Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 November 2024 | 16(11): 26078–26088

 

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) 

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9329.16.11.26078-26088

#9329 | Received 26 July 2024 | Final received 25 October 2024 | Finally accepted 18 November 2024

 

 

Unregulated wild orchid trade in Manipur: an analysis of the Imphal Valley markets from the Indo-Burma hotspot

 

Kamei Kambuikhonlu Kabuini 1   & Maibam Dhanaraj Meitei 2

 

1,2 Department of Environmental Science, Manipur University, Canchipur, Manipur 795003, India.

1 kameikambui@gmail.com, 2 maibam.meitei@yahoo.in (corresponding author)

 

 

Editor: Pankaj Kumar, Florida International University & Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Miami, USA.   Date of publication: 26 November 2024 (online & print)

 

Citation: Kabuini, K.K. & M.D. Meitei (2024). Unregulated wild orchid trade in Manipur: an analysis of the Imphal Valley markets from the Indo-Burma hotspot. Journal of Threatened Taxa 16(11): 26078–26088. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9329.16.11.26078-26088

  

Copyright: © Kabuini & Meitei 2024. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.

 

Funding: None.

 

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

 

Author details: Kamei Kambuikhonlu Kabuini was a master’s student in the Department of Environmental Science, Manipur University. She has worked on her dissertation entitled “Unregulated commercialization of wild orchids in Manipur: An analysis of Imphal Valley markets”. Dr. Maibam Dhanaraj Meitei is a faculty in the Department of Environmental Science, School of Human and Environmental Sciences, Manipur University, Canchipur, India. His research area is focussed on wetland studies, environmental pollution monitoring, phytotechnology and bioresource management.

 

Author contributions: MDM framed the concept of the project; KKK performed the survey; MDM and KKK were involved in analysis, manuscript writing, editing and finalizing the manuscript. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript.

 

Acknowledgements: Kamei Kambuikhonlu Kabuini acknowledges the cooperation provided by orchid collectors and sellers during market survey. Authors also thank the local buyers for their cooperation during data collection. Authors also thank the Department of Environmental Science, Manipur University for providing the infrastructure facility.

 

 

Abstract: Unsustainable and illegal trade of wild orchids at local and international markets is a well-known conservation issue throughout the world. Local as well as international trade of wild orchids is under-reported and under-researched. The study assessed wild orchids traded in markets of the Imphal Valley, the northeastern Indian state of Manipur in 2022–23. Eighty-two wild orchid species from 33 genera were observed to be traded including the wild orchid species, viz., Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum, Renanthera imschootiana, and Vanda coerulea, protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 of India. The local wild orchid trade in Imphal is unregulated, unchecked and unmonitored, which is a serious concern for the conservation of wild orchid species in Manipur and within the Indo-Burma hotspot.

 

Keywords: CITES, Imphal valley, local wild orchid trade, Orchidaceae, orchid sanctuaries, Renanthera imschootiana, Vanda coerulea, wild orchids.

 

 

 

INTRODUCTION

 

With an estimated 28,484 species, orchids account for 10% of angiosperms and represent the most diverse group of flowering plants, as well as the most threatened (Kumar 2024). Habitat loss coupled with climate change pose serious threats for orchids which are terrestrial, epiphytic and lithophytic (Barman & Devadas 2013; Brummitt et al. 2015). Orchids represent a significant illegally traded horticultural crop because of their beauty, rarity and popularity (Ballantyne & Pickering 2012; Phelps & Webb 2015; Hinsley et al. 2016). Consequently, all orchid species are included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Appendix I and II, where the trade of Orchidaceae family is either legally regulated or prohibited (UNEP-WCMC 2018). Additionally, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed 2023 orchid species in the ‘Threatened’ category (IUCN 2024).

