About the coat of arms

Argent leafy Vert, on a bend Purple three orchid flowers Argent. As a crest upon a helm Argent lined Gules and a wreath Argent and Vert a curupira proper riding a cateto Sable, holding on right hand the flag of Unicamp proper and on left one his bow and one arrow Or. Mantled of Vert doubled Argent .

In the shield the dicotyledonous leaves and monocotiledonous (orchid) flowers symbolizes the Phanerogams, main object of study of the Department.

As a crest, the arms have a "curupira" holding the flag of Unicamp riding his "cateto". According to the brazilian folklore, the Curupira is the protector of the forests even for fauna as for flora. It was first reported by Father Anchieta in the middle of XVI century. He looks like a little red haired indian that has the feet turned back in order to mislead eventual prosecutors. Prior the storms he uses to wander the forest riding a "cateto" (South-American boar) touching the trees with his arrow in order to fortify them against winds and lightning. Finding a dead animal he uses to hit them also with his arrow in order to revive it.