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Full-length paper Asian Agri-History Vol. 15, No. 3, 2011 (231–241) 231 Conservation of Floral Biodiversity of Himalayan Mountain Regions with Special Reference to Orchids RB Ram, Rubee Lata, and ML Meena Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Vidya Vihar, Rae Bareli Road, Lucknow 226025, Uttar Pradesh, India (email: [email protected]) Abstract India is one of the largest reservoirs of orchid genetic resource in the world. But this genetic wealth of the country is vanishing at an alarming rate due to destruction, degradation, and shrinkage of natural habitats. There is immediate need to take up various conservation measures on scientific lines so that these genetic resources of orchids are conserved for utilization in future. If benevolence is a part of nature then the trees are its hallmarks. Biodiversity or biological diversity is a term used to describe the variety of life on Earth. It refers to the wide variety of ecosystems and living organisms: animals, plants, their habits and habitats and their genes. Biodiversity is the foundation of life on Earth. It is crucial for the functioning of ecosystems that provide us with products and services without which we could not live. Oxygen, food, freshwater, fertile soil, medicines, shelter, protection from storms and floods, stable climate, and recreation – all have their source in nature and healthy ecosystems. But biodiversity gives us much more than this. We depend on it for our security and health; it strongly affects our social relations and gives us freedom and choice. Biodiversity is extremely complex, dynamic, and varied like no other feature of the Earth. Its innumerable plants, animals, and microbes physically and chemically unite the atmosphere (the mixture of gases around the Earth), geosphere (the solid part of the Earth), and hydrosphere (the Earth’s water, ice, and water vapor) into one environmental system which makes it possible for millions of species, including people, to exist. At the same time, no other feature of the Earth has been so dramatically influenced by man’s activities. By changing biodiversity, we strongly affect human well-being and the well-being of every other living creature. The word Himalaya literally means ‘Abode of Snow’. Himalaya separates the Indian subcontinent from Tibetan Plateau. The

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Page 1: 8 Conservation of Floral - hpccc.gov.inhpccc.gov.in/PDF/Biodiversity/Floral/Conservation of Floral... · Conservation of Floral Biodiversity of Himalayan ... animals, plants,

Full-length paper Asian Agri-History Vol. 15, No. 3, 2011 (231–241) 231

Conservation of Floral Biodiversity of HimalayanMountain Regions with Special Reference to Orchids

RB Ram, Rubee Lata, and ML Meena

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), Vidya Vihar, Rae Bareli Road,Lucknow 226025, Uttar Pradesh, India (email: [email protected])

AbstractIndia is one of the largest reservoirs of orchid genetic resource in the world. But thisgenetic wealth of the country is vanishing at an alarming rate due to destruction,degradation, and shrinkage of natural habitats. There is immediate need to take upvarious conservation measures on scientific lines so that these genetic resources oforchids are conserved for utilization in future.

If benevolence is a part of nature then thetrees are its hallmarks. Biodiversity orbiological diversity is a term used to describethe variety of life on Earth. It refers to thewide variety of ecosystems and livingorganisms: animals, plants, their habits andhabitats and their genes. Biodiversity is thefoundation of life on Earth. It is crucial forthe functioning of ecosystems that provideus with products and services without whichwe could not live. Oxygen, food, freshwater,fertile soil, medicines, shelter, protection fromstorms and floods, stable climate, andrecreation – all have their source in natureand healthy ecosystems. But biodiversitygives us much more than this. We dependon it for our security and health; it stronglyaffects our social relations and gives usfreedom and choice.

Biodiversity is extremely complex, dynamic,and varied like no other feature of the Earth.Its innumerable plants, animals, andmicrobes physically and chemically unite theatmosphere (the mixture of gases aroundthe Earth), geosphere (the solid part of theEarth), and hydrosphere (the Earth’s water,ice, and water vapor) into one environmentalsystem which makes it possible for millionsof species, including people, to exist. At thesame time, no other feature of the Earthhas been so dramatically influenced by man’sactivities. By changing biodiversity, westrongly affect human well-being and thewell-being of every other living creature.

