herbarium of the Department of Botany, Tripura University.

However, we did not compare our collected specimen with

the isotype specimen at the Botanical Survey of India. This

study reveals that four orchid species viz., Coelogyne

flexuosa Rolfe, Bulbophyllum lobbii Lindl, Liparis odorata

(Willd) Lindl, Dendrobium densiflorum Lindl, which are

reported here as new distributional records for the state

(Table 1 & Fig.1).

Fig. 1. Map showing distribution locations of newly recorded four

orchid species of Tripura, North-East India

Table 1. List of four new recorded Orchid species along with their geographic details

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Taxonomic description1. Coelogyne flexuosa Rolfe, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1892

(69): 209.

Synonyms: Coelogyne bimaculata Ridl.; Ptychogyne

bimaculata (Ridl.) Pfitzer; Ptychogyne flexuosa (Rolfe)

Pfitzer.

Description: Pseudobulb close, about 7 cm long, 3.5cm

wide near the base, ovoid, ridged, leaves2, about 25 by 5 cm,

with a short stalk, tip acute, edges slightly wavy. Inflores-

cence erect, on fully grown young pseudobulb, the scape

slender, 20 cm long, the rachis 15cm, flexous, bearing about

15 flowers all open together. Bracts 3cm long, falling. Flower

white, not widely opening. Sepals about 1.7 by 0.6 cm, petals

1.4 by 0.4cm, side lobes lip erect, rounded, mid lobe half total

length of lip, hardly widening from the base, very shortly

tipped, about 6mm wide, keels on lip 3, smooth, from near

base to apex, interrupted near base where the laterals are a

little longer, a yellow patch across middle of mid-lobe and

continued back along base of side lobes, column 7mm long,

narrowly winged (Fig. 2).

Flowering and Fruiting: April–June

Distribution: peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Bali and Java,

India, Tripura.

Status: Locally rare.

Ecology: Found in hilly forests at elevations of 700 to 900

meters high up on isolated tree trunks and branches in bright

light as a medium sized, warm to cool growing epiphyte with

close set, ovoid, ridged pseudobulb.

Medicinal use: Paste of pseudobulb is applied to forehead to

cure headache and fever, juice is taken for indigestion.

Exsiccatae: Tripura, North district, Jampui hill, Datta and

Baishnab, TUH-1960, Dated 02-05-2017

2. Bulbophyllum lobbi Lindl., Edwards's Bot.

Reg.33:t.29. 1847.

Synonyms: Bullbophyllum claptonense Rolfe; Bullbophyllum

henshallii Lindley; Bulbophyllum lobbii Lindley var

henshallii Lindley Bulbophyllum lobbii Lindley var

siamense Rchbf ; Bulbophyllum siamense Rchbf.

Description: Rhizome usually rather long, creeper, bearing a

series of pseudobulbs. Leaves one, arise from the apex of

pseudobulb, leaf blade leathery. Scape arises from the base of

a pseudobulb and covers pseudobulb. Flowers are solitary 5-

6 cm across, yellow with thin longitudinal, brown stripes

across all floral segments. Petals and sepals are shaped like

blades. Dorsal sepal is upright and pointed. Petals are

horizontal and curve downwards towards the tip (Fig. 3).

Flowering and fruiting: March-May

Distribution: Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines at elevations of 200 to 2000 meters,

Name of the plant Accession No.

Habit Occurrence GeographicalCoordination

Coelogyne

flexuosa

Rolfe

TUH-1960

Epiphytic Jampui range, North District of

Tripura

23°49'58.0"N,092°15'30.1"E

Bulbophyllum

lobbii

Lindl.

TUH-1972

Epiphytic Chandrapur, Gomati District

of Tripura.

