Vachellia horrida: The Thorny Guardian of the Dry Landscape

Category: Greening Sanjeevi Hills Belonging to the legume family, Vachellia horrida (formerly known as Acacia horrida) is a thorny shrub or small tree. It is commonly found in the surroundings of Rajapalayam, especially in and around Sanjeevi Malai, where the dry and rocky landscape supports hardy vegetation. Vachellia horrida typically grows 3-8 meters tall and […]

Lesser Grass Blue: A Tiny Jewel of the Grasslands

Category: Carbon Neutrality This photograph of the Lesser Grass Blue butterfly was taken at the PACR Polytechnic compost yard. It is one of the smallest butterflies found in many parts of the world, with a wingspan of only 18-24 mm. Despite its tiny size, this delicate insect adds life and colour to everyday landscapes. It […]

Green Filtration: Using Canna indica to Purify Wastewater Naturally

Category: Water Body Restoration At the PACR Polytechnic composite yard, wastewater from our educational institutions is treated through a Decentralised Wastewater Treatment System (DEWATS). It is a natural, low-energy method of treating wastewater close to its source using gravity flow, sedimentation, biological processes, and plant-based filtration.  As part of this system, the DEWATS area includes […]

Kattimullu: A Resilient Spiny Shrub of the Dry Landscape

Category: Eco Park This photograph was taken at the Sanjeevi Malai Eco Park area. It shows Barleria buxifolia, a hardy native plant commonly known as Box-leaved Barleria. In Tamil, it is known as Kattimullu. Kattimullu is a spiny shrub or sub-shrub that usually grows about 1-3 feet tall. The plant has green, branched stems with […]

Duckweed – Tiny Plant, Powerful Green Manure

Category: Water Body Restoration Floating quietly on ponds and slow-moving waters, duckweed may appear insignificant at first glance. Yet this tiny plant is one of the most remarkable aquatic species in the natural world. Belonging to the family Lemnaceae, duckweed includes several small floating plants, the most common being Lemna minor, often called common duckweed. […]

Native Cattle: The Living Breath of Our Heritage

Category: Culture Native cattle possess qualities that make them remarkably resilient: high tolerance to heat, the ability to walk long distances, survival on minimal feed, strong resistance to diseases, and a long lifespan of about 15-20 years. These characteristics make them well suited to traditional and sustainable farming systems. One traditional practice closely linked with […]