The word Himalaya literally means ‘Abodeof Snow’. Himalaya separates the Indiansubcontinent from Tibetan Plateau. The

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232 Conservation of orchids

Himalayan mountain system is the Earth’shighest and home of the world’s highestpeaks. The main Himalayan range runs westto east from Indus river valley toBrahmaputra river valley forming an arc2400 km long which varies in width from400 km in the western (Kashmir-Xinjiang)region to 150 km in eastern Tibet –Arunachal Pradesh region. The climate ofthis region varies from tropical at the baseof the mountain to permanent ice and snowat highest elevation. The amount of yearlyrainfall increases from west to east alongthe front range. The diversity of climate interms of altitude, temperature, relativehumidity, rainfall, wind velocity, sunshine, andsoil conditions have led to evolve a varietyof distinct plant and animal species.

Global scenario ofbiodiversityMore than 1800 Botanical Gardens andarboreta are situated in about 148 countries,which together keep more than 4 millionliving plants belonging to more than 80,000species of vascular plants. Thus, theBotanical Gardens and other plantconservation centers in the world play a verycrucial role as centers for rescue, recovery,and rehabilitation of rare, endangered, andextinction prone species of plants and othervaluable plant genetic resources.

The Botanical Gardens also play animportant role in education and as a centerof training in areas such as horticulture,gardening, landscaping, ex-situ conservation,and environmental awareness. It is estimatedthat nearly 10,000 species of plants are foundin the Himalayan region of which about 3160

are endemic as are 71 genera. Furthermore,five plant families are endemic to the region:Tetracentraceae, Hamamelidaceae,Circaesteraceae, Butomaceae, andStachyuraceae. The largest family offlowering plants in the hot-spot isOrchidaceae with nearly 800 species. TheEastern Himalaya is also the center ofdiversity for several widely distributed planttaxa such as Rhododendron, Primula, andPedicularis (see box on facing page).

OrchidsOrchids are distinctive plants and highlypriced in the international florist trade dueto their intricately designed spectacularflowers, brilliant colors, delightfulappearance, myriads of sizes, shapes,structures, forms, and long-lasting qualities(Fig. 1). This majesty of nature representsthe most highly evolved family Orchidaceae,among monocotyledons. Orchid cut flowers

Figure 1. Orchids valued for spectacularflowers.

Biodiversity is the foundation of life onEarth.

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Asian Agri-History Vol. 15, No. 3, 2011 233

Horticultural plants grown in Himalayan regions

Flowering trees: Azalea (Azalea spp.), burans (Rhododendron spp.), camellia (Camellia spp.),magnolia (Magnolia spp.), ritha (Sapindus mukorossi), robinia (Robinia pseudo acacia), panger(Aesculus indica), maple (Acer spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), etc.

Ornamental foliage trees: Birch (Betula), cypresses (surai), buckeye (Aesculus spp.), deodar(Cedrus deodara), chenar (Platanus spp.), elm (Ulmus), juniper (Juniperus spp.), chilgoza(Pinus gerardiana), pine (Pinus spp.), poplar (Populus spp.), thuja (Thuja spp.), weepingwillow (Salix spp.), etc.

Flowering shrubs: Azalea, camellia, damask rose, Edouard rose, fuchsia, geranium,hydrangea, lantana, Stephnandra incisa (April plant/pseudo rose plant), shrimp plant(Beloperone guttata), Spirea spp., Vinca, etc.

Ornamental foliage shrubs: Cypresses (surai), panger (Aesculus indica), juniper, thuja, etc.

Flowering climbers: Abutilon megapotamicum, Abutilon vitifolium, Californica, Canothus,Chaenomeles, Chaenomeles speciosa, Chimonanthus fragrans, clematis, climber rose, cotoneaster,Cytisus battandieri, Forsythia suspansa, Fremontodendron, honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), hop(Humulus lupulus), Imprepps, ipomoea, japonica, Pyracantha, passion flower, rambler rose, Solanumcrispum speciosa, Wisteria sinensis, etc.

Ornamental foliage climbers: Asparagus, Hedera helix, hop (Humulus lupulus), etc.

