiled the observation/results with appropriate interpretation and conclusions. According to Dr. Sankhalkar, teacher incharge for this assign- ment, the whole idea of such an exercise was to make student think in an innovative manner. Plan and set an experiemnt, work in a team and learn about the physi- ological concept with practical hand on experience. cAMPUS WATER ANALYSIS An activity was conduct- ed to test the water qual- ity of the college campus. Different water samples from canteen filter, tap water, well water and bore well water of the college campus were col- lected for the analysis of pH, total hardness, dis- solved oxygen and carbon dioxide. The results of the analysis were as follows: Maximum oxygen and CO 2 was found in can- teen filter sample, while the well water had maxi- mum hardness. The pH of borewell was maximum. This activity was carried out under the guidance of Dr. Divakar Mesta by the following SYBSc students 1)Aloisha Lobo 2)Rizma Gomes 3)Afshan Shaikh 4)Venkat Bhujle Students conducting experiments cONTENTS 1.Innovative Assign- ment...pg.1 2.Campus Water Analy- sis...pg.1 3. Herbal Garden...pg. 1 4.Groasis Waterboxx... pg.2 5.My New Book...pg.2 6.The Miracle of the Earth...pg.2 7.Note on Horticulture.... pg.3 8.Quiz Time...pg.4 9.Did You Know...pg.4 10.Editorial board...pg.4 Compiled by: Bhargavi Bhat F.Y.B.Sc DID YOU KNOW? 1. The banana plant with more than five hundred varieties in different parts of the world, is the larg- est plant in the world which does not have a stem made of wood. 2. Strawberry is the only fruit with the seeds on the skin. A strawberry on an average has 200 seeds. 3. Giant bamboo plants can grow up to 9 inches a day. 4. One out of 4 ingredi- ents in our medicine is from the rainforest plants. 5. Saffron is the most pre- cious and expensive spice in the world. It comes from the dried stigmas of the saffron flower, Crocus sativus Linneaus. 6. Apple seeds contain a small quantity of cyanide which renders the seeds quite bit- ter tasting. Compiled by: Sheron Vaz, SYBSc EDITORIAL BOARD Dr. Divakar K. Mesta Miss Rizma Gomes SYBSc Mr. Cyril SYBSc The opinion and news appear- ing herein are those of the edi- tor and not necessarily those of the Principal or the Management. Contact us: [email protected] By: Rizma Gomes SYBSc HERBAL GARDEN The department has initiated the estab- lishment of a herbal garden in the campus, under the leadership of Dr. Divakar K. Mes- ta. Presently about 80 different types of plants have been col- lected and maintained near the shade house. Regional Medical Research Centre, ICMR, Belgaum has given about 40 species of plants free of cost. It includes some commercially im- portant as well as redlisted medicinal plants. Answers: 1. Coconut (Cocos nucifera) 2. Bauhinia tomentosa 3. Rudraksh 4. Sandal wood 5. Saraca asoca 6. Borasus palm 7. Arecanut 8. Mimusops elangi (Owli) 9. Kadamba 10. Harda (Terminali chebula)