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Research Interests

Dr. Rani Vajravelu's most extensive training is in Plant Taxonomy. Her taxonomic treatments of angiosperm families were published in a 3-volume Flora of the Tamilnadu Carnatic , 1984. She has contributed to the preparation of the Guide to the Flora of Florida, 1998. Her interests are also in doing scientific illustrations, some of which were published in Florida Plants for Wildlife , 1995 and Florida Wildflowers in their natural communities, 1998.

Dr. Vajravelu has traveled extensively in Europe and SE Asia in relation to her study on Euphorbia, funded by the National Geographic Society and The Explorer's Club.

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Teaching Interest:

Dr. Vajravelu has taught a wide variety of courses at UCF since 1999, including Honors Biology and Local Flora, and she is currently teaching Biological Principles, Plant Kingdom, Plant Taxonomy and Ethnobotany. All of these courses were extensively revised by Dr. Vajravelu with a modern touch on technology. She has authored several course-related publications, including the most recent textbook on Ethnobotany: A modern Perspective. 

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Highlights:

• Teaching Incentive Award: 2004
• Undergraduate Teaching Excellence Award: 2006
• Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning and Technology Award: 2007
• Teaching Incentive Award: 2009

 

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Selected Publications

• Vajravelu, R., 1998. Credit for species illustrations in Florida Wildflowers in thei natural communities by Taylor, W.
• Vajravelu, R., 1996. Malesian Euphorbia: Report on Preliminary Exploration. Malesian Euphorbiaceae.
• Vajravelu, R., 1995. Credit for cover and approximately 60 species illustrations published in Florida Plants for Wildlife by Huegel, C.
• Vajravelu, R., 1985. Ficus albipila (Miq.)King, Moraceae: A new record for India. JBNHS 82(1): 235 - 237.
• Vajravelu, R., 1985. Occurrence of Achyranthes aspera L. var. pubescens (Mod.) C. Towns. in Tamilnadu Carnatic. JBNHS 82(2): 446-448.
• Vajravelu, R., 1984. 66 Angiosperm plant family treatments published individually in the Flora of the TamilNadu Carnatic.
• Vajravelu, R., 1983. Some rare plants of the Tamilnadu Carnatic in Jain & Rao. An assessment of threatened plants of India: 157-162, 1983