23°27'43.0"N,091°29'41.8"E

Liparis odorata (Willd.) Lindl. TUH-1980 Terrestrial Udaipur, Peratia 23°27'43.0"N,091°29'41.8"E

Dendrobium densiflorum Lindl. TUH-1985 Epiphyte Jampui hill 23°49'58.0"N,092°15'30.1"E

FOUR NEW ADDITIONS OF ORCHID SPECIES FOR THE FLORA OF TRIPURA,NORTH EAST INDIA

B. Baishnab, B. Banik, K. Majumdar* and B.K. Datta

Plant Taxonomy & Biodiversity Laboratory, Department of Botany, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar, Tripura, India

*Correspondence: majumdark80@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION

Orchidaceae is one of the largest and highly evolved families

of angiosperms, consisting of about 28,000 currently

accepted species, distributed in about 763 genera

(Christenhusz et al., 2016). So far about 1331 species under

186 genera have been reported from India out of which about

900 species in 165 genera are found in North East India

(Misra 2007; Rao 2007). Orchids are cultivated for their

beautiful flowers, economic importance and also for their

medicinal value. Their worldwide distribution is due to their

range of diversity in shape, size and colour of flowers and

comprising of herbaceous plants, characterized by distinct

floral morphology, pollination mechanism, association with

unique fungal partners (mycorrhizae) and miniscule seeds

they are consider to be the highly advanced family in

monocots (Singh et al., 2001). In the flora of Tripura state

there are 33 orchid species under 22 genera (Deb 1983).

Tripura is one of the eighth states of north-east India, third-

smallest state in the country and it is bordered by Bangladesh

to the north, south, and west, and the Indian states of Assam 2and Mizoram to the east. The area of Tripura is 10491 km of

2which about 17.4% that is 1825 km is under forest cover.

Tripura located on the extreme corner of the Indian

subcontinent. It extends from 22°56'N to 24°32'N, and

91°09'E to 92°20'E. Its maximum extent measures about 184

km from north to south, and 113 km east to west. This small

state divided into eight districts, these are Dhalai, Sipahijala,

Khowai, Gomati, North Tripura, South Tripura, West

Tripura, and Unakoti. Its unique ecosystem favours growth

of plants considered as Natures reservoir of plants

resources. Almost all varieties of plants relating to different

climatic conditions are found in the state where orchids are

important component of vegetation. The climate of Tripura

is typically a tropical dry and wet climate with a high level of

humidity and heavy rainfall. The four main seasons are

winter, from December to February; pre-monsoon or

summer, from March to April; monsoon, from May to

September; and post-monsoon, from October to November.

The rainy and moist environment of the state supports a

diversified flora including rich orchid diversity.

METHODOLOGY

Several field visits were made throughout the state in

different districts during 2016-2017 covering all the season

of the year. During field exploration we collected several

orchid species. Fresh orchid species were collected from the

field for taxonomical study as well as made into standard

mounted herbarium sheets following the procedure of (Jain

1977). The identity of collected specimens determined by

study of detailed taxonomic descriptions in different floras

(Hooker 1890; Chowdhery 1998, 2009) and other relevant

taxonomic study and e-floras of India and abroad

(http://www.efloras.org; https://sites.google.com/site/e

floraofindia/). The voucher specimens were deposited in the

ABSTRACT

In the present study, four additional Orchids belonging to genera, Coelogyne, Bulbophyllum, Liparis, and Dendrobium of the

family Orchidaceae were considered as new addition to the flora of Tripura, Northeast India. Present information will be

useful for future population assessment and reproductive biology studies to manage its wild stock. In Tripura, orchids suffer

large-scale extinction especially as a result of clear felling of large trees, modification preferred habitat and might due to the

effect of climate change.

Keywords: Orchids, New distribution, Conservation, Bulbophyllum.

ENVIS Centre on Himalayan Ecology ENVIS Bulletin Himalayan Ecology, Vol 25, 2017111 112

herbarium of the Department of Botany, Tripura University.

However, we did not compare our collected specimen with

the isotype specimen at the Botanical Survey of India. This

study reveals that four orchid species viz., Coelogyne

flexuosa Rolfe, Bulbophyllum lobbii Lindl, Liparis odorata

(Willd) Lindl, Dendrobium densiflorum Lindl, which are

reported here as new distributional records for the state

(Table 1 & Fig.1).

Fig. 1. Map showing distribution locations of newly recorded four

orchid species of Tripura, North-East India

Table 1. List of four new recorded Orchid species along with their geographic details

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Taxonomic description1. Coelogyne flexuosa Rolfe, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1892

(69): 209.

