New Horizons in Biotechnology

[Research article] ORCHIDS OF HORSLEY HILLS: STATUS AND CONSERVATION

Mahendra Nath Mitta1 *, Kothareddy Prasad2, Sankara Rao M2 and Madhava chetty K1

1Department of Botany, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati 517502, Andhra Pradesh, India 2Botanical Survey of India, Deccan Regional Centre, Hyderabad-48, Telangana, India. Author for Correspondence : [email protected]

Cite this article as: Mahendra Nath M, Prasad K, Rao MS and Madhava chetty K (2015). Orchids of horsley hills: status and conservation. In: New Horizons in Biotechnology. (Eds. Viswanath B and Indravathi G), Paramount Publishing House, India, pp. 173-177.

Abstract: Orchids () impress us with their ability to exploit diverse and challenging habitats, even in temperate climates. Orchids are constraint species becoming rarity and their evolutionary adaption evolved into astonishing relationships with their surroundings. These species are not only important for their aesthetic value but also because they work as ecological indicators and also been shown to be excellent indicators of overall biodiversity in a particular area. The fate of many wild temperate orchids is at imminent risk with the rapidly increasing anthropogenic and ecological disturbance impacts. In this review, status assessment and conservation strategy of orchids of Horsley Hills (4,332 feet above MSL )has been documented after exploring orchid diversity during the period of 2012- 2014 in different seasons at various specific geographic locations and altitude. Identification of orchid taxa was done according to Local Floras, NCBI and list search engines. Status of the orchid taxa has been documented according to IUCN 2013 ver 13. GPS documented with Garmin GPS etrex30 and the Way points were analyzed with Google Earth. In the present communication the occurrence of orchids indicate significant relationship exists between species occurrence and seasons and ecological factors. We reveal that Speciation patterns in the are of considerable interest due to complex bio-geographical patterns and a high degree of habitat specificity. Orchids are directly/indirectly associated species to their surrounding species. Habitat availability causes the species abundance-distribution relation. In conclusion, implications for the conservation of orchids and associated species are being suggested.

Keywords: Horsley Hills, Orchids, Ecological indicators, Conservation, IUCN. . INTRODUCTION: like, barely developing endospermand absent at Horsley Hills forms the broken hill ranges of the maturity,with undifferentiated minute embryo [2,3]. southern portion of the eastern ghats and is the only Hill The orchids can be identified only during their Station in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh,India. This is flowering season, the spring season, rest of the time they also known as “Andhra Ooty”.The locals call it as cannot be distinguished from other in the Yenugumallamma konda. These rolling hills presents a surroundings. The versatility and specialization in orchid 0 salubrious climate and the temperature ranges from 5 c in floral morphology, scent and colour patterns endear o winter to about 32 c in hot summer. Exotic species Lantana orchidologists and plant biologists to orchid plants. camara, Eucalyptus, Acacia, Cactus, Silver Oak, Moreover, the co-evolution of the sophisticated orchid floral Mahagony,Coffee etc. The forest is of is of dry deciduous presentation and pollinators leads to the ingenious device of sandel type carrying variety of flora and fauna with an the orchid flower. Orchids include some of the most altitude of 1,314 mts (4312 feet) above the mean sea. exquisite and valuable ornamental plants [4]. The Orchids: Orchids are mycorrhizal herbs,belonging to the pollination systems of orchids are among the most complex family Orchidaceae Jussieu, nom. cons. [1].This orchid and interesting of all the angiosperms. family is one of the two largest families of angiosperms The orchid species were typically characterized by low (The shape of the flowers is very distinctive, making orchids population differentiation, which was generally attributed to easy to recognize. The flower is bilaterally symmetrical. long-distance dispersal capabilities of their dust-like seeds The three sepals are generally colourful and bright (which is [5]. Although most orchid seeds frequently fall near the why they are sometimes called outer tepals), with one on parent plant [6,7], they can be carried for many kilometers each side ("lateral sepals") and one usually at the top of the by wind [8]. Gravendeel et al. (2004) [9] and Peakall flower ("dorsal sepal"), sometimes forming a hood. The (2007) [10] listed the numerous hypotheses that have been three petals (or inner tepals), also showy, are located advanced to explain the diversity of Orchidaceae and these alternately between the sepals, two at the side and one include pollinator specialization, niche partitioning, habitat usually at the bottom of the flower. The lower petal is fragmentation, and wide dispersal of the seeds. referred to as the "labellum" or "lip", and is usually Interestingly, there is surprisingly low genetic distinctively different from the side petals. protocorms are differentiation between orchid populations, despite the myco-heterotrophic,deciduous in fruit,seeds minute, dust- possibility for long-distance transport of the minute seeds with resultant founder effects [11].

