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Picture Tour to the Campus by Anthophiles of Miranda House- Part I

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


Rose
Picture via Ujala Mall



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.


Hibiscus
Picture via Archana Dobwal

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.


Picture via Archana Dobwal

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.


Picture via Archana Dobwal



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 .


Picture via Archana Dobwal



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.


Picture via Archana Dobwal

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.


Picture via Archana Dobwal


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.


Picture via Archana Dobwal

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.


Picture via Archana Dobwal


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.


Picture via Archana Dobwal

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.

Picture via Gaurika Sharma

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.


Picture via Archana Dobwal


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 .


Picture via Archana Dobwal

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.


Picture via Archana Dobwal

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.


Picture via Archana Dobwal

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1 Comment


katyayani3112
Jan 14, 2021

Indeed very colourful and informative!

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