Our campus spans over 400 acres of land in the middle of the busy city Bangalore. Our campus has rich collection of plants: 112 species of trees belonging to 32 families, 225 species of nonwoody plants belonging to 52 families and 45 species of grasses. This campus is one of the rich species centers of Bangalore, others are Cubbon park (approximately 300 sp.) and Lal Bagh (Known for many introduced species).
Many of the trees in the campus are exotic i.e. coming
originally from other countries. Most of the trees have bright and colorful
flowers, and different trees flower in different season. Some of the more
striking are Tabebuias with bright yellow and pink flowers (March-May),
Indian tulip tree (Spathodea
campanulata) with bright scarlet red flower (August-October), Indian
cork tree (Millingtonia
hortensis) with long white aromatic flowers (August-September), Powder
puff (Calliandra
haematocephala) with puffs of red or white flowers. Along with the
exotics we also have native (originating from India) trees: about 22 species
are of Indian origin, for example Indian Laburnum (Cassia
fistula) dangling yellow flowers, and Ashoka (Saraca
asoka) with scarlet red flowers. Among the non-woody
plants there are many species which are exotics. For example Morning glory
(Ipomoea
purpurea) from tropical America, Glory bower (Clerodendron
thomsoniae) from west Africa, Lady of the night (Brunfelsia americana)
from West Indies, coral plant (Russelia equisetiformis) from Mexico and
weeds Like Lantana,
Parthenium
and Eupatorium
are from tropical America. Many nonwoody species are native. Even though
our campus has many exotics, we still have remnants of natural vegetation
i.e. tropical thorn scrub of Deccan plateau, having thorny Acacias, Ziziphus
and grasses like Aristida
(broom grass) and (needle grass). Few of the species rich areas in
the campus are Jubilee garden (Acacia plantation), CES mini forest (45
species from Western Ghats) and Swamp near Swimming pool. Important avenues
that are named after dominant trees in the campus are Gulmohar marg (having
Gulmohar trees), Tala marg (having Peltophorum trees) Silver oak marg and
Mahogany marg.
The most common species of trees in the campus are: Polylalthia
longifolia (avenue asoka); Jacaranda
mimosifolia; Millingtonia
hortensis (Indian cork tree); Tabebuia
rosea; Tabebuia
argentea; Tecoma
stans; Casurina equisetifolia; Acacia
auriculiformis; Bauhinia
purpurea; Bauhinia
variegata (Camel foot); Delonix
regia (Gul mohar); Samanea
saman (Rain tree); Swietenia
macrophylla (Mahagony); Broussonetia
papyrifera (Paper mulberry); Ficus
benjamina; Santalum
album (Sandal wood).
Some tree species are very few in number. Eg: Filicium
decipiens (fern tree) besides Inorganic and Physical Chemistry department;
Feronia
elephantum (wood apple) near swimming pool; Millettia peguensis near
MRC auditorium; Cerotonia
siliqua near basket ball court; Aleurites
fordii near MRC auditorium; Dillenia
indica next to Chemical engineering department; Shorea
roxburghii (Dhoop) behind Civil engineering department; Pseudobombax
ellipticum (shaving brush) behind purchase section; Chorisia
speciosa opposite to main building; Tabebuia
avanalidae; Cochlospermum
religiosum (Golden silk cotton tree); Cresentia
cujete (calabash tree) in grassland opposite to main building; Brassia
actinophylla.
The non-woody flora is well distributed in the campus
over range of habitats. Many of them are restricted to shady places and
some to open areas. Many of them are medicinally important. Eg: Andrographis
paniculata (King of bitter) used mainly for stomach ache; Achyranthus
aspera (Prickly chaff flower) used in treatment of boils and skin eruption;
Aerva
lanata (diuretic); Cyathula
prostrata; Hemidesmus
indicus (Indian sarsaparilla) used in the treatment of rheumatism and
kidney disorder; Calotropis
gigantea (Gigantic swallow wort) piles and asthma; Emilia
sonchifolia; Phyllanthus
amarus (jaundice); Phyllanthus
debilis (Jaundice); Phyllanthus
urinaria; Abrus
precatorius; Mimosa
pudica (touch me not); Leucas
aspera; Ocimum
sanctum (Holy basil); Aloe
vera (aloe); Asparagus
racemosus (Shatavari) used in treatment of diarrhoea; Sida
acuta; Sida
rhombifolia; Cyclea
peltata; Plumbago
zeylanica (Ceylon lead wort); Withania
somnifera (Ashwagandha).
Climbers like Thunbergia
mysorensis (Clock-vine) (which is endemic to Western Ghats but
cultivated here), Thunbergia
grandiflora are commonly grown for their attractive flowers and shade
due to their covering over the arch or roof.
Grasses also contribute a lot to the herbaceous flora.
About 45 species of grasses grow within the campus. Amongst them, Apluda
varia; Aristida
setacea; Cymbopogon
martini; Cymbopogon
citratus; Hetropogon
contortus; Pennisetum
pedicellatum; Rynchelytrum
repens grow profusedly. Lawn grasses like Cynodon
dactylon; Stenotaphrum
dimidiatum and Zoyzia
tenuifolia are grown in the lawn depending upon the availability of
sunlight.
The beauty of the green world can thus be appreciated
just as we take a stroll over the campus. For those of you living far and
cannot make it, try down loading some of the 
(Source: Sivan V.V. and Subramanian K.A.) and join us in our discovery.