Documentation and Identification of Flora in the Butterfly Garden at Saint Gobain Industry Kanjikode, Palakkad

Abstract

The present study focuses The documentation and identification of flora in the butterfly garden at saint gobain industry Palakkad district of Kerala. The study was conducted from November 2020 to April 2021 Plant species were collected and their morphological characters were analysed arranged according to the APG IV system of plant classification. Identification of specimens was done using regional floras and with the help of experts in taxonomy. During the exploration of floristic diversity of Butterfly Garden, 37 plants belonging to 23 families were collected. 7 belongs to Monocots and 30 belongs to Eudicots. The most dominant family among them is Asteraceae. The families are arranged based on the Benthem and Hooker System of Classification.

Introduction

The study explored the angiosperm diversity in Kottayi Grama Panchayat, Palakkad district, Kerala, between November 2020 and April 2021, covering 15 wards. Plant specimens were collected, analyzed morphologically, and classified according to the APG IV system. Identification was aided by regional floras and taxonomic experts.

Key Findings – Plants:

• Total species recorded: 200 flowering plants from 69 families.

• Dominant families: Fabaceae (18 species), Asteraceae (16), Poaceae (12), and Acanthaceae (12).

• Habit distribution: Herbs (97 species), shrubs (42), trees (44), climbers (17).

• The study revealed a rich angiosperm diversity in this previously unexplored area.

Butterfly Diversity Context:

• Butterflies, with around 20,000 species worldwide, are abundant in India’s diverse ecosystems.

• India hosts ~1,500 species, with 314 in Kerala, many of which are rare or endemic.

• Typical habitats include forests, grasslands, tree canopies, and riverbanks, but human activity has altered many habitats, causing declines in common species.

Western Ghats and Biodiversity:

• The Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot, stretch 1,600 km along India’s west coast, covering 140,000 km² and interrupted by the Palghat Gap (~32–40 km wide).

• This region supports high endemism, hydrological functions, and crop plant diversity.

Materials and Methods – Butterfly Garden Study:

• Conducted in Saint Gobain Industry Butterfly Garden, Palakkad (25 cents, 10.793311°N, 76.741202°E) from August 2023 to February 2024.

• Specimen collection: Flowering plants collected with flowers, fruits, or vegetative parts; photographed; recorded details like locality, habit, habitat, altitude, and morphological features.

• Herbarium preparation: Specimens dried in newspapers, mounted on herbarium sheets with labels.

• Identification: Field identification and verification using regional floras, taxonomic experts, and databases like IPNI, Tropicos, and The Plant List.

Results – Butterfly Garden Flora:

• 37 species collected in the butterfly garden.

• Dominant families: Asteraceae (6), Rubiaceae (3), Apocynaceae (3), Acanthaceae (3), Verbenaceae (3).

• Species were documented with botanical descriptions, photographs, flowering and fruiting periods, conservation status, medicinal uses, and vegetation type.

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Binumol M., Nisy S., Abilash E. S.. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.