MIRANDA HOUSE HAS BEEN RANKED NO.1 AMONG COLLEGES BY NIRF RANKING 2023

Botany Museum: Over the years, the department of Botany has developed a rich collection of preserved specimens displaying plant diversity. A well-stacked herbarium has an extensive collection of specimens covering the entire spectrum of plants.

Description Number
Museum
Specimens preserved in liquid 313
Dried specimens 120
Wood samples in the form of blocks 28
Essential oil samples 12
Items in wood, cane, coir, coconut shell, jute, other fibres; and clay 94
Charts 66
Framed specimens and photos 34
Total Specimens, Framed Specimens, Charts and Decorative items 667
Herbarium
Pressed, Preserved and Labeled Specimens 1009
Other Specimens: Pressed, preserved and labled specimens collected from Delhi, other parts of India and abroad. 1199
Permanent Micro-slides 1310

Zoology Museum: This has a rich collection of 550 scientifically relevant zoological specimens and materials that are all well labeled, classified and properly exhibited in Museum Display Cabinets. The collection includes 300 Invertebrates belonging to different animal phyla: Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Nemathelminthes, Annelida, Echinodermata, Mollusca and Arthropoda. There are 250 Vertebrate specimens that include fishes, reptiles, birds and mammals. A large number of specimens are preserved in formalin and some are mounted. There is a repository of 820 slides pertaining to histology, cytology, invertebrates' whole mounts, sections and larvae, frog and chick embryology. The entomological collection includes pinned insects and preserved specimens of insects and other arthropods. Osteological collection includes bones and skulls of fishes, reptiles, birds and mammals. The Image Projection System is used frequently for visualization. The Department is in the process of making an exhaustive digital library of slides. A photo library of all the listed specimens is also being made for the students. The Museum houses a small department Library with 400 books, and a collection of Movies (CDs) on topics related to environment such as Global Warming, Climate Change, Ozone Depletion and Waste Management.

Botanical Garden: The primary responsibility for the development and upkeep of the gardens at Miranda House rests with the Department of Botany that has painstakingly developed an exquisite collection of plants, trees, shrubs and creepers since inception of the college. The quality of plantation has been generally lauded as Miranda House, year after year, has been winning the Vice Chancellor's Cup for scoring the highest marks at the DU Annual Flower Show.

The stated belief of the college is that the entire campus should the regarded as an extended laboratory for teaching of Botany. The rich biodiversity of the campus puts on educational display a large number of distinct species and varieties of flora. The table below shows a diversity of 211 taxa and a very rich plantation.

Distinct Species/ Varieties No.
Trees 54
Palms 11
Shrubs 29
Climbers 07
Leafy Perennials 39
Succulents 34
Cacti 19
Gymnosperms 10
Ferns 08
Total 211

Most Common Trees on Campus: False Ashoka, Eucalyptus, Peepal and Neem.

Trees Uncommon in Delhi: Taxodium, Soapnut Tree, Cherry Blossom, Rudraksha.

Trees and Palms
Location of Trees No.
Inside College Campus including Hostel 241
Teacher's Residence Complex 134
Non-teaching Staff Residence Complex 07
Principal's Residence 29
Total 411
Palms (including Sago palm) 237
Trees in Green Belt around Boundary Wall 433

The listed flora have been carefully labeled across the campus with both, the botanical and the common name. For purpose of formal teaching, the department has developed a botanical garden in dedicated space of 230 sq.m. The rich plantation makes available seasonal and perennial plant material necessary for laboratory work, herbaria, study of plant taxonomy, ecology and other aspects of botany. The space also includes a strictly protected wild patch for studies on natural vegetation. The college has also created a green shaded area (75 sq.m.) which is used for cultivating a wide range of plants under optimally controlled conditions. This is also used for nurturing a wide range of saplings and transplants.

The college takes full advantage of its location on the DU campus and proximity to the Yamuna Biodiversity Park and Delhi Ridge that provide rich ecosystems. Two faculty members of the department have successfully completed a project to list the rich collection of flora on the university campus. All this supplements teaching.