In India, Where Do Orchids Grow?

India, once a continent, is home to over 1,200 species of orchids, primarily found in the Northeast, specifically in Assam, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh. The country has been considered a “orchid ark” due to its tropical climate, rainforests, and Himalayas. There are approximately 1256 orchid species, with 714 species reported from the North Eastern region. However, 80 of the orchids sold in India are imported from Thailand.

Assam is the largest orchid producing state in India, with around 4,950 tonnes of loose value and 9,980 tonnes of cut value orchid produced in 2021-2022. Of the 1300 orchid species growing in India, more than 850 are reportedly from the northeastern states, with the highest distribution in the Western Ghats. The Himalayas possess the maximum orchid species among the ten bio-geographic regions.

India’s orchid wealth has tremendous potential to impact international trade and conservation issues. However, wild orchids are not available in these areas. Instead, eastern states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Sikkim are species-rich, with close to 600 species in Arunachal Pradesh.

Among orchids, Cymbidiums are the most suited for large-scale cut flower production in the hills of the north eastern region due to their long-lasting nature. Arunachal Pradesh, also known as the Orchid State of India, is home to India’s first orchid sanctuary, the Sessa Orchid Sanctuary.

In conclusion, India’s orchid diversity is vast, with over 1,300 species found primarily in the Northeast, particularly in the Himalayas, North-East parts of the country, and the Western Ghats.

Which country has the most orchids?

South America is the continent with the greatest diversity of orchids in the world, with over 300 genera and 12, 000 species. Ecuador and Colombia are noteworthy for their high orchid density per square meter, which contributes to their status as the most diverse countries in the region.

Which city is known as orchid City of India?

Arunachal Pradesh, alternatively designated as the “Orchid Paradise in India,” “land of the rising sun,” and “land of dawn-lit mountains,” is the provenance of the foxtail orchid, which serves as the state emblem and the “Paradise of Botanists.”

Which state in India has orchids?

India’s North-East states, including Arunachal Pradesh, have a rich biodiversity with over 870 species, including 73 of the total Orchid species reported in India. The state has the highest number of orchid species, with around 622 species reported. The Indian Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is supporting Arunachal Pradesh in assessing its unique and diverse Orchid species, with an initial short-term objective of completing Red List assessments for all orchids in the state.

The results will be showcased at national and global events, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity Conference and IUCN’s World Conservation Congress 2020. The project is a strategic initiative of the Government of Arunachal Pradesh to collaborate with IUCN to facilitate conservation of the state’s rich biodiversity. The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the world’s biodiversity health, providing vital information about range, population size, habitat and ecology, use or trade, threats, and conservation actions to inform Orchids’ conservation decisions in the state.

Dr. David Allen, Regional Biodiversity Assessment Officer, Species Cambridge Unit, has assured support for the project through capacity building of scientific personnel and Forest Department officials.

Where do orchids grow naturally in India?

Orchids are indigenous to India, although they are absent from the country’s most arid and hottest regions. They are particularly prevalent in biodiverse regions such as the Northeast Himalayas and the Western Ghats, which collectively represent the second-largest flowering plant family.

Which is the largest orchid farm in India?

The Kaziranga National Orchid Park, located 2 km from the Central Range of Kaziranga, Kohora Chariali, is the largest orchid park in the Northeast belt of India. The park spans around 6 acres in Durgapur village and boasts over 500 wild orchid varieties, 132 species of sour fruits and leafy vegetables, 46 species of bamboo, 12 species of cane, and various species of local fishes. The park also houses the highest population of one horned Rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park.

The park has transformed Assam’s Kaziarnaga fauna landscape, introducing a new picture to the Kaziarnaga fauna landscape. Orchids, a cosmopolitan family plant with complex flowers, are a symbol of national heritage and are found in around 35, 000 worldwide, with approximately 1314 found in India. In Assam, there are about 850 verities found in northeast India, with 402 found only in Assam.

Is orchid tree found in India?

Bauhinia variegata is a flowering plant native to China, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. It is also known as the orchid tree and mountain ebony. This small to medium-sized tree, which grows to 10-12 meters tall, is deciduous in the dry season. Its leaves are obcordate-shaped, long and broad, rounded, and bilobed at the base and apex. The flowers are bright pink or white, 8-12 centimeters in diameter, with five petals. The pollens are elongated and approximately 75 microns in length. It is not part of the Orchidaceae family.

Are orchids found in India or Brazil?

