A 76-ft cactus growing on the campus of SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital in Dharwad may enter the Guinness Book of World Records. The cactus, belonging to the genus Cereus, grew to that height in seven years. The then principal of SDM College and the present Director C. Bhasker Rao planted the cactus on August 15 in 2002.
Interestingly, Dharwad holds the earlier record for the tallest cactus. Pandit Munji of Narayanpur in Dharwad had planted the cactus belonging to the same genus, which had grown to 72 feet in 2004. However, owing to disease and breakage the cactus now stands at 56 feet.
President of the SDM Education Society and Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari Veerendra Heggade told presspersons here on Friday evening that the college would approach the Guinness authorities after completing the formalities. Botany lecturer in JSS College Dr. Parimala said that cactus belonging to the genus Cereus was originally from South Africa. “The cactus grows in areas where there is less humidity and more light,” she said.