around a thousand species, both exotic and indigenous, of plants, shrubs, ferns, trees, herbal and bonsai plants. In the centre of the gardens lie a fossilized tree trunk estimated to be 20 million years old. The gardens consist of several lawns with flowering plants, ponds with lilies, beds of flowers and ferns laid out in an Italian style, several plots of flowering plants, a variety of medicinal plants. Sections The present botanical gardens are divided into six sections: the Lower Garden, New Garden, Italian Garden, Conservatory, Fountain Terrace and Nurseries. Lower Garden The lower garden comprises the entrance and the lower lawns. The entrance of the garden leads into an extensive lush green lawn of Kikiyu grass (Pennisetum Clandestinum) which is known for its springy vigour. A fern house with 127 species of ferns is situated on the left along the road leading to Raj Bhavan amidst another expanse of lawns and historic gatehouses. The prime attractions in this section are the carpet-bet design of the map of the Indian Union laid out with selective plants and the fossil trunk of 20 million years old, erected on a pedestal. Tree species of botanical interest such as Hymenosporum flavum, Cordyline australis, Cedrus deodara, Cupressus funebris, Araucaria bidwillii, Cupressus macrocarpa, Cryptomeria japonica, Eucalyptus maculata, Eucalyptus citriodora, Salix babylonica, Salix heterophylla, Podocarpus taxifolia, Dracaena lanuginosa, Pinus patula, Rhododendron arboreum, Quercus montana, Quercus cerris, Quercus serrata, Quercus griffithii, Quercus ilex, and Magnolia grandiflora can be seen alongside the lawn. New Garden The new garden developed recently, comprises the area between the front garden and the crescent-shaped pond at the bandstand. This section consists of: A rose garden with three hundred varieties of hybrid tea roses, Floribunda and Polyanthas rose varieties. Large number of flowerbeds designed to match the slopes and contour of this area. Carpet-bed emblems of the Government of Tamil Nadu and the Government of India. Natural ponds with aquatic plants. Important tree species such as Taxodium mucronatum, Pieris ovalifolia, Juniperus virginiana, Eucalyptus eugenioides, Pinus wallichiana, Photinia lindleyana, Pinus canariensils, Ginkgo biloba, Araucaria cunninghamii and Cupressus lawsoniana are planted all over the section. Italian Garden This garden was first laid out by Italian prisoners of World War I, who were shifted to Ooty. They were placed under the control of the Military station in Ootacamund. Asters, ageratum, balsam, begonia, petunia, pansy, phlox, cosmos, zinnia and perennial flowers like salvia, delphinium, larkspur, and dahlia