Around 1484 orchid species are reported from India and the northeastern states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura represent an important orchid hotspot with a total of 856 species (Kumar et al. 2022). From the Indian subcontinent, the usage of orchids for medicine is reported since ancient times with different orchids mentioned in Ayurveda (Bose et al. 2017). Today, illegal trade of wild orchid species in northern India intended for their use in local traditional medicine and international trade for the Chinese herbal medicine is pushing different rare and threatened species towards extinction (Hinsley et al. 2018). Around 1295 species belonging to 179 genera found in India are listed in the Appendix II of CITES (De 2022). Moreover, as a result of high demand in the Indian market, orchid cut flowers worth INR 2321.84 lakhs were imported in 2018–19 (De 2020). Despite the increasing demand in India for both local and international trade, most of the orchid dealers haven’t explored the concepts of mass scale multiplication techniques. The native sellers largely depend on the harvest from wild to meet the supply chain (TRAFFIC 2022; WWF-India 2022). In the northeastern state of Manipur, deforestation in the hills for jhum and charcoal harvesting, forest fire and illegal overexploitation for trade are the major threats to orchids. The state is home to 407 orchid taxa belonging to 95 genera (Mao & Deori 2018). The mass scale orchid production using micropropagation is still lacking in the state. Therefore, majority of the trade is based on wild collection from tropical and subtropical forests of Manipur. Hence, in order to highlight the problem of un-monitored wild orchid trade, a project was undertaken to identify major wild orchid selling areas in the Imphal valley region of Manipur and document the wild orchid species traded locally during 2022–23.

 

 

MATERIALS AND METHODS

 

Study area

Manipur is a state in the northeastern India region (24.663°E & 93.906°N ) of the Indo-Burma hotspot. The state with an area of 22,327 km2 can be sub-divided into two regions; central oval shaped Imphal or Manipur Valley (constituting 10%) and surrounding hills (Image  1). The 2,238 km2 valley is surrounded by hills with a maximum elevation of 2,994 m (Laiba 1992). The region is dominated by tropical moist deciduous vegetation and records an annual rainfall of 1,500– 1,700 mm. The minimum temperature ranges 2–21 °C and maximum of 23–36 °C, respectively.

 

Market survey

The market surveys were performed in Khwairamband, Pishumthong, Naoremthong, Lamlong, Sekmai, and Bishnupur markets of the Imphal Valley during September–November, 2022 and February–April, 2023 (Image 1; Table 1). The markets were visited on a weekly basis during early morning hours (Image 2). The information’s were collected based on a semi structured questionnaire (Q1) and field photographs of wild orchids along with the sellers were taken with due permission. Moreover, prior permission was obtained from sellers for participation under the assurance of anonymity and confidentiality. Ten female sellers (individuals mainly from Kangpokpi and Senapati districts) from 10 vendors were questioned. During the survey, information’s such as local name of wild orchids, collection methods, frequency of collection, collection season, location of orchid habitat, rarity in wild, preference by buyers, demand in market and price in market were gathered. Later, wild orchids were identified using available standard literature wealth on orchids of Manipur (Deb 1961; Mao 1999; Kumar & Kumar 2005; Nanda et al. 2013; Mao & Deori 2018; Rao & Kumar 2018). The scientific names of wild orchids were cross checked using the online website (WFO Plant List 2024) of the Royal Botanic Garden, Kew and Missouri Botanical Garden (accessed on 6 September 2024). Further, information’s on endemicity and threatened status of wild orchids were gathered and compiled (IUCN 2024).

 

Household survey

To assess the viability of wild orchids in local households, 15 local cultivators from 15 different localities of the Imphal Valley, viz., Thoubal, Kakching, Keishampat, Keishamthong, Wangoi, Namdunlong, Ragailong, Langthabal khoupum, Thongju, Khagempali, Singjamei, Chingmeirong, Kyamgei, and Sagoltongba were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire (Q2). The buyer’s questionnaire consisted of questions such as preferences of orchid, purchasing frequency, the total number of orchids purchased so far, number of orchids that died during household cultivation, the price range of orchids bought, knowledge of rare orchids and government role in orchid conservation in the state, etc.

 

Data analysis

The information obtained from wild orchid sellers and cultivators was analysed in the Department of Environmental Science, Manipur University. Further, the survival rate of wild orchids under cultivation in local households and knowledge of local buyers on the threatened and rare status of wild orchids were calculated from questionnaire data using Microsoft Excel 2010 for windows.

