EXPLORATION OF ORNAMENTAL FLORAS IN THE CAMPUS OF S.T. HINDU COLLEGE, NAGERCOIL, KANYAKIMARI DISTRICT, TAMILNADU, INDIA

Most of the present day flowers have come from the wild progenitors, a few of which still exist in natural habitat.Ornamental flowers are highly promising and unutilized resources having tremendous and prover economic importance.Ornamental plants accompany people, since their birth to death and they coexist with almost all happy events in life such birthday celebrations, weddings, carrier progress etc. In addition, they form our best partners in our everyday life in our flats, offices, different public spaces, parks, gardens and elsewhere.An extensive floristic survey was conducted during the year 2015. Taxonomic identification, photographic documentation and ornamental characterization of each species with potential for use on floral art were recorded. The methodology used is based on observation method for the determination of flora. All the specimens collected were identified with the help of recent literature.The field expeditions of study area gave interesting results concerning floristic diversity.


INTRODUCTION
Ornamental flowers are highly promising and unutilized resources having tremendous and prover economic importance (Jenomics, 2014). Ornamental plants accompany people, since their birth to death and they co-exist with almost all happy events in life such birthday celebrations, weddings, carrier progress etc. In addition, they form our best partners in our everyday life in our flats, offices, different public spaces, parks, gardens and elsewhere (Arora, 2013). They are an inseparable part of the culture of all nations and nationalities. This is the reason, why people since time immemorial have tried to improve or change flowers and other ornamental plants according to their imagination, dreams and practical aspects of planting.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The field expeditions of study area gave interesting results concerning floristic diversity. A total of 108 plant species are present in this study area (Table -I). Among the species, dicots were distributed in 36 families with 74 species, monocots in 13 families with 28 species; pteriophytes are in 4 families with 4 species and gymnosperms in 2 families with 2 species, 22 plant species are wild, 72 species are significantly ornamental and 14 plant species are wild or cultivated.When the percentage distributions are calculated it is found that 68.5% of dicots, 25.09% of monocots, 3.7% of pteridophytes, 1.8% of gymnosperms are present. This profiling indicated that the maximum ornamentals are dicots following monocots gymnosperms, pteridophytes and cacti. Among the total identified plants, Acanthaceae is dominant family 14.28.Whenthe percentage distribution is calculated it is found that 68.5% of dicots, 25.09% of monocots, 3.7% of pteridophytes, 1.8% of gymnosperms are present.
The classification of the ornamental flora based on the diversity of its utilization indicating that the maximum 4 of the plant can be used as aquatic ornamentals followed by 22 species as ornamentals trees, 24 species as ornamental shrubs, 27 species as ornamental herbs, 16 species as ornamental hedges and fencing, 4 species as ornamental succulents and cacti, 11 species as ornamental climbers 2. Regarding the habit wise distribution of identified plants, 22 species as trees, 48 species as herbs, 26 species as shrubs, 4 species as climbers and 8 species as succulents,2 species can be used as ornamental foliage followed by 1 species as carpet bedding, 7 species as mixed borders, 6 species as bushy and upright foliage, 3 species used in topiary formations and also, 3 species are used as ornamental palms, 2 species ornamental ferns, 15 species are recommended for railway lines 18 species are recommended for town roads, 2 species as dry wall, 3 species as topiary and 3 species as a roof gardening (Table 2-4).

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Over-exploitation by humans, both for direct consumption and also for botanical and horticulture value, also threatens wild ornamentals. Grassland reclamation programmes and overgrazing by cattle have had a debilitating effect on these wild species. Fragmentation of extensive habitats into small isolated patches can mean that they become too limited to maintain their plant populations. Fragmentation seems to reduce genetic variation and seedling vigour. Natural disasters have also played a role in species extinction. Even protected areas cannot be expected to safeguard plants from the effects of disasters such as volcanoes, fires, airborne pollutants, droughts and landslide.
This process is largely based on research and development and requires strong collaboration between many links of the production chain most modern scientific research in the field of new ornamental crops deals with the adaptability of new species to the environmental and the regulation of their life cycle or propagation systems. New ornamental products can be developed by researches and breeders only in collaboration with efficient produces and satisfied consumes, linked together in mutually beneficial ways. It is very easy for the propagation of wild species by traditional propagation methods. The cost of domestication and maintenanceofornamental species is also very less in comparison. We hope this work will help the researches and people who are interested in ornamental plants.