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Orchid Special
Orchids
make up one of the largest families of flowering plants. As per the current
estimates there are about 20,000 orchid species found in almost all regions
of the world, but their greatest diversity occurs in the tropical and sub-tropical
climates where positive factors for growth - thick vegetation and high humidity
prevail.
India has a rich orchid heritage and is recognized the world over as a significant
producer of both wild and hybrid orchids. Over 1,600 species of orchids are
found in India which constitute almost 10 percent of the world orchid flora.
Indian orchids include many variety with proven floriculture and/or herbal traits
and have reached almost all the famed botanical gardens the world over.
A vast majority of Indian orchids are mountainous in distribution; some are
seen in the plains as well. Orchids are slow growers and habitat specific,
and hence India has made lot of efforts for their conservation. The export
of orchids collected in the wilds is banned and many orchid sanctuaries and
orchidariums have been established in orchid-rich habitats. The main orchid-rich
regions are the foot-hills of the Himalayas, the Western Ghats, the western
coastal region and the southern hill stations.
The Himalayan Region
The Himalayan region has been the traditional home of many exquisite variety
of orchids. As this region experiences a wide range of climate regimes, a
variety of orchid flora is present here. This region has about 876 orchid
species in 151 genera. Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh in north-eastern India
have the largest number of species in the region.
Sikkim
is an orchid lover's paradise with a large variety of fascinating orchids. While
trekking or wandering through Sikkim, one can see some of its many beautiful
orchid species. The Orchid Sanctuary in Gangtok (capital of Sikkim) has a collection
of over 200 species of orchids. 14 km from Gangtok is an orchidarium with a
variety of orchids. A Orchid Festival is held in Sikkim every year in the month
of March. This festival lasts an entire month and is a great attraction for
orchid lovers.
In
Arunachal Pradesh :-
Arunachal's rich and colorful orchids find a place of pride. Out of about
a thousand species of orchids in India, over 600 are to be found in Arunachal
alone. Hence this state can rightly be called the "
Orchid
Paradise". These are colorful, spectacular and some bear
exotic names such as Sita-Pushpa and Draupadi-Pushpa which were believed to
have been worn by Sita and Draupadi for ornamentation. Many of these orchids
are rare, endangered and highly ornamental with long-lasting flower of our country
qualities. grandiflorum Amongst the orchids as many as 150 species are ornamental
and commercially important.
Orchids form a dominant group of plants with ir attractive and unique blooms.
Orchids in Arunachal Pradesh can also be classified into 140 species of terrestrial
orchids with 15 saprophytes and about 340 epiphytes found in the different
forest types.The prominent species are: Cymbidium ansifolium , C,, Coelogyne
corymbosa. Dendroblum aphylla, D. fimbriatum var occulatum, D. densiflorum,
Calanthe masuca, Phaius flavus, Paphiopedilum. Fairrieanum , P.venustum Renanthera
imschootiana, vanda coenulea , etc. Rhynchostylis retusa is the state flower
of Arunachal pradesh.
Department of Environment and Forest, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh has established
an Orchid Research and Development Station at Tipi in West Kameng district for
propagation and conservation of these species.
This centre has established a laboratory for orchids seed and tissue culture
for this purpose. In addition Orchidorium at Tippi, two orchid conservation
sanctuaries have been established at Sessa and Dirang in West Kameng district.
A wide varities of medicinal plant are also found.
Orchid centres located at Itanagar, Tipi, Sessa, Dirang, Jengging, Roing under
the State Forest Research Institute have good germ-plasm collection with about
400 species and hybrids. Arunachal Pradesh having variety of ornamental orchids
has great potentials in orchid trade industry which consists of mainly of
plant and cut-flowers. Various ornamental orchid plants both species and hybrids
are sold in market either bare-root or potted plants. In fact, orchid growing
can be developed as a cottage industry in Arunachal Pradesh. Orchids are an
endangered plant group. Hence, orchid trade is regulated under the Convention
of International Trade for Endangered Species (CITES).
In
north
West Bengal, the journey from Siliguri to Kalimpong (about 80 km)
is a wonderful experience for orchid lovers. Clusters of orchids can be seen
on road-side trees. These include Aerides multiflorum, the Fox-tail orchids
which bloom in May-June in clusters of white flowers with pink and purple spots.
Varieties of Dendrobium including D. transparens, D. amoenum and the unique
cylindrical branch-like Papilionanthe teres are also seen.
Kalimpong has Takdah Orchid Centre and various other nurseries with varieties
of Orchids. Darjeeling also boasts of some beautiful species of orchids. Its
Lloyd Botanical Garden has some rare plants and flowers. The Shrubbery here
is a beautiful garden which also offers a magnificent view of the Kanchenjunga
range.
Manipur, Nagaland, Assam, Tripura and
Mizoram, the other states
in the north-east India, also boast of an unrivalled wealth of about 300 species
of orchids.
The Western Ghats
The Western Ghat region is also very rich in orchids. This includes the entire
drive from Bombay through the hill stations of Lonavala and Khandala to Pune
and Mahabaleshwar. All these hill stations are scenically located and have
some beautiful and exotic varieties of orchids.