 

 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

 

Socio-demographic characteristics of orchid collectors and sellers

The wild orchid collectors and sellers belong to local tribal ethnic groups of Manipur (mainly from Kuki and Naga ethnic communities). For the individuals, wild orchid collection and their trade is a means of livelihood. The interview of local sellers revealed that the families involved in the trade during the study period were from economically weaker sections. As such, the trade of wild orchids, wild edibles, and horticultural plants collected from the jungles of Manipur serves as a significant income source for the individuals. More or less, they are agriculturalist or horticulturalists, or individuals devoted to floriculture.

 

Collection of wild orchids from jungles of Manipur

The orchid collection was mainly performed by villagers between 30 and 50 years old. Although the sellers were from Kangpokpi and Senapati Districts during the survey, the collectors mentioned that wild orchids came from all hill districts of Manipur, viz., Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Tengnoupal, Kamjong, Pherzawl, Noney, and Chandel. Moreover, the orchid sellers interviewed were involved in trade for a minimum of 2–3 years. For local trade, wild orchid collection is performed throughout the year irrespective of flowering seasons. The epiphytic orchids were collected by experienced climbers gathering orchids by hand or using a long bamboo pole with a machete attached at the top to detach orchids from trunks and branches of tall trees. Another destructive method predominantly used by collectors is felling of host trees and gathering of all wild orchids, irrespective of demand. For terrestrial orchids, tubers were unearthed and whole plants were collected. As such, with no knowledge of sustainability among collectors, orchid habitats are often destroyed to a point with little chance for regeneration after harvest seasons. In addition, orchid collectors have little knowledge about threatened status of wild orchids. This has led to depletion of many orchid bio-resources in its natural habitats which are endemic or rare in the region.

 

Wild orchids traded in the Imphal Valley markets

During the survey, it was observed that Pishumthong bazaar is the main hub for local wild orchid trade in the valley (Image 1). On average, 4–5 local sellers were observed during market visits. The sellers were from Kangpokpi and Senapati Districts of Manipur. Further monitoring of other busy local bazaars at Naoremthong, Lamlong, Sekmai, and Bishnupur showed no reports of wild orchid traders opening their vendors during the study period. A total of 82 wild orchid species from 33 genera were locally traded during the study period, 2022–2023 (Table 2; Image 3). Orchids such as Bulbophyllum reptans, Coelogyne alba, Coelogyne articulata, Liparis resupinata, and Pholidota imbricata were marketed between price range of INR 30–50, respectively. The low-price range is associated with less fondness of local buyers. Hence, they are in low demand according to sellers. Moreover, wild orchids such as Bulbophyllum spp., Liparis spp., Oberonia spp., with unattractive flowers are rarely bought. The unattractive nature is concentrated on the color and size of flowers as per the buyer’s opinion. On the contrary, the price of species such as Cleisostoma simondii, Cymbidium bicolor, Cymbidium elegans, Dendrobium wardianum, Schoenorchis fragrans, Vanda alpina, and V. coerulea ranged from INR 100–500, respectively. The higher price is associated with repeat purchases by local buyers and their rarity as per the seller’s opinion. Further, most orchid species in high demand have captivating (large and colorful) unique flowers. The species such as Coelogyne barbata, Cymbidium devonianum, C. elegans, C. lowianum, Dendrobium crepidatum, D. devonianum, D. falconeri, D. lituiflorum, D. parishii, D. polyanthum, Papilionanthe vandarum, Phaius flavus, Phalaenopsis marriottiana, P. taenialis, Pleione praecox, Renanthera imschootiana, Rhynchostylis retusa, Thunia alba, Vanda ampullacea, and V. coerulea were some of the widely exploited and preferred wild orchids by local buyers as per sellers. As such, sellers fix the prices of wild orchids depending on their demand or rarity.

Further, seven threatened species were collected from wild habitats and traded locally (Table 3). Moreover, three wild orchid species, viz., P. hirsutissimum, R. imschootiana, and V. coerulea which are protected under the Schedule VI of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 of India was commonly and frequently traded (Image 3). Strict application of rules and regulations was not observed from the concerned authorities on this issue of legally protected wild orchid trade reported from the Imphal Valley. The statement is supported by local sellers freely trading orchids that are protected by the domestic legislation of India. Moreover, endemic species such as Arachnis senapatianum was also found traded. As such, the act of threatened and endemic wild orchid collection from their habitats without any regulation will pose a serious risk to population of such orchids in Manipur. Similar to the study, research on wild orchid collection and their commercial trade in illegal local and international markets is reported from different countries such as Vietnam (Bullough et al. 2021), Thailand, Lao PDR, & Myanmar (Phelps 2015), Nepal (Subedi et al. 2014), and China (Gale et al. 2019) etc. The research showed that illegal international trade of wild orchids is common in these countries. The illegal activities in turn posed a remarkable threat in the conservation of the different wild orchids in their natural habitats.

