The Central University of Kerala has added a touch of the desert to its lush campus with the establishment of a unique cacti collection at the Kasaragod Botanical Garden and Research Centre (KBGRC). Showcasing over thirty species, the collection brings together fascinating varieties from India, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Central Africa, specimens sourced from Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Haryana.
The newly inaugurated collection exhibits both the diversity and resilience of cacti. With striking forms and flowering varieties, the plants offer students of biological sciences valuable opportunities for research and study. To preserve them, an environment simulating dry desert conditions has been created, ensuring that these plants thrive without excess rainfall exposure.
The initiative was inaugurated by Vice Chancellor Prof. Sidhu P. Algur in the presence of Registrar (i/c) Dr. R. Jayaprakash, Head of the Plant Science Department Prof. K. Arunkumar, Joint Director Dr. M. Jasmine Shah, and faculty members Dr. Pramod K. Kandoth, Dr. Jinny Antony, Dr. Ajay Kumar, and Dr. Chitra Manisseri.