The beautiful green state of Kerala is also edged by the Western Ghats on one
side and the Arabian Sea on the other. Munnar hill station of Kerala has a large
variety of orchids. Among the exotic flora found in the forests and grasslands
here is the Neelakurinji flower (
Strobilanthus) that bathes these hills
in blue once in 12 years. This flower will bloom next in the year 2006. The
Periyar wildlife sanctuary has over 1800 flowering plants and 143 species of
orchids. The only south Indian conifer
Podocarpus Wallichianus grows
here.
The Western Coastal Region
The Western coastal region includes almost the entire state of Kerala, parts
of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa. Since this region is extremely humid and
has salubrious temperature, both of which support the growth of orchids, this
region has dense population of orchids.
On a drive along the Kerala highway, trees with huge masses of orchids are a
common sight. The most common species found in the plains are the gorgeous
Acampe
praemorsa which has yellow flowers with red strips. They bloom in March
and June. Other common species are
Dendrobium macrostachyum and
Pholidota
pallida. Orchids found on the hilly ranges are the 'fox tails'
Rhynchostylis
retusa with white and pink flowers and
Aerides multiflora.
The Southern Hill Stations
The southern hill stations of Ooty, Kodaikanal and Yercaud are also very rich
in orchids. Ooty has a beautiful Botanical garden, extending over 22 acres,
with exotic trees, ornamental plants and undulating lawns. A marvelous flower
show is held here every May. Shenbaganur Museum at Kodaikanal has about 350
varieties of orchids. Besides this, there is Bryant Park, a botanical park
laid out, landscaped and stocked over many years by the British Officer, after
whom it is named. Yercaud also has a National Orchidarium.
In the dense forests of Kothayar, Kannokatti and Mahendragiri,
Eria pauciflora
(white flowers, August-September) and
Eria mysorensis are found abundantly
on the trees.
Note :-
* Most Indian orchids flower during March-May and September-November, but
there is hardly a time when one or the other of their species is not in bloom.
* The states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland and Manipur fall
under the Restricted and Protected Areas and permission has to be obtained
before entering these regions. For information on entry formalities, you may
write to us or refer to our chapter on Restricted areas in the General Information
section.
To get a better feel and knowledge of our unique and beautiful Orchid treasures
a trip to these area for a holiday is a sure shot unique experience.
“Some important & rare species of Orchids
in India”
» Aerides maculosum : is a dwarf grower, with crystalline pink,
spotted magenta, fragrant flowers to 2cm. The spikes are arching to pendulous,
to about 25cm long with many flowers.. A delightful small growing species that
will produce side shoots. Basket or small slotted pot, it seems to grow well
in a variety of medias and is very tolerant provided it is well drained. Comes
from India and is a warm to intermediate grower. The flowers are very similar
to the Indian Aerides fieldingii.
» Bulbophyllum fisheri - seen in flowering.The pseudobulbs are
smooth and puberlous at base and an inflorescence umbel at the tip with flowers
yellow with purple dots The locations of south Karnataka especially the Cauvery
river origin houses a whloe host of species which are special to the region.The
district of Coorg, Chigmagalur, Dakshin Kannada, Hasan are places where one
can see clusters of Cymbidiums, rare Luisia macarantha, Eria reticosa, Bulbophyllum
fisheri, Chiloschista lunifera to name some showy species
» Chiloschista lunifera - a great looking specie with no leaves
and flowers arising directly from a cluster of greenish roots This is a semi
leafless orchid. The leaves stay part of the year and drop off. Shortly after
dropping the spikes form. This is the first season we have had this one and
we are getting three spikes! The photo below shows the plant when the leaves
are present. This is native to India
» Cymbidium Aloifolium - The Aloe-Leafed Cymbidium Found in India
and all of South East Asia, Java and Sumatra in evergreen and in semi-deciduous
and deciduous dry lowland forests and savana-like woodlands at elevations of
sealevel to 700 meters as a large sized hot to warm growing epiphyte or lithophyte
on open mossy rocks with very small pseudobulbs enveloped by leaf bases, with
coriaceous, suberect, linear-ligulate, obscurely bilobed apically leaves that
blooms on a 2 1/2' [75 cm] long, basal, pendant, laxly many [45] flowered, racemose
inflorescence occuring in the spring. This species can easily be confused with
C dayanum but differs in having a rounded lip edge and an hourglass shape in
the center of the lip.
» The flowering foxtail orchid - Rhyncostylis Retusa is a common
plant all along the peninsular region. The showy species is present in 1000's
in almost all the belt. Beautiful Indian to Thailand species. Robust grower
in a basket with a coarse open media that must drain well. Also known as the
foxtail orchid due to the large dense raceme of countless fragrant crystalline
flowers. Water and fertiliser while in growth, less when not.
» Gastrochilus dasypogon - Dwarf Phal type. Heads of yellow flowers,
spotted red, lip white.
» Bulbophyllum Leopardinum - The pseudo-bulbs are obpyriform compressed
and crowded, about 1 inch long. Leaf elliptic oblong, the base narrowed to the
short petiole. The petals and sepals are pale ochraceous spotted with crimson.
The lip is deep crimson, indistinctly spotted. It secrets honey which the bees
and insects seek. It has a very offensive odour. It is found in Darjeeling extending
eastward to Khasia hills. Bears flowers in October-November
» Vanda Orchid - the original Indian name for orchids, grows in
the regions ranging from India to Phillipines and consists of about 60 species.
The plant is an epiphyte and produces abundunt flowers. Flowers grow laterally,
upright from the base of two leaved shoots; leaves usually strap shaped but
can also take other forms.
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