Fig Trees in RMNH Campus, Mysore

Documentation and sketches: Sri SJ Srinivasa, RMNH, Mysore

The Regional Museum of Natural History is located on the northern bank of Karanji Nature Park at Mysore and expansive over 5.23 acres along the foot hill of Chamundi. With the objective to generate nature responsiveness through non formal education this institute is maintaining a garden with all probable efforts. As the first step to attract numerous insects followed by insectivorous and frugivorous birds, varieties of flower and fruit yielding plants were planted. These plants through out the year afford food and sanctuary for the birds and other life forms.

This garden houses varieties of plants belong to Moraceae family. Among them one such diversity is figs along with Morus alba, the Mulberry and Artocarpus heterophyllus- the Jack fruit in addition. Interestingly all these plants were planted as saplings and are aged about 18 years. There are 12 species of Ficus plants including a creeping variety (Ficus pumila) in the garden.

Each tree has its own wild visitors, throughout the day and night. During day birds -Barbets, Mynas, Parakeets, Grey hornbill, Bee eaters, Paradise & Fantail Flycatchers, Tits, Lesser golden backed wood pecker and rarely Peafowls; animals- Bonnet Monkey and Three Striped Squirrels usually visit. As night falls, Fruit eating Bats followed by Pipestrils, Wild Cat, Palm Civets and Bandicoots visit the trees and their premises. Depending on season numerous insects and arachnidan varieties visit these Ficus varieties.

References:

1. Flora of Karnataka, Sharma BD, Singh NP, Raghavan RS & Miss Deshpande UR 1984

2. Flora of karnataka Vol I, CJ Saldhana 1984

3. A synoptic flora of Mysore District, RR Rao & B A Razi 1981

4. Biodiversity Conservation plan of Mysore forest division- Technical report; Appendix II: Plant species of Chamundi hills. K.B.Sadananda et.al