173 New Horizons in Biotechnology

Botanic gardens worldwide have traditionally been Swarts and Dixon (2009)[14] opined that primarily as a major centres of excellence in orchid horticulture, research result of mass collection and habitat loss, the family has a and conservation as orchids generate wide public and high proportion of threatened genera, with most containing educational appeal [12]. threatened species. Orchids – Ecological indicators Orchid population dynamics are also affected by habitat The presence of wild orchids in an ecosystem is a good management, particularly where management activities indicator of a healthy ecosystem. Orchids are highly remove competing vegetation. The orchid species richness evolved plants, with each species developed to thrive in its and composition are related and may have far-reaching particular site. Even small disturbances of the habitat can conservation implications. have a huge effect on resident orchids. Removal of plant biomass by mowing, burning, grazing Orchids are very sensitive to atmospheric changes and or artificially creating canopy gaps affects orchid population require a clean atmosphere. Due to widespread pollution the dynamics, mainly by promoting greater leaf area, flowering orchids are fast becoming extinct,” Orchids are also in great and seed set but also by creating an open, more suitable demand by florists for their beautiful and brilliant flowers. environment for seedling establishment [15-21]. These flowers command a good price in both domestic as Data base for Orchids well as international market. We marvel at their flowers, A specialized orchid database, named Orchidstra unaware of the complex interactions that enable them to (URL:http://orchidstra.abrc.sinica.edu.tw),has been thrive. Specialized habitats, pollinators, and even lichen constructed to collect, annotate and share genomic play an important role in an orchid's life cycle. This is why information for orchid functional genomics studies. The orchids can be a key indicator of the overall health of the content of the Orchidstra database will be expanded with environment and why they are so vulnerable when this cycle transcriptome data and genomic information from more is disrupted. The International Union for the Conservation orchid species. Since there are a great number of species in of Nature Red List provides information on the conservation the orchid family, it will be intriguing to understand the status of many species. However orchids are under- phylogeny of gene families during the course of their represented on the Red List. Many species of terrestrial evolution [22]. orchids have become rare, threatened or endangered and Wild orchids are protected by the Convention on therefore are today under the protection of international or International Trade in Endangered Species treaty, which has national laws or are included in directives and Red Data been signed by more than 120 nations. They are also Books [13]. protected by national and regional legislation in many areas. Orchids of Horsley Hills Under CITES, it is illegal to remove endangered or rare In this review Habenaria roxburghii, Habenaria rariflora, wild orchids from their native location. Habenaria longicornu , Diplocentrum recurvum, Molecular phylogeny Vanda tessellate, Vanda spathulata and Bulbophyllum According to morphological cladistics and research kaitiense has been documented which are present in with rbcL nucleotide sequences, the orchid family, as well different geographical positions at Horsley hills.(Fig:1) as the clades within the family, are a monophyletic group. (Table.1) There is a great similarity with the traditional taxonomy, Monopodial Epiphytes Bulbophyllum and Vanda belong to except for the Vandoideae, but on lower levels, some tribe Kosteletzky Habenaria roxburghii, matters are still unresolved. orchid classification is still an H. rariflora, H. longicornu belong to tribe ongoing issue Contemporary taxonomy allows for the Orchidoideae Eaton [1]. accepted nomenclature of natural hybrids. Diplocentrum recurvum Lindl. (Orchidaceae), an epiphytic Inference from the present study herb endemic to South India has been recollected in Horsley Orchids present at Horsley Hills face an uncertain future hills of Chittoor districts from Andhra Pradesh after a lapse through overexploitation, habitat loss and impacts of climate of more than 100 years. After a thorough perusal of relevant change. With their intricate abiotic and biotic dependencies, literature revealed that earlier record of this species from these orchids typify the plight of global plant resources and, Horsley hills of Andhra Pradesh dates back to July, 1884 by thus, provide ideal model species for ecological tracking J.S. Gamble and May, 1904 by C.E.C. Fischer. Since then, and focussing conservation. no collections of this species have been made from the state. Some orchid populations respond to variation in annual Nomenclature and Authentication was done according to the rainfall, with reduced flowering after drought in the same or plant List [http://www.theplantlist.org/] and International previous year and was well explained by other researchers Plant Name Index [http://www.ipni.org/].APG III (Wells,1981; Inghe & Tamm, 1988; Wells & Cox, classification was followed [http://www.mobot.org/ 1991)[23,24,25] and some of the orchids enhanced MOBOT/research/APweb/]. flowering following periods of higher rainfall. Our Reasons for Decline in population: In the present investigation were supported from other previous workers observation some of the orchid species disappeared year by [26,27]. Flowering behavior can be influenced by year, usually because of habitat destruction or poaching at interactions between rainfall and temperature, site-specific Horsley Hills and over grazing by the domesticated animals characteristics and seasonal variation within years [26,28]. of locals habitants.