Bulbous plants (perennial herbaceous/annuals):

Corms: Gladiolus, Crocosmia, Crocus spp., freesia, etc.Bulbs: Amaryllis, daffodil, tiger/torch lily, lily, narcissus, tulip, anemone, gloxinia, primulaRhizomes: Iris, Sterlitzia (The Bird of Paradise), orchids, etc.Tuberous roots/stems: Begonia (tuberous begonia), caladium, cyclamen, dahlia

Suckers: Chrysanthemum, coreopsis (Calliopsis)

Medicinal plants: Aloe vera, ephedra, kala jeera/shahi jeera (Carum carvi), Chrysanthemumspp., coreopsis, Mentha, seabuckthorn

Succulents: Argyroderma delaetii, crassula, Echeveria potosina, Sedum morganianum

Annual flowering plants: Acroclinum, antirrhinum, calendula, California poppy, carnation,chrysanthemum, cineraria, cocks’ comb, coreopsis (Calliopsis), cosmos, daisy, dianthus,Dimorphotheca, Digitalis purpurea, Gazania, gaillardia, Godetia, golden rod (Solidagocanadensis), Helichrysum, hollyhock, ice flower, Kochia, larkspur, Linaria, Linum, lupine,marigold (African and French), Mimulus, nasturtium, Nemesia, pansy, petunia, poppy, salvia,phlox, primrose, silk weed (Asclepias physocarpa), sweet pea, sweet william, stock, Torenia,Venedum, verbena, wallflower, zinnia, etc.

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234 Conservation of orchids

have taken a prime position in theinternational market and have immenselycontributed to the economy of severaldeveloped and developing countries.

India is one of the largest reservoirs of orchidgenetic resource in the world. But thisgenetic wealth of the country is vanishingat an alarming rate due to destruction,degradation, and shrinkage of naturalhabitats. There is immediate need toundertake various conservation measures onscientific lines so that these geneticresources of orchids are conserved forutilization in future. Orchids arecommercially grown for cut flowers andornamental potted plants.

The family Orchidaceae comprises 18500species of orchids in 788 generaconstituting the second largest family offlowering plants in the world. India alonehas contributed 1229 species in 184 generaand many more are discovered year afteryear. India accounts for nearly 7% of totalgenetic diversity of orchids in the world.The distribution pattern reveals five majorphyto-geographical regions namely –Eastern India, Eastern Himalaya, WesternHimalaya, Peninsular region, and Andaman

and Nicobar Islands. The genusDendrobium with 104 known speciesconstitutes the largest genus of orchids inIndia. The three genera Jejosephia,Smithsonia, and Xenikophyton and 352species are endemic to the country. Anumber of species are near endemic, i.e.,extending their distribution only toneighboring countries.

Orchid habitat

Orchids are herbaceous perennials withwide range of habit and habitat. They canbe found on trees and rocks, humus-richforest floors, humus-rich moist forest floors,forest borders, grassy/gravely slopes, andembankments in shaded, semi-shaded,exposed habitats. They can grow on soil(terrestrials), on other plants (epiphytes), onrocks (lithophytes), and marshy land. As pertheir distribution they have been broadlyclassified into tropical, subtropical, andtemperate. Some orchids have wide rangeof occurrence (cosmopolitan), while othersare very specific to a particular locality(endemic). Orchids have very wide rangeof distribution in India (Tables 1 and 2). Theyhave been recorded from low-level plainsto an elevation of 4300 m.

Orchidarium

An orchidarium (orchid house/shade house)(Fig. 2) is a structure that provides optimumenvironmental conditions, viz., temperature,humidity, light, and air circulation, for growthand flowering of orchids. It also provides50–60% shade to the plants with diffusedsunlight and fresh air by covering the topwith shade-net.

The Botanical Gardens and otherplant conservation centers in theworld play a very crucial role ascenters for rescue, recovery, and

rehabilitation of rare, endangered,and extinction prone species of plants

and other valuable plant geneticresources.

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Asian Agri-History Vol. 15, No. 3, 2011 235

Figure 2. Orchids grown in an orchidarium.

Table 1. Distribution of orchid genetic resources in different phyto-geographical regionsof India.

Phyto-geographical regions No. of species

Peninsular Region 250Eastern India 130Eastern Himalaya 650Western Himalaya 250Andaman and Nicobar Islands 80Central India and Gangetic Plains 60Western Ghats 5

Table 2. Distribution of commercially potential orchids in India.

