Orchid Wealth in India

HEADLINES:

India must conserve its orchid wealth

WHY IN NEWS:

Earnest measures are needed, involving awareness efforts among all stakeholders

SYLLABUS COVERED: GS 3: Conservation of Biodiversity : Flora and Fauna

LEARNING:

For PRELIMS go through conservation, naming , reproduction etc .

For MAINS device a perfect strategy which should conserve orchid population . We have mentioned a To-do list . Let us dive in !

ISSUE:

Orchid diversity can be saved from extinction only if earnest measures are taken for conserving their natural habitats.

ORCHID WEALTH IN INDIA

FAMILY

The family ‘Orchidaceae’ constitutes one of the largest families of flowering plants or angiosperms.

They are a highly evolved family, with 600-800 genera and 25,000-35,000 species all over the globe.

NAMING

Theophrastus (370-285 BC), known as the ‘Father of Botany’, gave the name ‘Orchids’ to these plants.
It is based on the resemblance of paired underground tubers of the plants to male anatomy (the testes).

REPRODUCTION

A new shoot that grows from the base, becomes the bulbous stem known as pseudo-bulb, that flowers finally.
The pseudo-bulb stores food and water and functions like bulbs.

Since India has a vast number of orchids, hilly areas have some orchids flowering almost throughout the year.

Grasslands also provide habitat for certain terrestrial orchids.
The minute seeds of the orchids have only minimal reserves of nutrients.
As a result, the seeds depend upon mycorrhizal fungi for the carbon resources to germinate.

Generally, the seeds require four to five years or more to attain flowering stage.

The germination percentage is reported to be only about 0.3.

SIGNIFICANCE

These plants are perennial herbs with simple leaves.
Humanity has been familiar with orchids since the Vedic period.
In the Rig Veda and the Atharva Veda (1500-800 BC), there is mention about Vanda tessallata (Rasna) and Flickingeria macrai (Sanjeevani) and their medicinal properties.

DISTRIBUTION

There are 1,256 species of orchids in India, the BSI estimates.
Of the 1,256 species belonging to 155 genera, 388 species are endemic to India.
Of the 388 endemic species, about one-third (128) species have been found to be growing in the Western Ghats.

The Himalayas possess the maximum orchid species among the ten bio-geographic zones of India.

They are followed by the North East, Western Ghats, Deccan Plateau and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, respectively.

Orchid Wealth in India | UPSC

UNDER THREAT

Due to such reasons, the family consists of the maximum number of threatened species in nature.
The Orchidaceae family is under serious threat due to rapid destruction of natural habitat .

CAUSES

Deforestation, forest fire, overgrazing, felling of trees, rapid urbanisation and indiscriminate collection for floral business.

Orchid species with medicinal properties are becoming very rare and endangered due to over-exploitation, coupled with lack of awareness.

The multifaceted adaptability and fast replicating characteristics of invasive species suppress the native flora, including orchids.

CONSERVATION

As orchids have mycorrhizal specificity, pollinator specialisation and limited germination rates , they are extremely susceptible to habitat disturbance.

Anthropogenic activities have thus become the major causes for the depletion of orchid wealth in Indian forests.

Orchids must be protected through in situ and ex situ conservation for long-term survival in their natural habitats.

PROTECTION STATUS

Many orchids that were present in plenty in the past, have now become rare and endangered.
Because of its high value, endangered status and its significant role in the ecosystem, the family is often used as a flagship group in biological conservation.

Orchids are considered as the indicators of the health of the forest ecosystem.

All species of Orchidaceae have been listed in the Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora in Appendix II of the Convention of International Trade (CITES).

IASbhai WINDUP:

WHAT CAN BE DONE?

IDENTIFYING EXPERTS : The field staff of the forest department across India, have to be trained to identify orchids, as they are the custodians of their habitats.
TRAINING : Experts on orchids should be engaged to impart training to field staff.

Till now, only few have been included under Schedule VI of the Wild (Life) Protection Act, 1972, restricting collection from forests.

INCLUSION : All the species of the Orchidaceae family should be included in the Act for better protection.
SEED BANK : Orchid seed banks and germplasm banks should be established.
AWARENESS : By creating orchid conservation areas local people and tourists can be made aware of this plant wealth and its significance.
SUPPORT : With the support of the stakeholders, it may be easy to conserve this rare plant wealth.
SANCTUARIES : Orchid sanctuaries can also be formed as is the case in Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim.

Arunachal Pradesh, also known as ‘Orchid Paradise’, is the first to establish the Sessa orchid Sanctuary exclusively for orchids.

Assam is the second state that has set up the Deorali Orchid Sanctuary.

SOURCES:DownToEarth

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