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Orchid any of the members of the family Orchidaceae,
which contains about 700 genera and 20,000 species, and are distributed
throughout the world except in the coldest areas, and are most numerous
in the damp equatorial regions. The orchid has the highest number of hybrids,
about 80,000. Morphologically, it is striking for its perennial herbaceous
nature, whether epiphytic or terrestrial, but is also sometimes lithophytic
and saprophytic.
The epiphytic group mostly occurs in tropical and subtropical
regions, and the terrestrial group in the temperate regions. The
twisted character having a colourful perianth with a showy lip
is the most attractive feature of the orchid flower. Each plant
bears a small number of matured fruits. Each fruit bears very
small seeds, which may range from a few thousands to a few millions.
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Some different species
of orchid
Courtesy: Noazesh Ahmed |
It is estimated that about 200 species of orchids grow
naturally in Bangladesh, of which Dendrobium, Bulbophyllum, Eulophia,
Aeredis, Luisa and Vanda are the dominant groups. A few species
of ground orchids also grow in the country. Notable one, Arundina graminifolia
grow in the Chittagong hill districts. Although the flowers can be seen
throughout the year, January to July is the main season of flowering with
a climax in March and April. Some of the native plants that may be considered
for commercial exploitation are: Dendrobium formosum, D. fimbriatum,
D. primulinum, D. crepidatum, D. aphyllum, D. parishi, Vanda teres,
Rhyncostylis spp, Aeredis odoratum, Phaelonopsis cornu-cervi
and Camarotis purpurea.
Several commercial floriculturists and plant nurseries
are now collecting and marketing indigenous orchids along with the exotic
ones. Some epiphytic orchids are considered threatened due to large-scale
destruction of their natural habitat and indiscriminate collection of
orchids. The threatened orchids are Diploprora championii, Aeredis
sauvissianum, Bulbophyllum neilgherensis, Phaelonopsis cornu-cervi
and Kingidium taenialis. The orchidarium at the botanical garden
of Chittagong University is the largest centre of native orchid germplasm
collection in the country. [Mostafa Kamal Pasha]
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