Southern and AndamanEastern India Western India Central India Nicobar Islands

Aerides Aerides Aerides AeridesArundina Bulbophyllum Calanthe BulbophyllumBulbophyllum Calanthe Coelogyne CymbidiumCalanthe Coelogyne Cymbidium DendrobiumCoelogyne Cymbidium Dendrobium PhalaenopsisCymbidium Cypripedium Rhynchostylis PholidotaCypripedium Dactylorhiza Vanda RhynchostylisDendrobium Dendrobium Vanilla VandaGastrochilus Goodyera VanillaGoodyera RhynchostylisPaphiopedilum VandaPhaiusPhalaenopsisPholidotaRhynchostylisVandaVanilla

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236 Conservation of orchids

Loss/erosion of orchidbiodiversity

Orchids in their natural habitat are highlyvulnerable to loss or erosion. Thevulnerability to erosion seems from twosources: the first being their highlyspecialized life cycle – mode of living,dependency on pollinators for pollination,lack of reserved food material in the seed,and reliance on mycorrhizal fungi for seedgermination; and second, ornamental andtherapeutic value that they possess hasmade man interested in them. Each speciesis adapted to live in a specialized environmentbecause of their specialized requirementsand many species are very restricted indistribution. Any destruction, degradation, ordefragmentation of natural habitat beyonda tolerable limit causes threat for theirsurvival. It is estimated that nearly 250species of native orchids are under thethreats of various categories. Certain specieslike Aphyllorchis gollaoii, Coelogynetruetleri, Anoectochilus rotandifolius,Paphiopedilum charlsworthii,Paphiopedilum wardii, Vanda wightiana,Pleione lagenaria, and Zeuxine pulchraprobably have vanished from Indian lands.Of the known 1229 species of Indianorchids, 352 are endemic of which 40 are“endangered” and 72 are “vulnerable”.These endemic species are exclusivebiological capital of the country; once lostor become extinct, it is an irrecoverable lossas biodiversity is the sovereign right of thecountry as per Convention of Biodiversity.Many plants are often lost due to poorcultural conditions, indifferent housing,changing and often inexperienced staff, and

a shortage of funds for the care andmaintenance of plants. For maintaining livecollections, provenance field data is requiredto establish and maintain the plants in themost suitable way. The problems that arelikely to be confronted in maintaining livecollections could be conjectured by theirspecialized life cycle, distribution, and modeof living. There is urgent need fordevelopment of agro-technique for eachspecies to be conserved in field gene banks.Unlike other flowering plants they havecomplex life cycle and specific requirementfor temperature, light, nutrient, etc. for propergrowth and development. It would bedifficult to maintain the germplasm at oneplace until the center is equipped withenvironmentally controlled glasshouses andthe targeted orchids are studied for theirclimatic requirements and agronomicpractices. For example, at Royal BotanicalGarden, Kew, nearly 5000 species oforchids from different parts of the worldhave been conserved in greenhouses havingeight different sets of environmentalconditions. There are various otherorganizations working for ex-situconservation of orchids in differentagroclimatic zones of India. There is anurgent need to bring such organizationsunder the National Active Germplasm Sites.

Biodiversity conservation

In-situ conservation

In-situ conservation of species ensures theirnatural growth, proliferation, and perpetuationwithout hindering the process of evolution aspart of natural ecosystem. India has anelaborate Protective Area Network (PAN)

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Asian Agri-History Vol. 15, No. 3, 2011 237

comprising 86 National Parks, 480 wildlifesanctuaries covering about 4.66% of totalgeographical area of the country. There isfurther plan to expand this network to 160national parks and 698 wildlife sanctuaries tocover 5.69% of total geographical area of thecountry. This network automatically providesthe protection to the species that lie in them.Unfortunately, many important and endangeredorchids, viz., Paphiopedilum druryi inAghasthymalai hills of Kerala, Vandacoerulea in Meghalaya, Paphiopedilumwardii and P. specerianum in Assam,Renanthera imscootiana in ArunachalPradesh and many more lie outside PAN. Afew conscious State Governments likeArunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Karnataka, andWest Bengal have designated the orchid richhabitats as “Orchid Sanctuaries”. Thesesanctuaries attract Wildlife Protection Act,1972 as amended in 1992.

