Uttarakhand

• 03 Aug 2024

Rare Orchid Species

Why in News?

Recently, Two research associates from the Uttarakhand forest department found a rare orchid species, Calanthe davidii, at Gini Band in Munsyari tehsil of Pithoragarh district.

Key Points

• India is home to 244 orchid species, and Uttarakhand hosts 120 of them, some of which are exceptionally rare.
  • One such rare species is Calanthe davidii, a terrestrial plant that grows in clusters and reaches heights between 40 and 90 centimeters.
    • This species was initially discovered in the Western Himalayas, including Mussoorie and Mayabasti in Uttarakhand, Chamba in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Arunachal Pradesh.
    • In Uttarakhand, it was first found in Mussoorie in 1898 and in Champawat in 2002.
    • This species is under threat due to seasonal goat herding activities.
• In response, the Uttarakhand forest research wing has initiated efforts to cultivate the plants in a nursery located in Chamoli district, in order to conserve this species.