 

Status of the wild orchids cultivated in local households

The interviews of local buyers showed that wild orchid customer base is diverse, encompassing people of various ages and genders, both young and old. The price of orchids they bought ranged from INR 30–500, respectively. The pricing of wild orchid is unpredictable. It was observed that survival rate varies significantly across different wild orchids when they were brought under cultivation and unexperienced buyers see varying levels of success in maintaining these plants (Figure 1). The reasons for low survival rates are change of habitat coupled with improper management due to lack of knowledge on orchid cultivation, diseases, and pest. The wild orchids grow in a particular habitat which is in the deep moist jungles of Manipur. Therefore, their removal and transplanting elsewhere forces the orchids to adapt to an entirely new set of environment where plants might not succeed. Among common host trees, buyers used Mango Mangifera indica, Pomelo Citrus maxima, Lemon Citrus limon, Plumeria Plumeria rubra, Bottle Brush Callistemon citrinus, and Hibiscus Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. However, most of the wild orchids were in plastic or terracotta pots, since majority of households didn’t have good size trees (Image 4). Further, most orchids observed during the visits were not in their best health. Among buyers, only 33% had the knowledge of threatened and rare wild orchids. Most of the local buyers do not have basic awareness on legal restrictions surrounding the purchase and sale of wild orchids protected by domestic legislation. The results revealed a significant gap in awareness regarding the legality of wild orchid trade among surveyed participants.

 

Suggestive measures for conservation           

From the market survey, it is evident that local trade of wild orchids in Manipur takes place without any inhibition in the Imphal Valley. Therefore, it becomes necessary that continuous monitoring of such situation should be a part of the concerned authorities’ action plan for orchid conservation. The following measures are suggested for the conservation of wild orchids in Manipur region of the Indo-Burma hotspot:

(i) In situ conservation is the most desirable conservation strategy for wild orchids. The Government of Manipur needs to expand the Protected Areas Network (PAN) to include important orchid habitats in the state. For example, State Governments of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Karnataka, and West Bengal have designated various orchid rich areas as “Orchid Sanctuaries” under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (amended in 1992). The actions will control smuggling or poaching of wild orchids. Further, there are options to establish community conservation reserves with collaboration of government agencies and local communities (Ngashangva 2021).

(ii) Initial ecological restoration of already degraded orchid rich habitats must be a priority of the concerned authority. The initiatives for afforestation of degraded areas with suitable host trees must be taken up.

 (iii) Similar to Khonghampat Orchidarium, which is the only orchid ex-situ conservation center of Manipur, the state need more ex situ conservation centers in hill districts where wild orchid habitats are found.

 (iv) It is time that a long-term population monitoring programme must be conducted by concerned authority to assess the health of wild orchid population.

(v) Endemic species such as A. senapatianum need immediate attention and actions. Their exploitation in an unsustainable way must be completely stopped by using various orchid conservation strategies.

(vi) Research is absent on wild orchid trade of Manipur in local and international markets. There is an urgent need of in-depth research that analyses the volume of local wild orchid market in Manipur and their illegal international trade via Myanmar.

(vii) The concerned authorities must continuously and strictly monitor local wild orchid markets and their international trade. Further, strict actions must be taken up against illegal trade if carried out in the state. For example, trade of scheduled species such as Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum, Renanthera imschootiana, and Vanda coerulea is illegal.

(viii) Training programmes on mass scale multiplication of wild orchids for trade using tissue culture techniques and establishment of micropropagation units in the state will reduce stress on wild orchid population. Further, it will improve economy of the state.

(ix) The lack of awareness is an important issue in the society, which must be immediately tackled by the concerned authorities. As such, various conservation awareness programmes must be initiated to sensitize the common mass on the issue and invite the locals to be a part of conservation programmes.

 

 

 

Table 2. Wild orchid species locally traded in the Imphal valley region of Manipur during 2022–2023.