Ex-situ conservationField gene banks. In India, orchidshave been the concern of botanists whocollected them for study and conservedthem from fear of loss in their naturalhabitats. The Botanical Survey of India hasestablished three National Orchidaria atShillong, Yurcaud, and Howrah forconservation and multiplication of orchids.Similarly, states like Arunachal Pradesh,

Assam, Mizoram, Karnataka, Nagaland,West Bengal, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh,and Orissa have also collected andconserved the orchids. The TropicalBotanical Garden Research Institute(TBGRI), Kerala, National ResearchCentre for Orchids, Sikkim, and severalother organizations are also engaged inconserving orchids. The orchids germplasmavailable with various institutions indifferent regions is given in Table 1. Orchidsare often conserved in polyhouse/glasshouse termed as orchidarium. Thesestructures need to be constructed keepingin view the climatic conditions required forthe species to be conserved. Thegermplasm lines conserved in suchstructures are also at high risk of diseasesand pests and require proper care andmonitoring of the plants.

Artificial natural habitats. Other thanorchidaria, orchids can also be conserved in“artificial natural habitat” where epiphyticorchids are tied on suitable host plant andterrestrials are planted in pots or in theground (Fig. 3). The objective of this methodis providing similar condition as that ofnature. This method of conserving orchidgermplasm reduces the cost on maintenanceand incidence of diseases and pests. But itsapplicability is limited by availability of

Orchid cut flowers have taken aprime position in the international

market and have immenselycontributed to the economy of

several developed and developingcountries.

These endemic species are exclusivebiological capital of the country; once

lost or become extinct, it is anirrecoverable loss as biodiversity is thesovereign right of the country as per

Convention of Biodiversity.

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238 Conservation of orchids

suitable host and adaptability of species innew environment. The species having wideradaptability or specific to that particularlocality can be conserved by this method.This method has successfully been tried forconserving various epiphytic and terrestrialorchids at Darjeeling Campus of NationalResearch Centre for Orchids.

Orchid seed banks. Orchids producemillions of seed in a single capsule but theylack in metabolic machinery and functionalendosperm and therefore, requiremycorrhizal association for germination innature. Consequently, the percentage ofgermination is calculated to be 0.01 to 0.2%.Many of the orchids have been germinatedthrough asymbiotic technique wheregermination has been found as high as 90%.The seeds of orchids are orthodox in natureand provide a great scope for long-termstorage through cryopreservation technique.Owing to their minute size, a large numberof seeds can be maintained in small volume.However, long-term storage of orchid seedswould require studies on storage duration,seed viability, etc.

In-vitro conservation

Maintenance of orchid germplasm in fieldgene bank requires huge investment and thegermplasm is also affected by insect pestsand diseases. Therefore, in-vitroconservation of orchid germplasm requiresattention. In-vitro conservation techniquecan also be used for revitalization of orchidgermplasm affected by virus and virus-likediseases as meristem culture technique isfound to eliminate many of the viruses.Though the orchids were the first plants tobe tissue cultured, for in-vitro conservationof orchids, studies on genetic stability,storage duration, etc. need to be carried out.

Conclusion

• India is one of the primary/secondarycenter of orchid biodiversity and themajor regions of diversity areNortheastern Himalayas, WesternGhats, and Andaman and NicobarIslands. The systematic collection andconservation of orchids for valueaddition through crossing and selectionhas started very recently.

Figure 3. Terrestrial orchids in “artificial natural habitat”.

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Asian Agri-History Vol. 15, No. 3, 2011 239

Classification of Cymbidium cultivars

Cymbidium cultivars classified on the basis of raceme length

50–60%: Sensation ‘Cecil Park’, Arunta ‘Lovely Lips’, Kenny ‘Wine Color’, Yankalilia,Vivacious ‘Super White’, Margaret Thatcher ‘Perfection’, Minisarah ‘Artition’

40–50%: Hawtescence, Levis Duke ‘Bella Vista’, Eden Valley ‘Bonanza’, Soul Hunt-6,Pine Clash ‘Moon Venus’, Showgirl ‘Cooksbridge’, Bertha ‘Petel Short’,September ‘Sunset’, Kenny ‘Wine Color’

30–40%: Tahiti, Ann Green, Lillian Stewart ‘April Blush’, Angelica ‘December Gold’,San Francisco ‘The Beat’, Swallow var. Takarazukzuki

20–30%: Sleeping Nypmph ‘Glacier’, Princess Elizabeth ‘Linda’

