Arunachal's rich and colourful orchids find a place of
pride. Out of about a thousand species of orchids in India, over 500 are to
be found in Arunachal alone. Hence Arunachal Pradesh can justly be called
the "Orchid Paradise" of our country.
These Orchids are colourful, spectacular and some bear exotic names such as
Sita-Pushpa and Draupadi-Pushpa, which were believed to have been worn by
Sita and Draupadi for ornamentation. Many of these orchids are rare,
endangered and highly ornamental with long-lasting flower qualities. Amongst
the orchids as many as 150 species are ornamental and commercially vital.
The Classification of Orchids
Orchids form a dominant group of plants with their attractive and exquisite
blooms.
Orchids in Arunachal Pradesh can also be classified into three species
found in the different forest types.
Terrestrial orchids - 140 species.
Saprophytes - 15 species
Epiphytes - 340 species.
The Prominent Species of Orchids
Cymbidium ansifolium, C. grandiflorum, Coelogyne corymbosa. Dendroblum
aphylla, D. fimbriatum var occulatum, D. densiflorum, Calanthe masuca,
Phaius flavus, Paphiopedilum. fairrieanum, P.venustum Renanthera
imschootiana, vanda coenulea , etc. Rhynchostylis retusa is the state flower
of Arunachal pradesh.
The Orchidorium at Tippi
Department of Environment and Forest, Govt. of Arunachal Pradesh has
established an Orchid Research and Development Station at Tipi in West
Kameng district for propagation and conservation of these species.
This centre has established a laboratory for orchids seed and tissue
culture for this purpose. In addition Orchidorium at Tippi, two orchid
conservation sanctuaries have been established at Sessa and Dirang in West
Kameng district. A wide varities of medicinal plant are also found.
The Orchid Centres
Orchid centres located at Itanagar,
Tipi, Sessa, Dirang, Jengging, Roing under the State Forest Research
Institute have good germ-plasm collection with about 400 species and
hybrids. Arunachal Pradesh having variety of ornamental orchids has great
potentials in orchid trade industry which consists of mainly of plant and
cut-flowers. Various ornamental orchid plants both species and hybrids are
sold in market either bare-root or potted plants. In fact, orchid growing
can be developed as a cottage industry in Arunachal Pradesh. Orchids are an
endangered plant group. Hence, orchid trade is regulated under the
Convention of Internation Trade for Endangered Species (CITES).
Since India is signatory to this convention, Orchid trade attracts the Wild
Life Protection Act (1972) of government of India amended in 1992.
Accordingly, Orchids have been brought under Schedule VI of Wild Life
Protection Act and the trade is regulated as per Rule..
Realising the precarious situation in all the Orchid habitats within the
State, the Orchid Society of Arunachal Pradesh was established to spread the
message of conservation and promotion of orchids throughout the state.
