Report of
Three days’ Workshop
on
‘Plant Identification, Nomenclature, Herbarium Methodology and
Botanical Illustration’
at
at University Department of Botany, TMB University, Bhagalpur and Marwari College, Bhagalpur
on
26th to 28th September 2024
A three days’ Workshop on ‘Plant Identification, Nomenclature, Herbarium Methodology and Botanical Illustration’ was organized by the EIACP Programme Centre-Resource Partner on Biodiversity (Flora), Botanical Survey of India at University Department of Botany, Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University (TMBU), Bhagalpur in collaboration with University Department of Botany, TMBU, Bhagalpur and Marwari College, Bhagalpur on 26th to 28th September 2024. The programme was inaugurated on 26th September 2024 by Prof. (Dr.) Jawahar Lal, Vice-Chancellor, TMBU, Bhagalpur, Prof. (Dr.) H.K. Chourasia, Head, University Dept. of Botany, TMBU, Dr. S.P. Yadav, Principal, Marwari College, Mr. Vikas Chandra, Registrar, TMBU, Prof. Asok Kumar Thakur, Principal, B.N. College, Bhagalpur, Prof. Kamal Prasad, Head, PG Dept. Dept. of Physics, TMBU, Dr. J. Jayanthi, Scientist ‘F’, Hqrs., BSI, Dr. J.S. Jalal, Scientist ‘E’, Hqrs., BSI & Co-ordinator, BSI EIACP PC-RP and Dr. Gopal Krishna, Scientist ‘C’, Hqrs., BSI at Bilgrami Auditorium, University Dept. of Botany, TMBU. Prof. Chourasia welcomed the guests and introduced the theme of the workshop. After the traditional lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries, Dr. J. Jayanthi, Scientist ‘F’, Hqrs., BSI briefed about the Botanical Survey of India. A total 120 undergraduate and graduate students, research scholars, and assistant professors from TMBU, Bhagalpur, Marwari College, Munger University, SM College, and BNM University, Madhepura took part in this workshop.
After introduction with the participants, Dr. J. Jayanthi delivered a lecture on “Plant Morphology- A key tool for identification”. In her hour long talk she effectively explained the detailed features of plant morphology. The second day began with a field trip to the university garden and its environs, led by Drs. Jayanthi, Jalal, and Krishna, who divided the group into two. They explained how to collect plant, and field identified characters of each plant etc. After the field visit a practical demonstration was performed by Dr. Jayanthi, Dr. Jalal, Dr. Krishna, Dr. Soumen Gantait and Ms. Yasaswinee Rout, JRF, BSI on herbarium methodology. After lunch Dr. Jalal delivered a lecture on “Orchids identification: Bihar & Jharkhand”. He gave a pictorial account of diversity of habitat, pollinia morphology, pollination mechanism, threat to orchid. After that Dr. Gopal Krishna delivered a lecture on ‘Plant Nomenclature’.
On September 28, 20224, the program's last day, Marwari College hosted a lecture by Mr. Dineshwar Sah on "Botanical Illustration," during which he also provided practical training on how to illustrate botanical drawings. A written test was also conducted among the participants to evaluate the knowledge acquired on lectures and hands-on-training provided by the resource persons. During this workshop on request of Principal’s Marwari College BSI scientists identified all the plants of campus and provided a checklist of plants with botanical names. After the lunch break Dr. Gopal taught the student how to prepare a plant key, which was followed by a valedictory session.
During this session Dr. Chourasia summarized about the three days’ workshop and its achievements. Dr. Jayanthi and Dr. Jalal added that such an activity in collaboration with another institution was beneficial to the institutions as well as to the participants. Prof. (Dr.) A.K. Roy, Retd. VC, TMB University, Dr. Yadav, Principal, Marwari college, Dr. Jayanthi, Dr. Jalal and Dr. Gopal Krishna awarded the certificates to the participants. The workshop was concluded with vote of thanks by Dr. Kumar Manoj, Organizing Secretary of the event.
Soumen Gantait1* and J.S. Jalal2
1EIACP PC-RP on Biodiversity (Flora), Botanical Survey of India, Howrah 711 103
2Botanical Survey of India, Head Quarter, Salt Lake, Kolkata 700 016
*E-mail: sgantait@gmail.com
