26 more new orchid species blooms in State
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, July 14 2012: Blessed with climatic condition considered highly suitable for a variety of flora and fauna to flourish, Manipur continues to be a thriving location for orchids as 26 more new species have been added to the burgeoning list.

The discovery about the new species was revealed by Principal Investigator (PI) of Centre for Orchid Gene Conservation of the Eastern Himalaya Region, Prof (Retd) SP Vij on the occasion of inaugurating a laboratory building at Henbung hill range in Senapati district today.

In addition to the 26 new species discovered from the hills of Senapati and Ukhrul districts, research teams of the Centre is informed to have collected 211 species so far out of the total of 286 species found in the Eastern Himalayan region.

A former faculty member of Punjab University and an avid orchid researcher for nearly five decades, Prof Vij exclaimed, "we have now preserved all the 237 species at the centre's orchidarium and field gene bank.

Our team will continue to survey the remaining hill districts of Tamenglong, Chandel and Churachandpur and we are expecting around 500 species if we scan the entire jungles of Manipur" .

(Left) An orchid plant nurtured at the Henbung facility and inauguration of the laboratory building

He maintained that the 26 new species were spotted during surveys conducted recently in the deep jungles of the State.

Prof Vij sustains his enthusiasm in orchid researches and discoveries with a team of 20 staff comprising of scientists, technicians and junior research fellows of the Centre, which was reportedly set up in 2010 and funded by the ministry of science and technology.

The centre's host institute in the State is the Foundation for Economic and Environment Development Services (Feeds), an NGO headed by former legislator Haokholet Kipgen.

the centre's new research and development laboratory building was inaugurated today by secretary of the centre's department of science and technology T Ramasami.

According to Haokholet Kipgen orchids are globally adored for their captivating beauty and long lasting flowers as well as widespread usages for therapeutic purposes in curing different ailments of man.

Stating that India is rich in orchid resource and the Indian Himalayan region alone is home to nearly 1000 species, Haokholet conceded that full realization of their economic potential has, however, remained abysmally low due to lack of awareness about these plants and non availability of suitable planting materials.

Maintaining that a number of species found in the State continue to be illegally smuggled into Myanmar where a kilogram fetches about Rs 300 to 600 per kilogram, he put the price of orchids on reaching Chinese soil to about $15000 for the same quantity, as the flower plants are in high demand due to its medicinal value under the eastern medical system.

Haokholet also conveyed that the Centre has its own ultra-modern laboratory, an orchidarium and field gene bank spread over an area of 250 acres and soon orchid germ-plasm would be made available to growers, research institute, forest department and different universities of the country.

He also highlighted that the centre would focus on training, technology for protecting, restoring endangered species, identification of useful species, cultivation, processing, packaging, marketing and linkages with collectors and farmers and a strong communication networks to link-up with medicinal plant experts.

Senior scientist of the Centre RK Kishore said field survey to collect orchid species would be conducted very soon.

Central Agricultural University Vice Chancellor SN Puri and Deputy Commissioner (Senapati) PK Jha were also present at the inaugural ceremony.