Synonyms: Coelogyne bimaculata Ridl.; Ptychogyne

bimaculata (Ridl.) Pfitzer; Ptychogyne flexuosa (Rolfe)

Pfitzer.

Description: Pseudobulb close, about 7 cm long, 3.5cm

wide near the base, ovoid, ridged, leaves2, about 25 by 5 cm,

with a short stalk, tip acute, edges slightly wavy. Inflores-

cence erect, on fully grown young pseudobulb, the scape

slender, 20 cm long, the rachis 15cm, flexous, bearing about

15 flowers all open together. Bracts 3cm long, falling. Flower

white, not widely opening. Sepals about 1.7 by 0.6 cm, petals

1.4 by 0.4cm, side lobes lip erect, rounded, mid lobe half total

length of lip, hardly widening from the base, very shortly

tipped, about 6mm wide, keels on lip 3, smooth, from near

base to apex, interrupted near base where the laterals are a

little longer, a yellow patch across middle of mid-lobe and

continued back along base of side lobes, column 7mm long,

narrowly winged (Fig. 2).

Flowering and Fruiting: April–June

Distribution: peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Bali and Java,

India, Tripura.

Status: Locally rare.

Ecology: Found in hilly forests at elevations of 700 to 900

meters high up on isolated tree trunks and branches in bright

light as a medium sized, warm to cool growing epiphyte with

close set, ovoid, ridged pseudobulb.

Medicinal use: Paste of pseudobulb is applied to forehead to

cure headache and fever, juice is taken for indigestion.

Exsiccatae: Tripura, North district, Jampui hill, Datta and

Baishnab, TUH-1960, Dated 02-05-2017

2. Bulbophyllum lobbi Lindl., Edwards's Bot.

Reg.33:t.29. 1847.

Synonyms: Bullbophyllum claptonense Rolfe; Bullbophyllum

henshallii Lindley; Bulbophyllum lobbii Lindley var

henshallii Lindley Bulbophyllum lobbii Lindley var

siamense Rchbf ; Bulbophyllum siamense Rchbf.

Description: Rhizome usually rather long, creeper, bearing a

series of pseudobulbs. Leaves one, arise from the apex of

pseudobulb, leaf blade leathery. Scape arises from the base of

a pseudobulb and covers pseudobulb. Flowers are solitary 5-

6 cm across, yellow with thin longitudinal, brown stripes

across all floral segments. Petals and sepals are shaped like

blades. Dorsal sepal is upright and pointed. Petals are

horizontal and curve downwards towards the tip (Fig. 3).

Flowering and fruiting: March-May

Distribution: Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines at elevations of 200 to 2000 meters,

Name of the plant Accession No.

Habit Occurrence GeographicalCoordination

Coelogyne

flexuosa

Rolfe

TUH-1960

Epiphytic Jampui range, North District of

Tripura

23°49'58.0"N,092°15'30.1"E

Bulbophyllum

lobbii

Lindl.

TUH-1972

Epiphytic Chandrapur, Gomati District

of Tripura.

23°27'43.0"N,091°29'41.8"E

Liparis odorata (Willd.) Lindl. TUH-1980 Terrestrial Udaipur, Peratia 23°27'43.0"N,091°29'41.8"E

Dendrobium densiflorum Lindl. TUH-1985 Epiphyte Jampui hill 23°49'58.0"N,092°15'30.1"E

FOUR NEW ADDITIONS OF ORCHID SPECIES FOR THE FLORA OF TRIPURA,NORTH EAST INDIA

B. Baishnab, B. Banik, K. Majumdar* and B.K. Datta

Plant Taxonomy & Biodiversity Laboratory, Department of Botany, Tripura University, Suryamaninagar, Tripura, India

*Correspondence: majumdark80@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION

Orchidaceae is one of the largest and highly evolved families

of angiosperms, consisting of about 28,000 currently

accepted species, distributed in about 763 genera

(Christenhusz et al., 2016). So far about 1331 species under

186 genera have been reported from India out of which about

900 species in 165 genera are found in North East India

(Misra 2007; Rao 2007). Orchids are cultivated for their

beautiful flowers, economic importance and also for their

medicinal value. Their worldwide distribution is due to their

range of diversity in shape, size and colour of flowers and

comprising of herbaceous plants, characterized by distinct

floral morphology, pollination mechanism, association with

unique fungal partners (mycorrhizae) and miniscule seeds

they are consider to be the highly advanced family in

monocots (Singh et al., 2001). In the flora of Tripura state

there are 33 orchid species under 22 genera (Deb 1983).