 

Scientific name

Habit

Flowering season

Price

(INR per piece)

1

Acampe rigida (Buch.-Ham. ex Sm.) P.F.Hunt

Epiphyte

May–June

100–250

2

Acanthephippium striatum Lindl.

Terrestrial

May–September

50–200

3

Aerides multiflora Roxb.

Epiphyte

May–June

250

4

Aerides odorata Lour.

Epiphyte

April–May

50–100

5

Aerides rosea Lodd. ex Lindl. & Paxton

Epiphyte

May–July

250

6

Anthogonium gracile Wall. ex Lindl.

Terrestrial

July

250

7

Arachnis senapatianum (Phukan & A.A.Mao) Kocyan & Schuit.

Epiphyte

May–June

200

8

Arundina graminifolia (D.Don.) Hochr.

Terrestrial

March–August

300

9

Bulbophyllum affine Lindl.

Epiphyte

June

100–300

10

Bulbophyllum lobbii Lindl.

Epiphyte

August–September

150

11

Bulbophyllum odoratissimum (Sm.) Lindl. ex Wall.

Epiphyte

May

150

12

Bulbophyllum reptans (Lindl.) Lindl. ex Wall.

Epiphyte

January–February

30–50

13

Bulbophyllum rothschildianum (O'Brien) J.J.Sm.

Epiphyte

August

250

14

Calanthe masuca (D.Don) Lindl.

Terrestrial

August–September

200

15

Calanthe puberula Lindl.

Terrestrial

August–October

200

16

Cephalantheropsis longipes Hook.f.

Terrestrial

November–December

150

17

Chiloschista parishii Seidenf.

Epiphyte

April–June

100–200

18

Cleisostoma racemiferum (Lindl.) Garay

Epiphyte

July

50–200

19

Cleisostoma simondii (Gagnep.) Seidenf.

Epiphyte

July–September

150–400

20

Coelogyne alba (Lindl.) Rchb.f.

Epiphyte

June–July

30–50

21

Coelogyne articulata (Lindl.) Rchb.f.

Epiphyte

April–May

30–50

22

Coelogyne barbata Lindl. ex Griff.

Epiphyte

October

150–300

23

Coelogyne corymbosa Lindl.

Epiphyte

May–June

100

24

Coelogyne punctulata Lindl.

Epiphyte

March

100–200

25

Crepidium purpureum (Lindl.) Szlach.

Terrestrial

June–July

200

26

Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) Sw.

Terrestrial

May–June

150

27

Cymbidium bicolor Lindl.

Epiphyte

April–May

100–500

28

Cymbidium devonianum Paxton

Epiphyte

May

100–350

29

Cymbidium eburneum Lindl.

Epiphyte or lithophyte

March–April

250

30

Cymbidium elegans Lindl.

Epiphyte or lithophyte

October–June

100–500

31

Cymbidium iridioides D.Don

Epiphyte or lithophyte

September–October

200

32

Cymbidium lancifolium Hook.

Epiphyte or lithophyte

May–June

100–300

33

Cymbidium lowianum (Rchb.f.) Rchb.f.

Epiphyte or lithophyte

April–May

200–300

34

Dendrobium amoenum Wall. ex Lindl.

Epiphyte

May–August

50–150

35

Dendrobium aphyllum (Roxb.) C.E.C.Fisch.

Epiphyte

April–May

50–100

36

Dendrobium calocephalum (Z.H.Tsi & S.C.Chen) Schuit. & Peter B.Adams

Epiphyte

August

300

37

Dendrobium chrysanthum Wall

Epiphyte

September–October

50–300

38

Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl.

Epiphyte

April–May

100–300

39

Dendrobium crepidatum Lindl. & Paxton

Epiphyte

April–May

50–100

40

Dendrobium denneanum Kerr

Epiphyte

May–June

50–100

41

Dendrobium densiflorum Lindl.

Epiphyte

April–May

50–100

42

Dendrobium devonianum Paxton

Epiphyte

April–May

50–200

43

Dendrobium falconeri Hook.

Epiphyte

April–May

50–100

44

Dendrobium formosum Roxb. ex Lindl.

Epiphyte

May–June

50–150

45

Dendrobium heterocarpum Wall. ex Lindl.

