Documentation of Orchid Resources of Kiphire, Tuensang and Zunheboto Districts of Nagaland and Micropropagation of Two Threatened species

Abstract

In general, Orchids are known for their strikingly beautiful flowers of the different size range, fascinating shapes, and beautiful colours. They belong to a family Orchidaceae, which has outsmarted and outnumbered some other family of flowering plants by evolving higher levels of specialization in its vegetative and reproductive traits. North-East India is a part of The Himalayas as well as Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot, as a result of which this region has always fascinated the researchers. North-East India has the richest reservoir of plant diversity in India subcontinent and Indian orchids are mostly confined to the North-Eastern region and the Western Ghats. WesternGhats constitute about 1378 species and about 890 species are found in North-East India. Nagaland, one of the states of North-East India contributes significantly with about 396 species of 92 genera to family Orchidaceae which occupies a prominent place in the rich flora, many more being added later. Unfortunately, in recent years excessive human intervention has led to the rapid decline of floral diversity and orchids being intolerant to slight changes in microclimates have experienced a massive decline in population. All orchid species are thereby included under Annex B of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and subsequently, all Paphiopedilum species (Lady's slippers) are listed under Appendix I of CITES. The need for conservation both in-situ and ex-situ is necessitated therein for further sustainable utilization of this rich resource. The present study was thus undertaken to document orchid resource of three districts of Nagaland viz., Kiphire, Tuensang and Zunheboto and mass multiplication and conservation of two horticulturally important and threatened orchid species viz., Paphiopedilum insigne (Wallich ex Lindley) Pfitzer and Paphiopedilum villosum var. boxallii (Reichenbach fil.) Pfitzer is commonly known as Lady's slipper of which 9 species of the genera are found in India, 8 species restricted to Eastern Himalaya and North-East India with Paphiopedilum druryi (Bedd.) Pfitzer being endemic to the Western Ghats. The present documentation work has unearthed 180 species belonging to 58 genera from the three study area districts viz., Kiphire, Tuensang and Zunheboto.