By:- AKARSH.M

8th Standard

EMBASSY PUBLIC

SCHOOL

CONTENTSCONTENTSINTRODUCIONINTRODUCIONHISTORYHISTORYGEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTIONGEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTIONHABIT AND AHBITATHABIT AND AHBITATLEAFLEAFSTEMSTEMROOTSROOTSFLOWERFLOWERREPRODUCTIONREPRODUCTIONGROWING OF ORCHIDSGROWING OF ORCHIDSUSES OF ORCHIDS USES OF ORCHIDS VANILLAVANILLAMEDICINAL USESMEDICINAL USESCASE STUDYCASE STUDYCONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

• Orchids (Orchidaceae family)Orchids (Orchidaceae family) are are the largest and most diverse of the the largest and most diverse of the flowering plant (Angiospermae) flowering plant (Angiospermae) families, with families, with 800 described 800 described generagenera and and 35,000 species.35,000 species.

• Some sources give 30,000 species, Some sources give 30,000 species, but the exact number is unknown but the exact number is unknown since classification differs greatly since classification differs greatly in the academic world. in the academic world.

HISTORYHISTORY

• The ancient The ancient GreeksGreeks were the first to were the first to take note of these strange plants. take note of these strange plants. TheophrastusTheophrastus who is often called as who is often called as father of Botany gave the name father of Botany gave the name “Orchids”“Orchids” to these groups of plants to these groups of plants on the basis of the resemblance of on the basis of the resemblance of paired underground tubers of these paired underground tubers of these plants to masculine anatomy.plants to masculine anatomy.

• Indian VedicIndian Vedic scripture also mention scripture also mention about these plants under the name about these plants under the name “Vrinda”,“Vrinda”, the Sanskrit name of the Sanskrit name of orchids. orchids.

GEOGRAPHICAL GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTIONDISTRIBUTION

• Orchids are found everywhere, Orchids are found everywhere, majority of the orchids known are majority of the orchids known are natives of natives of tropical countriestropical countries and and occur in their greatest diversity in occur in their greatest diversity in humid tropical forestshumid tropical forests..

• IndiaIndia has about has about 1,600 species1,600 species, , out of which about out of which about 200 are found 200 are found in South Indiain South India especially in the especially in the Western Ghats and iWestern Ghats and in n Assam Assam nearly 800 speciesnearly 800 species are known. are known.

• However, nowhere else are However, nowhere else are orchids in so much abundance orchids in so much abundance and so beautiful as along the and so beautiful as along the 1,500 mile Himalayan belt 1,500 mile Himalayan belt KalimpongKalimpong which is rightly which is rightly called as ‘called as ‘Orchid HeavenOrchid Heaven’. ’.

HABIT AND HABITATHABIT AND HABITAT

• Orchids are Orchids are perennial herbsperennial herbs with with simple leaves clustered all along the simple leaves clustered all along the stem. They usually have fleshy or stem. They usually have fleshy or swollen stems called as swollen stems called as pseudobulbspseudobulbs and on the basis of their growth pattern and on the basis of their growth pattern they are classified as they are classified as monopodial monopodial (single)(single) or or sympodial orchids sympodial orchids (many)(many)..

• In many a cases orchids are valued for In many a cases orchids are valued for their leaves instead of their flowers their leaves instead of their flowers and are called and are called jewel orchidsjewel orchids..

• Orchids mostly grow as Orchids mostly grow as epiphytesepiphytes i.e. i.e. adhering to the main stem or branches adhering to the main stem or branches of different plants or moss-covered of different plants or moss-covered rocks fixing themselves with their rocks fixing themselves with their strong roots. Orchids represent all the strong roots. Orchids represent all the possible colourspossible colours. However , there is . However , there is no black orchid which exists only in no black orchid which exists only in fairy tales. fairy tales.

LEAFLEAF

• Orchids have Orchids have simple leavessimple leaves with with parallel veinsparallel veins..

• The leaves can be The leaves can be enormousenormous or or minuteminute, or they can even be , or they can even be lackinglacking..

• The leaves of most orchids live on, The leaves of most orchids live on, attached to their attached to their pseudobulbspseudobulbs, for , for several years. several years.

• The leaves of some species can be The leaves of some species can be most beautiful most beautiful

STEMSTEM

• The stem of an orchid determines The stem of an orchid determines the habit of the species. Each type the habit of the species. Each type of stem can grow in one of these of stem can grow in one of these two ways: two ways:

• Monopodial (“one-footed”) Monopodial (“one-footed”) growth. The new shoots grow growth. The new shoots grow upwards from a single stem, upwards from a single stem, originating in the end bud of the originating in the end bud of the old shoots. old shoots.