Epiphyte

March

100–300

46

Dendrobium jenkinsii Wall. ex Lindl.

Epiphyte

April–May

50–150

47

Dendrobium lituiflorum Lindl.

Epiphyte

April–May

50–100

48

Dendrobium moschatum (Banks) Sw.

Epiphyte

May–June

50–300

49

Dendrobium ochreatum Lindl.

Epiphyte

April–May

50–150

50

Dendrobium parishii H.Low.

Epiphyte

May–June

50–100

51

Dendrobium polyanthum Wall. ex Lindl.

Epiphyte

May–June

100–250

52

Dendrobium thyrsiflorum B.S.Williams

Epiphyte

April–May

150

53

Dendrobium wardianum R.Warner

Epiphyte

April–May

200–500

54

Eria coronaria (Lindl.) Rchb.f.

Epiphyte or lithophyte

November

100–250

55

Liparis resupinata Ridl.

Epiphyte

November–December

30–50

56

Oberonia acaulis Griff.

Epiphyte

November–December

30–50

57

Oberonia jenkinsiana Griff. ex. Lindl.

Epiphyte

December–January

50

58

Oberonia mucronata (D.Don) Ormerod & Seidenf.

Epiphyte

September–October

50–100

59

Oberonia teres Kerr

Epiphyte

May

50–100

60

Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum (Lindl. ex Hook.) Stein

Epiphyte

October–November

350–500

61

Papilionanthe vandarum (Rchb.f.) Garay

Epiphyte

September–October

50–200

62

Phaius flavus (Blume) Lindl.

Terrestrial

April–June

100–300

63

Phaius tankervilleae (Banks) Blume

Terrestrial

March–May

150

64

Phalaenopsis marriottiana (Rchb.f.) Kocyan & Schuit.

Epiphyte

April–August

100–150

65

Phalaenopsis taenialis (Lindl.) Christenson & Pradhan

Epiphyte

April–July

150–350

66

Pholidota imbricata Lindl.

Epiphyte

June–July

30–50

67

Pinalia acervata (Lindl.) Kuntze

Epiphyte

May–June

50–200

68

Pinalia spicata (D.Don) S.C.Chen & J.J.Wood

Epiphyte

July–August

100

69

Pleione praecox (Sm.) D.Don

Epiphyte

September–October

100–300

70

Polystachya concreta (Jacq.) Garay & H.R.Sweet

Epiphyte

August–September

50–100

71

Renanthera imschootiana Rolfe

Epiphyte

April–May

100–250

72

Rhynchostylis retusa (L.) Blume

Epiphyte

April

150–300

73

Schoenorchis fragrans (C.S.P. Parish & Rchb.f.) Seidenf. & Smitinand

Epiphyte

July–August

350–500

74

Schoenorchis gemmata (Lindl.) J.J.Sm.

Epiphyte

May

150–350

75

Spathoglottis pubescens Lindl.

Terrestrial

August–September

200–300

76

Thunia alba (Lindl.) Rchb.f.

Epiphyte

June–July

100–300

77

Uncifera obtusifolia Lindl.

Epiphyte

February–March

50–200

78

Vanda alpina (Lindl.) Lindl.

Epiphyte

June

100–500

79

Vanda ampullacea (Roxb.) L.M.Gardiner

Epiphyte

April–May

100–300

80

Vanda bicolor Griff.

Epiphyte

August–October

100–150

81

Vanda coerulea Griff. ex Lindl.

Epiphyte

March–May

100–500

82

Vanda cristata Wall. ex Lindl.

Epiphyte

August–October

150

 

 

Table 3. Wild orchid species which are threatened or protected by the Indian domestic legislation.

 

Species

Rare/ Threatened

Legally protected in state and country* (Yes/No)

1

Dendrobium chrysotoxum Lindl.

Threatened

No

2

Dendrobium densiflorum Lindl.

Threatened

No

3

Dendrobium falconeri Hook. (Th)

Threatened

No

4

Dendrobium parishii H.Low.

Threatened

No

5

Paphiopedilum hirsutissimum (Lindl. ex Hook.) Stein

Rare

Yes

6

Renanthera imschootiana Rolfe

Threatened

Yes

7

Vanda coerulea Griff ex Lindl.

Threatened

Yes

* The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

 

 

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