Tripura is one of the eighth states of north-east India, third-

smallest state in the country and it is bordered by Bangladesh

to the north, south, and west, and the Indian states of Assam 2and Mizoram to the east. The area of Tripura is 10491 km of

2which about 17.4% that is 1825 km is under forest cover.

Tripura located on the extreme corner of the Indian

subcontinent. It extends from 22°56'N to 24°32'N, and

91°09'E to 92°20'E. Its maximum extent measures about 184

km from north to south, and 113 km east to west. This small

state divided into eight districts, these are Dhalai, Sipahijala,

Khowai, Gomati, North Tripura, South Tripura, West

Tripura, and Unakoti. Its unique ecosystem favours growth

of plants considered as Natures reservoir of plants

resources. Almost all varieties of plants relating to different

climatic conditions are found in the state where orchids are

important component of vegetation. The climate of Tripura

is typically a tropical dry and wet climate with a high level of

humidity and heavy rainfall. The four main seasons are

winter, from December to February; pre-monsoon or

summer, from March to April; monsoon, from May to

September; and post-monsoon, from October to November.

The rainy and moist environment of the state supports a

diversified flora including rich orchid diversity.

METHODOLOGY

Several field visits were made throughout the state in

different districts during 2016-2017 covering all the season

of the year. During field exploration we collected several

orchid species. Fresh orchid species were collected from the

field for taxonomical study as well as made into standard

mounted herbarium sheets following the procedure of (Jain

1977). The identity of collected specimens determined by

study of detailed taxonomic descriptions in different floras

(Hooker 1890; Chowdhery 1998, 2009) and other relevant

taxonomic study and e-floras of India and abroad

(http://www.efloras.org; https://sites.google.com/site/e

floraofindia/). The voucher specimens were deposited in the

ABSTRACT

In the present study, four additional Orchids belonging to genera, Coelogyne, Bulbophyllum, Liparis, and Dendrobium of the

family Orchidaceae were considered as new addition to the flora of Tripura, Northeast India. Present information will be

useful for future population assessment and reproductive biology studies to manage its wild stock. In Tripura, orchids suffer

large-scale extinction especially as a result of clear felling of large trees, modification preferred habitat and might due to the

effect of climate change.

Keywords: Orchids, New distribution, Conservation, Bulbophyllum.

ENVIS Centre on Himalayan Ecology ENVIS Bulletin Himalayan Ecology, Vol 25, 2017111 112

sub truncate and emarginate. Column 4.5 mm, with narrow

wings on both sides, wings gradually widened toward

column apex. Capsules are ellipsoid, 1-1.5 cm. (Fig. 4).

Flowering and Fruiting: June-August

Distribution: Japan, China, Taiwan, eastern Himalayas,

Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, India (Kerala,

Tripura, Assam).

Status: Locally rare

Ecology: Warm to cool growing terrestrial orchid.

Medicinal use: The decoction prepared from dried

pseudobulb is used in treatment of cancerous ulcers,

gangrene, lever as well as dropsy.

Exsiccatae: Tripura, Gomati district, Peratia, Udaipur,

Datta and Baishnab, TUH -1980; Dated 21-6-2017

4. Dendrobium densiflorum Lindl. Wallich, Pl. Asiat. Rar.

1: 34 1830; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 5: 748 1890.

Synonyms: Callista densiflora (Lindl.) Kuntze;

Epidendrum dumunsuttu Buch. Ham.ex Lindl.;

Dendrobium clavatum Roxb.; Endeisaflava Raf., Fl.Tellur.;

Dendrobium schroederi B.S.Williams; Dendrobium

densiflorum f. parviflorum Regel.

Description: Stems strongly clavate, swollen, 25–40 cm.