• Sympodial (“many-footed”) Sympodial (“many-footed”) growth. The plant produces a growth. The plant produces a series of adjacent shoots which series of adjacent shoots which grow to a certain size, bloom, grow to a certain size, bloom, then stop growing, to be replaced then stop growing, to be replaced by the next growth. by the next growth.

ROOTSROOTS

• All orchids are perennial herbs, lacking All orchids are perennial herbs, lacking any permanent woody structure.any permanent woody structure.

• Some orchids are Some orchids are terrestrialterrestrial, growing , growing rooted in the soil. Terrestrial orchids rooted in the soil. Terrestrial orchids may be may be rhizomatousrhizomatous. These act as . These act as storage organs for food and water. storage organs for food and water. Terrestrials are mostly found in colder Terrestrials are mostly found in colder climates.climates.

• A great many orchids are A great many orchids are epiphytesepiphytes, , which do not require soil and use trees which do not require soil and use trees for support. They occur in warmer for support. They occur in warmer regions. Epiphytic orchids have regions. Epiphytic orchids have modified modified aerial rootsaerial roots which help them which help them to absorb the moisture from the to absorb the moisture from the atmosphere. The aerial roots of atmosphere. The aerial roots of epiphytes that lack leaves have an epiphytes that lack leaves have an additional function. They contain additional function. They contain chlorophyll and take up carbon-dioxide. chlorophyll and take up carbon-dioxide.

FLOWERFLOWER

• The orchid flowers are irregular, The orchid flowers are irregular, extremely variable in size and extremely variable in size and shape with sparkling texture; they shape with sparkling texture; they emit the fragrance of lemons, emit the fragrance of lemons, cloves or fresh lavender oil.cloves or fresh lavender oil.

• The flower has its part in threes, 3 The flower has its part in threes, 3 sepals and 3 petals (collectively sepals and 3 petals (collectively called as tepals) , similar to each called as tepals) , similar to each other and sub similar to sepals. other and sub similar to sepals.

• The third petal is different and The third petal is different and distinctive and is called labellum distinctive and is called labellum or the lip. or the lip.

REPRODUCTIONREPRODUCTION

• The reproductive organs of the The reproductive organs of the orchids, the stamens and the pistil orchids, the stamens and the pistil are condensed and form a are condensed and form a complex body the complex body the columncolumn..

• Orchids are cross-pollinated by Orchids are cross-pollinated by insects, birds etc, and to achieve insects, birds etc, and to achieve this they have adored many this they have adored many contrivances like contrivances like mimicrymimicry and and twisting of the flower on its stalk twisting of the flower on its stalk to face its pollinating agent.to face its pollinating agent.

• The seeds of orchids are The seeds of orchids are extremely small and minute-like extremely small and minute-like powder. A million of them are powder. A million of them are found in one capsule and are found in one capsule and are scattered by wind when the fruit scattered by wind when the fruit bursts open. bursts open.

GROWING OF ORCHIDS GROWING OF ORCHIDS

• Orchids need Orchids need aeration, good aeration, good drainage, much humus and drainage, much humus and humidityhumidity. Depending upon the . Depending upon the growth habitat the orchids are growth habitat the orchids are classified as classified as epiphyticepiphytic or or terrestrialterrestrial, the orchids., the orchids.

• The orchids are best watered by The orchids are best watered by indirect methods like indirect methods like sprayingspraying or or sprinklingsprinkling. . Coconut waterCoconut water is is very good for the growth of very good for the growth of orchids. orchids.

• Orchids in general grow better if Orchids in general grow better if undisturbed. It is rightly said that undisturbed. It is rightly said that orchids die in most of the cases orchids die in most of the cases on account of over care than on account of over care than neglect. neglect.

USES OF ORCHIDSUSES OF ORCHIDS

• Orchids are well known mainly as Orchids are well known mainly as ornamentals, some of them are said to ornamentals, some of them are said to be of high be of high medicinal valuemedicinal value. .

• SalepSalep from orchid tubers has been from orchid tubers has been used for centuries as used for centuries as emollientemollient, , demulcentdemulcent and as and as aphrodisiacaphrodisiac. .

• SapSap of some of the species is of some of the species is supposed to be highly supposed to be highly stypticstyptic. .

• The famous The famous VanillinVanillin used for used for flavouring ice creams and delicacies flavouring ice creams and delicacies throughout the world comes from the throughout the world comes from the pods of an orchid pods of an orchid Vanilla planifoliaVanilla planifolia. .

• Lastly, mention must be made about Lastly, mention must be made about the recently discovered fungistatic the recently discovered fungistatic compounds called “Phytoalexins” compounds called “Phytoalexins” which were first discovered in which were first discovered in orchids, these are naturally produced orchids, these are naturally produced fungicides by plant in response to fungicides by plant in response to fungal infection. fungal infection.

