Western Ghats News

Photo-documented publication of orchids soon
PTI[ FRIDAY, APRIL 04, 2003 07:06:53 PM ]
COIMBATORE: The Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary in Pollachi in Tamil Nadu would soon bring out a publication of orchids, by photo documenting and identifying all orchid species in the Anamalai region. 

Since more than 30 species of orchids had been photo-documented, it was also proposed to maintain an Orchidarium at Topslip for the benefit of students and general public, Wildlife Warden V Ganesan told PTI here.

With continuing efforts, a new Bamboo Orchid (arundina graminifolia) has been recorded recently, which was not found in the earlier floral studies in the area, he said.

This orchid was found in association with the Nilgiri Lily near Vellimudi at about 1100 metre elevation in Anamalais, he said.

Saying that Anamalais in the Western Ghats is having very rich diversity in the orchid flora, Ganesan, however, said it had not been studied fully by botanists or horticulturists.

Orchids, grown in glass house, green house or orchid house under cultivation were mostly of hybrid origin, he said. 

Of late, micropropagation techniques like tissue culture play a vital role in large scale multiplication export oriented orchids, he said, adding that Western Ghats being one of the global biodiversity hotspots, the orchid diversity in the wild was also very unique in this region.