Leaves 3 or 4, subterminal, oblong- lanceolate, 8–17 × 2.6–6

cm, leathery, base not decurrent into clasping sheath, apex

acute. Inflorescence subterminal, pendulous, densely many

flowered. Flowers spreading, 3–4 cm across; sepals and

petals pale yellow, lip golden yellow, column and anther cap

orange-yellow (Fig. 5).

Flowering: April-July

Habitat: Epiphytic on tree trunks in evergreen broad-leaved

forests,

Fig. 4. Liparis odorata (a) habitat (b) inflorescence (c) flower

(d) sepal and petal (e) column and ovary (f) seed

Fig. 5. Dendrobium densiflorum (a) habitat (b) (c) inflorescence

(d) flower (e) floral parts (lip sepal petal petiole and column bract)

Burma, India (Arunachal pradesh. Assam, Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura)Status: Locally rare.

Ecology: This unifoliate, small to medium sized, hot to warm growing epiphytic species. Found in lowland and montane forests on trunks and main branches of trees. Bulbophyllum lobbii prefers cool to cold temperatures, filtered light, and to be kept evenly moist.

Medicinal use: Fever and inflammation, leaves are used to treat burns.

Exsiccatae: Tripura, Gomati district, Chandrapur, Udaipur, Datta and Baishnab, TUH-1972, Dated 04-04-2017.

3. Liparis odorata (Willd.) Lindl. Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 26. 1830.

Synonyms: Empusa paradoxa Lindley; Leptorkis odorata (Willdenow) Kuntze; Liparis longiscapa (Rolfe ex Downie) Gagnepain & Guillaumin; L. odorata var. longiscapa Rolfe

ex Downie; L. paradoxa (Lindley) H. G. Reichenbach; L. paradoxa var. parishii ; L. parishii Hooker.

Description: Herbs, terrestrial. Pseudobulbs subovoid, 1.3-

2.2 × 1-1.5 cm, noded, ± enclosed by white membranous

sheaths. Leaves 2 or 3; petiole sheathlike, 2.5-10 cm, not

articulate; blade narrowly elliptic, ovate-oblong, linear-

lanceolate, 6-17 × 2.5-6 cm, membranous or herbaceous,

base contracted into petiole, margin entire, apex acuminate.

Inflorescence 14-40 cm, conspicuously exceeding leaves;

rachis laxly several to 10-flowered; floral bracts lanceolate,

4-6 mm. Flowers greenish yellow or greenish brownish;

pedicel and ovary 6-8 mm. Dorsal sepal linear, 7-8 × ca. 1.5

mm, inconspicuously 3-veined, margin revolute, apex

obtuse; lateral sepals ovate-oblong, slightly oblique, 6-7 ×

ca. 2.5 mm, 3(or 4)-veined. Petals nearly narrowly linear, 6-7

× ca. 0.8 mm, widened toward apex, 1-veined, margin

revolute; lip obovate-oblong, ca. 5.5 × 3.5-4.5 mm, with 2

triangular calli near base, apical margin denticulate, apex

Fig. 2. Coelogyne flexuosa (a) habitat (b) and

(c) inflorescence twigs (d) flower (e) flower parts

(lip, sepal, petal, column) (f) capsule. (f) fruit

Fig. 3. Bulbophyllum lobbi (a) white scape covering

pseudobulb (b) leaf (c) and (d) pseudobulb (e) flower

ENVIS Centre on Himalayan Ecology ENVIS Bulletin Himalayan Ecology, Vol 25, 2017113 114

sub truncate and emarginate. Column 4.5 mm, with narrow

wings on both sides, wings gradually widened toward

column apex. Capsules are ellipsoid, 1-1.5 cm. (Fig. 4).

Flowering and Fruiting: June-August

Distribution: Japan, China, Taiwan, eastern Himalayas,

Nepal, Bhutan, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, India (Kerala,

Tripura, Assam).

Status: Locally rare

Ecology: Warm to cool growing terrestrial orchid.

Medicinal use: The decoction prepared from dried

pseudobulb is used in treatment of cancerous ulcers,

gangrene, lever as well as dropsy.

Exsiccatae: Tripura, Gomati district, Peratia, Udaipur,

Datta and Baishnab, TUH -1980; Dated 21-6-2017

4. Dendrobium densiflorum Lindl. Wallich, Pl. Asiat. Rar.

1: 34 1830; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. Ind. 5: 748 1890.

