They have no mouth, but seem to speak, a thousand words to those who listen with whiffs, flavors and colorful tweak.
Miranda house is known for its spectacular revolutions, victories and performances in every field. It is more than just a college, it is a learning organization, a community of practice. There is never a dull moment on this cool, happening campus. One of the most spectacular things about the college are the blooming flowers of Miranda house. Every year, the garden committee of University of Delhi organizes flower show in which different colleges, hostels, schools and institutions all over the Delhi NCR take part by showcasing the flowers nurtured in their campuses. Miranda house too is an annual participant of the event and has been bagging the first prize in the flower competitions from four consecutive years. Here's a virtual picture tour to the flowers of the campus. This is the first part of this anthophile series curated through the contributions and assistance of Archana Dobwal, Kratika, Chetna, Sindhu Khanna and Nischal who compel us to reminisce the flora of the campus, we have been weaned away from so long.
1) Rose
Scientific name – Rosaceae
Most species are native to Asia, with smaller numbers native to Europe, North America, and northwestern Africa. It is the National symbol of UK, USA and Maldives .Rose plants range in size from compact, miniature roses, to climbers that can reach seven meters in height and are found in many colors. Wild roses are host plants for a number of pests and diseases. Many of these affect other plants, including other genera of the Rosaceae. Cultivated roses are often subject to severe damage from insect, arachnid and fungal pests and diseases. In many cases they cannot be usefully grown without regular treatment to control these problems. Roses are best known as ornamental plants and are also used for commercial perfumery and commercial cut flower crops
2) Hibiscus
Scientific name- Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
It is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions, but is not known in the wild, so its native place is uncertain. In the subtropical and temperate Americas, hummingbirds are regularly attracted to it. The endangered Papilio homerus butterfly, the largest in the western hemisphere, is known to feed on the nectar of the Hibiscus. It is the National symbol of Malaysia. They are edible and widely used in salads in Pacific island. It is used for nourishing hair, polish shoes and also as pH indicator in many parts of the country.
3) Okra
Scientific name - Abelmoschus esculentus
The geographical origin of okra is disputed, with supporters of West African, Ethiopian, and South Asian origins. The species is a perennial, often cultivated as an annual in temperate climate. The products of the plant are mucilaginous, resulting in the characteristic "goo" or slime when the seed pods are cooked; the mucilage contains soluble fiber. Okra may be used in developing countries to mitigate malnutrition and alleviate food insecurity.
4) Red Dahlia
Scientific name- Dahlia Occinea
This flower belongs to a native of Mexico. The color of this flower can be orange or occasionally yellow, as well as the more common red. Tubers of the plant were used as a food source by the Aztecs, though this use largely died out after the Spanish conquest. The tubers are highly nutritious.
5)Yellow Dahlia
Scientific name- Dahlia Australis
Yellow Dahlia is an herb- perennial which requires sufficient amount of sunlight. They are found in three major colors such as Mauve, Pink and Purple. Its flowering time is observed as late spring or early summer. Bees and Butterfly are often strongly attracted to them .
6) Pot Marigold
Scientific name- Calendula officinalis
It is native to Southern Europe, though its long history of cultivation makes its precise origin unknown, and it may possibly be of garden origin. Its cultivation is mainly carried out as perennial in cold regions and is non-existent in warm periods. Pot marigolds typically bloom quickly from seed (in under two months) in bright yellows, gold, and oranges. In temperate climates, seeds are sown in spring for blooms that last throughout the summer. In areas of limited winter freezing, seeds are sown in autumn for winter color. Potential Pharmacology-Calendula extracts may have anti-viral, anti-genotoxic, and anti-inflammatory properties in vitro. They are edibles, used to add colors to salads, but not palatable. Also used as medicinal herb and dye for fabrics.
7) Morning Glory
Scientific name- Ipomea
This was first known to China for its medicinal uses. Most morning glory flowers unravel into full bloom in the early morning. Some morning glories, such as Ipomoea muricata, are night-blooming flowers. Because of their fast growth, twining habit, attractive flowers, and tolerance for poor, dry soils, some morning glories are excellent vines for creating summer shade on building walls when trellised, thus keeping the building cooler and reducing heating and cooling costs. Morning glory is known as water spinach, water morning glory, water convolvulus, ong-choy, kang-kung, or swamp cabbage. It is popularly used as a green vegetable, especially in East and Southeast Asian cuisines. They are found in many colors such as reds, pinks, blue, purple and white.
8) Garden Dahlia
Scientific name- Pinnate Dahlia
It is, geographically, located in Northern/ Central America and they tend to grow at borders. The plant occurs in Mexico in the mountains around Mexico City. Its blooming period is from July to October. Dahlias tend to attract quite a bit of insects, some of which are dangerous and harmful to their survival. Insects like slugs, earwigs, the red spider, snails, caterpillars, aphids, and trips threaten dahlias because they can eat the petals, leave slime trials, leave tattered petals, etc. There are around thirty species that are all known for their immense beauty and ability to survive once they have been cut. These flowers are widely used for ornamental purposes.
9) Persian buttercup
Scientific name- Ranunculus Asiaticus
It’s a native of the eastern Mediterranean region in Southwestern Asia, Southeastern Europe (Crete, Karpathos and Rhodes), and Northeastern Africa. It is an herbaceous perennial plant growing to 45 cm tall, with simple or branched stems. It is a protected species in some jurisdictions, including Israel. The plants can tolerate light frost, but are not hardy at temperatures below -10 °C.
10) Maxican Marigold
Scientific name- Targeted Erect
It is also known as African marigold and originated in Mexico. The cultivar ‘Inca Orange’ has gained the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. In Mexico, it is used in the festivities of the Day of the Dead, to decorate altars and tombs; hence the name “flowers of the dead". The Cherokee use it as a skin wash and for yellow dye. The presence of carotenoids, mainly lutein, which is associated with the prevention of the development of age-related eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration make these plants effective in the prevention of coronary artery disease, heart attacks, immune response, old age and cancer. The ray florets have been used in lettuce salads and other foods to add color and flavor.
11) Orange Lily
Scientific name- Lilium Bulbiferum
Orange Lily is commonly known as Tiger lily, Fire lily and Orange lily. L. bulbiferum is widely distributed in much of Europe from Spain to Finland and Ukraine. The orange lily has long been recognized as a symbol of the Orange Order in Northern Ireland. Cats are extremely sensitive to lily toxicity and its ingestion is often fatal.
12) Surfinia
Scientific name -Petunia Surfinia
This plant is a native of Japan. It is capable to tolerating harsh warm conditions but not frost and needs minimum 5 degree Celsius temperature.
13) Garden nasturtium
Scientific name -Tropaeolum Majus
It is a native of South America. This flower is rich in Vitamin C and is used to make salads. They bloom during summer season .
14) Clove pink
Scientific name - Dianthus caryophyllus
Found only in Mediterranean countries and is widely used as a medicinal plant. It is also used to add fragrance to beer, wine, etc. The plant can be sown only in well drained, slightly alkaline soil with full sun. They usually bloom during late spring season.
15) Annual aster
Scientific name- Callistephus
This is native of China and blooms in later summer. They grow at an altitude of 300m to 2700 m above sea level.
Indeed very colourful and informative!