Orchids are a unique group of plants with 600-800 genera and 25, 000-35, 000 species, known for their beautiful flowers that fetch high prices in the international market. Theophrastus, also known as the father of botany, gave the name “Orchids” to these bizarre plants due to their resemblance to masculine anatomy (the testes). The Indian Vedic scriptures mention the plants under the name “VANDA”, which has been adapted as a generic name for one of the most beautiful groups of orchids.

Most cultivated orchids are native to tropical countries, with their greatest diversity in humid tropical forests of South and Central America, Mexico, India, Ceylon, Burma, South China, Thailand, Malaysia, Philippines, New Guinea, and Australia. Brazilian cattleyas, Mexican laelias, and Indian dendrobiums, cymbidiums, and vandas have played a major role in the development of the modern orchid industry in the world.

The evolution of orchid culture from hobbyist to commercial grower was slow, as most orchids collected from different regions did not adapt to local conditions and died. The methods of propagation were not known, and most orchids flowered under utmost care were found to be self-sterile. Germination was difficult, and any disturbance to the soil or physical environment destroyed the whole population.

In 1821, Conrad Loddiges and sons started growing orchid plants commercially at their nursery in Hackney, followed by John Daminy of M/s Veitch and Sons who produced the first orchid hybrid between two Calanthe species in 1852, which flowered in 1856 in Veitch Nursery Exeter, England. In 1913, Sun Kee Nursery, Singapore, started the first cut-flower production of Arachnis type hybrids.

Modern scientific technology has led to major developments in orchid cultivation worldwide, with orchids grown on assembly-line methods in extensive glasshouses with controlled environments and the sale of orchid flowers running in millions of dollars. Orchids from 9 of India’s flora and are the largest botanical family of higher plants in India. There are approximately 1, 300 species (140 genera) of orchids found in different regions of India, with North-Western Himalayas being the main home and others scattered in Eastern and western Ghats.

Some orchids are endemic to India, with some species being so ornamental and in demand that their natural populations have been over exploited. The provisional list of 150 endangered plants of India includes many orchids, and the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) places all species of Orchidaceae under Appendix II, meaning their trade will only be through export permits.

Steps have been taken to conserve Indian native species by establishing orchidaria, sanctuaries, and germplasm conservation centers. Botanical surveys of India have established two orchidarias at Shillong and Yercaud to conserve rare and endangered species.

Which country is famous for orchids?

The highest number of species per region are found in Colombia, Ecuador, New Guinea, Brazil, Peru, or Borneo, followed by China and India. Indonesia, with over 5000 species, is the most abundant, but the correct number is estimated due to the difficulty in separating Irian Jaya and Papua New Guinea. Ecuador is surprising to have the most orchid species, possibly due to its good treatment. Colombia likely has more orchid species than Ecuador and has caught up quickly due to better accessibility.

New Guinea would also be a runner-up for the most orchid species per area if the entire island is treated. Tropical Africa is similarly poor in species, with Madagascar alone having nearly as many species as the entire region. The near-absence of a real tropical mountain flora in Africa is likely due to climate shifts causing the rainforest to shrink several times to small islands.

What country grows the most orchids?

Colombia is a hyper-diverse paradise with nearly 4, 270 known orchid species, the world’s richest. The country’s diverse environment, including lowland dry forests, wet forests, cloud forests, and grassland-like Paramos, is largely due to the Andean Cordillera, a chain of mountains that hosts a variety of environments. Most of Colombia’s orchid species are epiphytes, which live on tree bark and depend on moist air and debris.

Which city is known as the orchid capital of the world?

Ecuador, known as the “World Capital of Orchids”, boasts a diverse array of 4, 250 species, including 1, 301 endemic varieties, that thrive in various habitats. These beautiful flowers, the oldest plants in the world, are found in tropical, subtropical, and conservation areas. Orchids, belonging to the Orchidaceae family, live on trees, rocks with moss, or on the floor, capturing heat, light, and air. Their vibrant colors and unique forms attract scientists and nature enthusiasts worldwide.

Where do orchids grow naturally in the world?

Orchids are highly adaptable and can grow in almost all climates except for extremes. They are found in both pantropical and endemic habitats, with most species growing in tropical forests. Neotropical orchids are found in southern Central America, northwest South America, and countries along the Andes Mountains. However, most orchids depend on a single pollinating species, and if that species is eliminated, the orchid that depends on that species becomes threatened by extinction. This could lead to habitat fragmentation and rainforest destruction, potentially causing the extinction of many orchid species.