Synonyms: Callista densiflora (Lindl.) Kuntze;

Epidendrum dumunsuttu Buch. Ham.ex Lindl.;

Dendrobium clavatum Roxb.; Endeisaflava Raf., Fl.Tellur.;

Dendrobium schroederi B.S.Williams; Dendrobium

densiflorum f. parviflorum Regel.

Description: Stems strongly clavate, swollen, 25–40 cm.

Leaves 3 or 4, subterminal, oblong- lanceolate, 8–17 × 2.6–6

cm, leathery, base not decurrent into clasping sheath, apex

acute. Inflorescence subterminal, pendulous, densely many

flowered. Flowers spreading, 3–4 cm across; sepals and

petals pale yellow, lip golden yellow, column and anther cap

orange-yellow (Fig. 5).

Flowering: April-July

Habitat: Epiphytic on tree trunks in evergreen broad-leaved

forests,

Fig. 4. Liparis odorata (a) habitat (b) inflorescence (c) flower

(d) sepal and petal (e) column and ovary (f) seed

Fig. 5. Dendrobium densiflorum (a) habitat (b) (c) inflorescence

(d) flower (e) floral parts (lip sepal petal petiole and column bract)

Burma, India (Arunachal pradesh. Assam, Sikkim, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura)Status: Locally rare.

Ecology: This unifoliate, small to medium sized, hot to warm growing epiphytic species. Found in lowland and montane forests on trunks and main branches of trees. Bulbophyllum lobbii prefers cool to cold temperatures, filtered light, and to be kept evenly moist.

Medicinal use: Fever and inflammation, leaves are used to treat burns.

Exsiccatae: Tripura, Gomati district, Chandrapur, Udaipur, Datta and Baishnab, TUH-1972, Dated 04-04-2017.

3. Liparis odorata (Willd.) Lindl. Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 26. 1830.

Synonyms: Empusa paradoxa Lindley; Leptorkis odorata (Willdenow) Kuntze; Liparis longiscapa (Rolfe ex Downie) Gagnepain & Guillaumin; L. odorata var. longiscapa Rolfe

ex Downie; L. paradoxa (Lindley) H. G. Reichenbach; L. paradoxa var. parishii ; L. parishii Hooker.

Description: Herbs, terrestrial. Pseudobulbs subovoid, 1.3-

2.2 × 1-1.5 cm, noded, ± enclosed by white membranous

sheaths. Leaves 2 or 3; petiole sheathlike, 2.5-10 cm, not

articulate; blade narrowly elliptic, ovate-oblong, linear-

lanceolate, 6-17 × 2.5-6 cm, membranous or herbaceous,

base contracted into petiole, margin entire, apex acuminate.

Inflorescence 14-40 cm, conspicuously exceeding leaves;

rachis laxly several to 10-flowered; floral bracts lanceolate,

4-6 mm. Flowers greenish yellow or greenish brownish;

pedicel and ovary 6-8 mm. Dorsal sepal linear, 7-8 × ca. 1.5

mm, inconspicuously 3-veined, margin revolute, apex

obtuse; lateral sepals ovate-oblong, slightly oblique, 6-7 ×

ca. 2.5 mm, 3(or 4)-veined. Petals nearly narrowly linear, 6-7

× ca. 0.8 mm, widened toward apex, 1-veined, margin

revolute; lip obovate-oblong, ca. 5.5 × 3.5-4.5 mm, with 2

triangular calli near base, apical margin denticulate, apex

Fig. 2. Coelogyne flexuosa (a) habitat (b) and

(c) inflorescence twigs (d) flower (e) flower parts

(lip, sepal, petal, column) (f) capsule. (f) fruit

Fig. 3. Bulbophyllum lobbi (a) white scape covering

pseudobulb (b) leaf (c) and (d) pseudobulb (e) flower

ENVIS Centre on Himalayan Ecology ENVIS Bulletin Himalayan Ecology, Vol 25, 2017113 114

INTRODUCTION

Betula utilis D. Don (common name: Himalayan silver birch,

Hindi name: Bhojpatra; Family: Betulaceae) is the

broadleaved deciduous angiosperm and native to Himalayan

region (Nadakarni 1976). The birch forest is referred as

primary vegetation due to being in original and natural state.