VANILLAVANILLA

• VanillaVanilla, , Vanilla planifoliaVanilla planifolia (and (and other two Vanilla species less other two Vanilla species less commonly grown), is used as a commonly grown), is used as a flavouring agent which gives a flavouring agent which gives a coolingcooling effect. effect.

• MadagascarMadagascar is the leading producer, is the leading producer, producing in 2005, 3 million metric producing in 2005, 3 million metric tons (of a world total of 7.3 million tons (of a world total of 7.3 million metric tons). metric tons).

• Besides its use as a flavouring, It is Besides its use as a flavouring, It is also used in also used in fragrancesfragrances and and perfumesperfumes. .

MEDICINAL USESMEDICINAL USESMany of the orchids have a medicinal value like some listed belowMany of the orchids have a medicinal value like some listed below

Bletilla striata-Bletilla striata- This plant is used as herbal medicine in This plant is used as herbal medicine in Chinese Materia Chinese Materia MedicaMedica for the treatment of for the treatment of dysenterydysentery, , feverfever, , malignant ulcersmalignant ulcers, , gastrointestinal disordergastrointestinal disorder, , anthraxanthrax, , malariamalaria, , eye diseaseseye diseases, , ringwormringworm, , tumerstumers, , coughscoughs, , chest painschest pains etc. etc.

Cypripedium pubescens- It has sedative, hypnotic, antispasmodic properties and it is an excellent nervine tonic. It is used against stress, helps to elevate mood, depression and eases muscles.

Dendrobium- Malaysians have used this plant for affections of the brain and nerves. The flowers and leaves are useful for cholera. The powdered leaves have been used for decreasing pimples.

Gastrodia elata- It has been included in the Chinese Materia Medica and guides over the centuries and attributed to possess magical properties such as expelling all kinds of poisons, giving strength and virility, improving circulation and memory.

Vanda roxburghii- The plant is reported to have anti-inflammatory properties and is widely used against arthritis.

Vanda tesellata- Whole plant contains an unknown glucoside which stimulates all the organs of the body and therefore used in medical preparations especially arthritis.

CASE STUDYCASE STUDYA case study was conducted on the medicinal usage of orchids.The study reports that fresh rhizomes and aerial parts of orchids are commonly used to cure human and veterinary diseases by tribes like Kondareddies, Koyas, Valmikis, Nukadoras and Yanadis etc.

Acampe praemorsaUses: Whole plant is crushed with egg albumin and calcium paste applied tied with bandaging for settling fractures by Koyas.

Bulbophyllum neilgherrenseUses: Tubers of this plant are consumed for good health by Valmikis.

Cymbidium aloifolium

Uses: Aerial roots made into paste and plastered tightly on fractured bones and also to cure foot cracks by Koyas. Mucilage from the leaves helps to stop bleeding after a leech bite.

Dendrobium herbaceous

Uses: Tender tip juice is used for earache by Nukadoras and Valmikis.

Habenaria plantagineaUses: Tubers ground with black pepper and garlic used to cure chest pain and stomach ache by Koyas.

Habenaria hollandiana

Uses: Fresh plant paste applied for scorpion sting by Kondareddies and Valmikis.

Geodorum densiflorum Uses: Root paste used to cure insect bite and wounds.

Habenaria roxburghii

Uses: Tubers with garlic and pepper used to cure snake bite.

Malaxis acuminate

Uses: Pseudobulbs used in ‘Ayurveda’ system of medicine as ingredient of ‘Ashtawarga’ tonic preparation.

Oberonia wightiana

Uses: Leaves crushed with calcium, salt and turmeric paste tied with bandage for external tumors by Koyas.

Vanda tesellata

Uses: Dried stem burnt and fumes spread out in home prevent children from catching fever by Koyas.

CONCLUSION CONCLUSION Nature is the mother of all. There’s no orphan in the world until we are in her Nature is the mother of all. There’s no orphan in the world until we are in her vigil. She can be regarded the best doctor, the best scientist and moreover the vigil. She can be regarded the best doctor, the best scientist and moreover the

best mentor to teach the ways of life. She allows us decipher things on our own best mentor to teach the ways of life. She allows us decipher things on our own and in some other way we need to be grateful to her generosity. Orchids are one and in some other way we need to be grateful to her generosity. Orchids are one among her generous ways. To safeguard and protect them is our onus. Orchids among her generous ways. To safeguard and protect them is our onus. Orchids

have in varied uses and can replace any allopathic drugs sans side effects. have in varied uses and can replace any allopathic drugs sans side effects. Biopiracy is the prevailing tension and the government should encourage the Biopiracy is the prevailing tension and the government should encourage the

research and development on orchids and make it more practical and available research and development on orchids and make it more practical and available for the next filial.for the next filial.

““Mother’s love has no equals”Mother’s love has no equals”