Dr KS Manilal, an eminent botanist, taxonomist, and Padma Shri awardee, passed away on 1 January, in a private hospital in Kerala’s Thrissur after a prolonged illness at the age of 86. He was known for his unparalleled contributions to botanical research and taxonomy, Dr Manilal was celebrated for translating and annotating the 17th-century Latin botanical treatise Hortus Malabaricus.