Cymbidium cultivars classified on the basis of flower count

<9: Hawtescence, Sleeping Nymph ‘Glacier’, Princess Elizabeth ‘Linda’, SoulHunt-6, Swallow var. Takarazukzuki

9–12: Tahiti, Vanguard ‘Christmas Beauty’, Vivacious ‘Super White’, San Francisco‘The Beat’, Kenny ‘Wine Color’, Arunta ‘Lovely Lips’

12–14: Sensation ‘Cecil Park’, Hawtescence, Eden Valley ‘Bonanza’, Pine Clash‘Moon Venus’, Showgirl ‘Cooksbridge’, Minisarah ‘Artition’

>14: Lillian Stewart ‘April Blush’, Margaret Thatcher ‘Perfection’, Amesbury‘Frank Slattery’, Bertha ‘Petel Short’, September ‘Sunset’, Yankalilia

Different categories of Cymbidium cultivars suitable for cut flower production underhill conditions

Standard

Early season: Hawtescence, Eden Valley ‘Bonanza’, Pine Clash ‘Moon Venus’Mid season: Vivacious ‘Super White’, Sensation ‘Cecil Park’Late season: Margaret Thatcher ‘Perfection’, Levis Duke ‘Bella Vista’

Miniatures and IntermediatesMid season: Arunta ‘Lovely Lips’, Kenny ‘Wine Color’, Showgirl ‘Cooksbridge’, Bertha

‘Petel Short’, Amesbury ‘Frank Slattery’

Late season: Minisarah ‘Artition’, Yankalilia

• The climatic conditions of Himalayasare more suitable for cultivation ofstandard Cymbidium cultivars ratherthan intermediates and miniatures(Fig. 4). The standard Cymbidiumcultivars fetch higher price in the

market than miniature or intermediateCymbidium cultivars. The cultivarsgiven below (see box) may be chosenfor cultivation under high altitudeconditions of NortheasternHimalayas.

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240 Conservation of orchids

• The indigenous species need to beevaluated for the desired attributes sothat these can be used as potted plantsor as parents for hybridization. The fieldgene banks may suffer due to diseaseand improper management, which wouldresult in erosion of genetic resources.Hence, seed conservation and in-vitroconservation deserves attention.

• For promoting the production of flowers(loose flowers or cut flowers) anddecorative plants, and contract seedmultiplication, sophisticated technologymay be imported initially. However, theinfrastructure should then be built upwithin the country. There is no dearthof brain and bank.

• A moral awakening is the need of thehour. Nudge the economy towardcapitalism.

• Nevertheless, the interaction betweenthe universities and industry has to beencouraged and nurtured. However,shared ambition would be the vital nexusbetween them.

Bibliography

Bank DP. 2004. Orchid Growers Companion:Cultivation, Propagation and Varieties. TimberPress Inc, USA.

Bhattacharjee SK. 1997. Growing orchids forexport and domestic market. Indian Horticulture42(3):28–34.

C u l l i n a W. 2 0 0 4 . U n d e r s t a n d i n gOrchids: An Uncomplicated Guide toGrowing the World’s Most Exotic Plants.Houghton Miffing Company, New York,USA.

Ghosh BN. 1968. Beautiful Indian Orchids.Mani Printing House, Darjeeling, India.

Hagsater E and Dumont V. 1996. Orchid:Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan.IUCN, Orchid Specialist Group, Gland,Switzerland.

Kull TJ, Arditti, and Wong J. 2009. OrchidBiology: Reviews and Perspectives. SpringerInc, Netherlands.

Mukherjee SK. 1983. Orchids. ICAR, NewDelhi, India.

Pritchard HW. 1989. Modern Methods inOrchid Conservation: The Role of Physiology,Ecology and Management. CambridgeUniversity Press, UK.

Figure 4. Cymbidium orchid.

Orchids produce millions of seed ina single capsule but they lack in

metabolic machinery andfunctional endosperm and

therefore, require mycorrhizalassociation for germination in

nature.

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Asian Agri-History Vol. 15, No. 3, 2011 241

Sharma J. 1996. Orchids of India:Commercialization and Conservation. DayaPublishing House, New Delhi, India.

Shiva KN, Sujata Nair A, and Medhi RP. 2006.Genetic diversity in orchids. Indian Horticulture51(1):3 & 37.

Trivedi PP. 1990. Beautiful Shrubs. ICAR, NewDelhi, India.

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