Many orchid varieties set to disappear due to deforestation and climate change - Seminar

Many orchid varieties set to disappear due to deforestation and climate change - Seminar

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 8, 2014 :  Many varieties of  orchid flowers   have  gone scarce,   others  will soon become unavailable and unseen. The chief cause is deforestation, lamented  Orchid cultivator Quinnie Lasrado. 

She was the resource person at a training programme on orchid cultivation, conducted by the department of Horticulture in association with Siri Thotagarika Sangha at the horticulture department Deputy Director’s office in Bendur on November 7, Friday. 

More than  1,200 types of orchids grow in India and  Western Ghats and North East support the growth of a rich variety of orchids.  Western Ghat is home to more than 270  varieties of orchids and the climate here is suitable for the orchids. Rhynchostylis, locally recognised as Seetha Mudi or Seethale, which thrives, is found in along   Shiradi Ghat. The orchid carries many a legend behind it.

Kodagu has at least 65 types of orchids. Also, the hybrid of orchids has been made possible through the tissue culture, so that they flower in all seasons.

The climate of coastal area is the best suited for the more popular orchids, the Dendrobiums. Some orchids, which are not adaptable to the climate here, could be grown in an artificial environment. Orchids are not exported as they are considered as national assets, Quinnie Lasrado said.  Orchids can be broadly classified into epiphytic and terrestrial. Also, there are Lithophytes, which grows on rocks and such varieties.

One of the main varieties of orchids, Epiphytes, thrive on trees but they do not take nutrients from the trees but just cling on to the trees, without any organic connection with their hosts. They develop ariel roots which have the capacity to retain moisture. They are often mistaken for parasites. Dendrobiums and Oncidiums belong to Epiphytes category. Terrestrial orchids are those h growing  on the ground. In Mangalore, there are more than a dozen of the kind.   Method of preparing pot mixture was also demonstrated.

Horticulture department Deputy Director Praveen said that using the latest technology, one should try to cultivate orchids and should give importance to quality. First it should be taken as a hobby. It if goes well, later it could be commercialised.

Siri Thotagarika Sangha Vice President Lakshmi Rao Aroor, Joint Secretary K Nemiraj and Member Sharada Achar were present.