174 New Horizons in Biotechnology

Typically,terrestrial orchids such as Bulbophyllum kaitiense, Catalogue of Life. These orchids has suffered decline in Habenaria roxburghii, H. rariflora, H. longicornu remain subpopulations due to habitat loss and failing in multiply dormant for one or many years and may emerge from and there is a need for its diversity Conservation. dormancy in either a vegetative or flowering state, although Conservation strategy and Action Plans only a limited proportion of the plants emerge above ground Conservation of wild Orchids is a matter of universal annually. concern .There is an urgent need to protect the valuble The orchid taxa investigated (Habenaria roxburghii , orchids in their natural habitat since these are very sensitive H. rariflora , H. longicornu, Bulbophyllum kaitiense) has to ecological disturbances. There are several important not yet been assessed for the IUCN Red List, but is in the

175 New Horizons in Biotechnology aspects of orchids that require immediate attention, and 3. Madhava Chetty K, Sivaji K, Tulasi Rao K.(2013) which will only be possible through genetic transformation. “Flowering plants of Chittoor district”, Student offset  Conservation of Orchid Habitats: Promoting efforts to printers, Tirupati,pp:337-342. conserve habitats and to restore native orchids where 4. Tadeo FR, Cercós M, Colmenero‐Flores J M,Iglesias populations have declined is essential. D J,. Naranjo MA, Ríos G, Carrera E, Ruiz‐Rivero O,  Conservation of associated species : living collection of Lliso I, Morillon R, Ollitrault P, Talon M (2008). the fungi,lichen on which they depend, may provide the Molecular Biology of Orchid Flowers With Emphasis best insurance to preserve the genetic diversity of our on Phalaenopsis .Advances in Botanical Research.47: orchids for the future. 99–145  Transgenic technologies could be applied for orchids to 5. Stone JL, Crystal PA, Devlin EE, Downer RHL, improve important traits such as novel flower colour, Cameron DS (2012). Highest genetic diversity at the fragrance and shape, cut-flower longevity and flowering northern range limit of the rare orchid Isotria control, abiotic stress tolerance and resistance to pests medeoloides. Heredity 109 :215–221 and diseases. Prolongation of shelf life of flowers in 6. Chung MY, Nason JD, Chung MG (2004). Spatial orchids might also be achieved through genetic genetic structure in populations of the terrestrial manipulation. orchid Cephalanthera longibracteata (Orchidaceae).  Future interventions like maintaining Germplasm American Journal of Botany, 91:52–57 library,Genomic authentification should be maintained 7. Trapnell DW, Hamrick JL, Nason JD. (2004).Three- for further reference of the valued orchid species of dimensional fine-scale genetic structure of the Horsley hills. neotropical epiphytic orchid, Laelia rubescens.  Current orchid collection practice is not sustainable. Molecular Ecology. 13:1111–1118 Arditti J and Ghani Unsustainable harvesting should be banned practices are AKA (2000). Numerical and physical properties of a double-edged sword, destroying the existing plants orchid seeds and their biological implications. New and hampering regeneration by preventing seed Phytology.145 :367–421. development. 8. Gravendeel B. Smithson A, Slik FJW& Schuiteman Eg: In our observation Diplocentrum recurvum is A(2004). Epiphytism and pollinator specialization: symbiotically assosciated with lichens and are Drivers for orchid diversity? Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc. habituating on Ficus species. Flowering was good only London B, 359: 1523-1536. at the abundant presence of lichens 9. Peakall R (2007). Speciation in the Orchidaceae:  Invitro and Invivo propagation protocols should be Confronting the challenge. Molec. Ecol. 16: 2834- established in greenhouse and garden conditions, with 2837. the ultimate goal restoring them to the wild. 10. Phillips, RD, Dixon KW and Peakall R(2012). Low  Upgradation and updated Databases should be populatioon genetic differentiation in the Orchidaceae: maintained for every local flora and the funding Implications for the diversification of the family. Mol. agencies like CSIR, UGC,DBT,DST etc., Ecol. 21:5208-5220. 11. Swarts ND and Dixon KW (2009). Plant science  Development of Herbaria and its upgradation should be research in botanic gardens: Perspectives on orchid done in the research institutes like BSI,university and conservation in botanic gardens. Trends in Plant college Herbariums for the further reference of Orchid Science.14 (11) :590-598. taxa. 12. Whigham FD and Willems HJ (2003). Demographic  With pristine habitats under threat globally,the studies and life-history strategies of temperate challenge for orchid conservation programs will terrestrial orchids as a basis for conservation. Dixon ultimately depend upon developing ecological KW, Kell SP, Barrett RL, Cribb PJ (Eds.), Orchid restoration technologies, whereby orchids are reinstated Conservation, Natural History Publications, Kota into sustainably restored habitats. Kinabalu, Sabah pp.137–158 Acknowledgements : The authors are indebted to Andhra 13. Swarts ND and Dixon KW (2009). Terrestrial orchid Pradesh Forest Department officials, Anatapur and conservation in the age of extinction. Ann.Bot- Madanapalli Circle, Andhra Pradesh for their support. We London, 104:543–556. thank UGC, New-Delhi for the financial assistance 14. Waite S and Hutchings MJ (1991). The effects of allocated as BSR Fellowship to the Corresponding different management regimes on the population Author. dynamics of Ophrys sphegodes: analysis and References description using matrix models.. Wells TCE, 1. APG III (2011). Reveal JL &. Chase MW (2011). Willems JH. (Eds.), Population Ecology of Terrestrial APG III: Bibliographical Information and Synonymy Orchids, SPB Academic Publishing, The Hague, The of Magnoliidae. Phytotaxa 19: 71–134 Netherlands pp.161–176. 2. Gamble JS., Fischer CES.,(1928) “Flora of the 15. Kull Genet T. and Ramet (1995). Dynamics of Presidency of Madras”,Adlard & Cypripedium calceolus in different habitats. Abstracta Son,Limited.London.Vol.3:1449-1477. Botanica,19 :95–104.

