The 250-year-old mango trees at the Lalbagh, believed to be planted by Tipu Sultan, welcomed 200 more plant species to its family recently.
It was M Jagadeesh, the Deputy Director of the Botanical Garden, who brought these nearly rare and foreign plants to Lalbagh. Some of the plants came through exchange programme and some were purchased by other botanical gardens and private nursery homes. The rare species include plants from Argentina, Brazil, Burma, Malaysia, Singapore and other nations. They will be placed according to the species in respective blocks.
‘Gardenia’, which has one of the most beautiful flowers, will be open for display within 15 days as by then it would be properly acclimatised. “All the new species that we have brought will be placed at Lalbagh by the end of this monsoon,” informed Jagadeesh.
One of the new arrivals include the world-famous aquatic plant, ‘Victoria Regine’, the leaf of which can grow up to seven feet in radius. “One man can easily sleep on a full-grown leaf of this plant,” he said. The aquatic plant was purchased from West Bengal for Rs 10,000.
While Bombax Ciba, Silk Cotton Tree, American Nobalies, Cerberum Mungus and the 175-feet tall Auraria, are considered to be the ‘Jewels of Lalbagh’, the new variety includes Burga, Plumania, Colden Clored Silver Oak and perfumed plant.
With the new addition, the total number of genera will be more than 2,000 and in the 240 acres of land, there will be more than 7,500 trees (including herbs, climbers and other plants.)
This year, the Flora Park has the most number of new species, which is nearly 570. The authorities have not just added new ones but have seen that no existing plant is lost because of ageing, natural calamity or disease. Of the three mango plants, that were planted by Tipu, one perished due to age factor. The officials saw to it that a new plant is re-grown in the same place by using the gene of the old tree. Yet another plant was mechanically given support using cement. The officials are looking for plants like Amhersia Nobilis, Bismarkia Nobilis and Centuria Palm to add to the City’s ‘botanical laboratory’.