It consist of three layers; birch trees as the main component

(Fig.1 a), scattered conifers, singly or in small groups present

in upper story layer (Fig. 1 b), and the under story may be

formed by shrubs particularly evergreen Rhododendron

species namely, Rhododendron campanulatum, R.

lapidotum, R. anthopogon, etc (Fig.1 c). This species also

forms treeline in the Himalaya due to its freezing tolerance

(Zobel et al., 1997). The growth appearance of birch trees is

unique due to its typical bent like growth caused by snow

weight that forms Krummholz (Fig.1 d). The name B. utilis

is indicative of its various uses of different plant parts

ranging from paper, textile, building construction to

medicinal value. However, due to excessive exploitation of

its multipurpose use, it is considered as Critically

Endangered.

Fig. 1. Betula utilis population (a) Pure population (b) mixed population with Abies pindrow (c) mixed population with Rhododendron campanulatum (d) vent like growth of Betula utilis due to snow pressure

HIMALAYAN SILVER BIRCH (BETULA UTILIS D. DON): A MULTIPURPOSE AND CRITICALLY ENDANGERED TREE SPECIES FOR BIOPROSPECTION

1 1 2K. Dasila , S.S. Samant * and A. Pandey

1G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Himachal Unit, Mohal–Kullu, Himachal Pradesh, India2G. B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment and Sustainable Development, Kosi-Katarmal, Almora, Uttarakhand, India

*Correspondence: samantss2@rediffmail.com

Distribution: China, Bhutan, NE India, Myanmar, Nepal,

northern Thailand

Status: Locally rare.

Ecology: Small to medium sized, cool growing epiphyte on

moss covered trunks or branches of trees.

Medicinal use: Pulps of the pseudobulbs are used in boils

and pimples and other skin eruption.

Exsiccatae: Tripura, North district, Jampui hill, Datta and

Baishnab, TUH- 1985; Dated 08-04-2017

CONCLUSION

The genus Bulbophyllum is reported first time from Tripura.

Proper floristic study may reveal more species from Tripura.

There is urgent need for conservation of wild orchids as their

habitat is changing and preferred host plants are decreasing

drastically.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

This study was funded by the DBT Twinning Project No.

BCIL/NER-BPMC/2016. Authors are thankful to Mr.

Mantosh Roy for helping during field survey.

REFERENCES

Chowdhery HJ (1998). Orchid Flora of Arunachal Pradesh,

Dehra Dun, India, 2 (1): 1-392.

Chowdhery HJ (2009). Orchid Diversity in North-Eastern

States, Journal of Orchid Society of India, 23 (1-2): 17-

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ABSTRACT

Betula utilis is a multipurpose, broad leaved deciduous tree and native of the Himalaya region. It is one of the dominant tree

species of the Himalayan tree line. In some places, it is also found in association with Abies pindrow, A. spectabilis, Prunus

cornuta, Acer accuminatum, Sorbus foliolosa, Pinus wallichiana and Rhododendron campanulatum. The bark is the striking

feature of B. utilis due to its shining, reddish-white or white with white horizontal smooth lenticels. B. utilis is a basis of many

biochemical compounds which possesses anti-cancerous, anti-HIV, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti- fertility activities.

The tree species exerts a suppressive effect on the microbial communities of the rhizosphere. Many endophytic structures have

been observed in the roots of B. utilis. Anthropogenic pressure such as over exploitation, deforestation, overgrazing and natural

calamities such as erosion, snow drift, forest fire and landslides are the factors that affect the regeneration of B. utilis. The

Protected Area Network (PAN) has helped in the in-situ conservation of the species. In addition, development of conventional

and in-vitro propagation protocols and establishment and maintenance of plantlets/seedlings of the species would help in ex-

situ and in-situ conservation of the species.

Keywords: Himalayan silver birch, Betula utilis, Bioprospection, Rhizosphere, Anthropogenic pressure, Conservation.

ENVIS Centre on Himalayan Ecology ENVIS Bulletin Himalayan Ecology, Vol 25, 2017115 116