Locations In India Orchids Are Found?

India, once a continent, is home to over 1200 species of orchids, primarily found in the tropical climate, rainforests, and Himalayas. The country may have been an “orchid ark” carrying orchids from the south, where the orchid family is believed to have originated. There are approximately 1256 orchid species in India, with 714 species reported from the North. Of these 1,256 species, 388 are endemic to India, with about one-third found in the Western Ghats.

The Himalayan zone is the richest in terms of orchid species, followed by the Northeast, Western Ghats, Deccan plateau, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. However, India’s orchids face pressure from illicit harvesting and exploitation for illegal trade. Out of the 1256 species recorded in India, 307 are endemic to the country, while only 11 species are.

The Sessa Orchid Sanctuary in Arunachal Pradesh is home to over 200 species of orchids, including several endemic and rare species. Of the around 1300 orchid species growing in India, more than 850 are reportedly from the northeastern states. Orchid richness in states like Karnataka and Maharashtra is mainly confined to the mountain ranges along the coast.

Orchids are found in various habitats between 300-4600 m.a.s.l., with 13 species being endemic to the Western Himalaya. The World Wildlife Fund reports that 40 of the total orchid species found in India are found in the Tahmni Ghat region, which is considered the orchid state of India.

Where are orchids mostly found?

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.

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.”

Where can I see orchids in India?

Orchid species in India are primarily concentrated in mountain ranges along the coast, with the Himalaya being the most prominent mountain range. The poorest parts of India have the driest orchid species, while the richest are the wettest. High rainfall is strongly correlated with the presence of mountain ranges, with Karnataka and Maharashtra primarily containing orchid richness in these areas. However, deforestation and indiscriminate collecting of wild orchids for horticulture and traditional medicine have led to numerous orchid species becoming endangered in India.

Many slipper orchids, such as Cypripedium and Paphiopedilum, are close to extinction. To see these species in the wild, one must know where to look, as there may be more plants of Paphiopedilum druryi in cultivation than in the wild.

Where are most orchids found in India?

The list of orchids in India is being prepared by a team working with colleagues from the subcontinent. The map shows the distribution of orchid diversity geographically, with the “hotspots” being the richest areas. Western states like Rajasthan and Jammu and Kashmir have fewer than 20 orchid species, while eastern states like Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, and Sikkim have close to 600 species.

Mountains are also a great place to look for orchids, as the poorest parts of India are also the driest, while the richest are also the wettest. High rainfall is strongly correlated with the presence of mountain ranges, with orchid richness in states like Karnataka and Maharashtra mainly confined to the coast. The Himalaya is the most prominent mountain range in India, and it is likely that India would have had far fewer orchid species if it had not arisen over the last 40 million years.

Orchids in India are in peril due to deforestation and indiscriminate collecting for horticulture and traditional medicine. Many slipper orchids, including Cypripedium and Paphiopedilum, are close to extinction. To see these species in the wild, one must know where to look.

What country has the best orchids?

The South American continent is home to the greatest diversity of orchids in the world, with over 300 genera and 12, 000 species. Notable for their high orchid density per square meter, Ecuador and Colombia surpass all other countries.

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 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.

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.

Do orchids grow naturally in India?

The orchid is a genus of flowering plants that is native to tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. These plants thrive in wet, tropical climates and are particularly abundant in biodiverse areas such as the Northeast Himalayas and the Western Ghats. However, they are not able to survive in extremely dry, cold, or hot regions.

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.