Janaki Ammal

Janaki Ammal
c. 1938
Born	(1897-11-04)4 November 1897 Tellicherry, Madras Presidency, British India
Died	(1984-02-07)7 February 1984 (aged 86) Madras, Tamil Nadu
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	University of Michigan
Awards	Padma Shri 1977
Scientific career
Fields	Botany, Cytology
Institutions	Madras University, John Innes Centre
Thesis	Chromosome Studies in Nicandra physaloides
Signature

Edavalath Kakkat Janaki Ammal (formally known as Janaki Ammal) (4 November 1897 – 7 February 1984) was an Indian botanist who worked on plant breeding, cytogenetics and phytogeography. Her most notable work involved studies on sugarcane and the eggplant (brinjal). She also worked on the cytogenetics of a range of plants and co-authored the Chromosome Atlas of Cultivated Plants (1945) with C.D. Darlington. She took an interest in ethnobotany and plants of medicinal and economic value from the rain forests of Kerala, India. She was awarded Padma Shri in 1977.