176 New Horizons in Biotechnology

16. Hutchings MJ, Mendoza A, Havers W(1998). Population Ecology of Terrestrial Orchids, SPB Demographic properties of an outlier population Academic Publishing, The Hague, The Netherlands of Orchis militaris L. (Orchidaceae) in England. pp. 47–61 Botanical Journal of the Linnaean Society, 126:95– 25. Sieg CH and King RM (1995). Influence of 107. environmental factors and preliminary demographic 17. Wheeler BD, Lambley PW, Geeson J.(1998). Liparis analyses of a threatened orchid, Platanthera loeselii (L.) Rich. in eastern England: constraints on praeclara. American Midland Naturalist, 134:307– distribution and population development. Botanical 323 Journal of the Linnaean Society, 141 :141–158. 26. Kéry M and Gregg KB (2004). Demographic analysis 18. Willems J.H., Melser C. (1998). Population dynamics of dormancy and survival in the terrestrial and life-history of Coeloglossum viride (L.) Hatm.: an orchidCypripedium reginae. Journal of Ecology. 92 : endangered orchid species in the Netherlands 686–695. Botanical Journal of the Linnaean Society, 126:83–93. 27. Wells TCE., Rothery P,Cox R, Bamford S.(1998). 19. Willems JH, Balounová Z., Kindlmann P. (2001). The Flowering dynamics of Orchis morio L. effect of experimental shading on seed production and and Herminium monorchis (L.) R.Br. at two sites in plant survival ofSpiranthes spiralis (Orchidaceae) eastern England. Botanical Journal of the Linnaean Lindleyana, 16:31–37. Society, 126 : 39–48 20. Wotavová K., Balounová Z., Kindlmann P (2004). Elecronic Cheklist of Reference: Factors effecting persistence of terrestrial orchids in 28. WCSP. 2013. World Checklist of Selected Plants. wet meadows and implications for their conservation Available at: http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/. in a changing agricultural landscape. Biological 29. IUCN. 2014. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Conservation, 118:271–279. Species. Version 2014.1. Available 21. Chun-lin Su,Ya-Ting Chao, Shao-Hua Yen, Chun-Yi at:www.iucnredlist.org. (Accessed: 12 June 2014). Chen, Wan-Chieh Chen,Yao-Chien Alex Chang and 30. India Biodiversity Portal. 2013. Biodiversity Ming-Che Shih (2013). Orchidstra: An Integrated India. http://indiabiodiversity.org/. Orchid Functional Genomics Database. Plant Cell 31. Govaerts R. (2014). WCSP: World Checklist of Physiol.54(2):e11(1–11) Selected Plant Families (version Sep 2014). In: 22. Wells TCE. (1981). Population ecology of terrestrial Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life, 30th January orchids. H. Synge (Ed.), The Biological Aspects of 2015 (Roskov Y., Abucay L., Orrell T., Nicolson D., Rare Plant Conservation, Wiley, Cambridge. pp.281– Kunze T., Culham A., Bailly N., Kirk P., Bourgoin T., 295. DeWalt R.E., Decock W., De Wever A., eds). 23. Inghe O and Tamm CO. (1988). Survival and www.catalogueoflife.org/col. Species 2000: Naturalis, flowering of perennial herbs. V. patterns of flowering. Leiden, the Netherlands. Oikos, 51:203–219 24. Wells TCE and Cox R. (1991). Demographic and biological studies of Ophrys apifera: some results from a 10 year study Wells TCE, Willems JH (Eds.),

177