A Botanical Inventory of Rajdhani Degree College Campus, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India

Abstract

Educational campuses serve as significant repositories of plant diversity, providing chances for long-term monitoring, biodiversity conservation, and ecological research. This study records the floristic composition of Rajdhani Degree College in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, based on methodical field surveys carried out between August 2024 and September 2025. The gathering of voucher specimens, photographic recording, taxonomic identification using floristic literature and authenticated applications, and interviews with local informants to record vernacular names were all standard botanical methods. A total of 100 plant species were recorded, representing diverse growth forms—herbs (38%), trees (27%), shrubs (20%), climbers (9%), and grasses (6%). The flora was dominated by dicotyledonous plants (76%), followed by monocots (24%) and a few pteridophytes. Families such as Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Amaranthaceae were most represented, reflecting the ecological adaptability of herbaceous and leguminous taxa. Perennial species were more common than annuals, indicating ecological stability and continuous vegetation cover. Many species exhibited medicinal properties, traditionally used for treating digestive disorders, respiratory ailments, skin diseases, inflammation, and other health conditions, underscoring the ethnobotanical significance of the campus flora. The findings highlight the role of institutional green spaces in sustaining biodiversity within urban landscapes and provide a baseline inventory for future monitoring, ecological education, and conservation planning.