National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) HIMALAYAN RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP (FORMAT FOR THE HALF YEARLY PROGRESS REPORT) [Reporting Period: July to December 2020] Name of the Project: Systematics and Conservation of Indian Orchids with special emphasis to Himalayan species. Sanction Order No.: GBPNI/NMHS-2017-18/HSF-08, dated: 28.03.2018. 1st installment received: Rs. 33,56,232/- Name of the Institution/ University: Botanical Survey of India, Sikkim Himalayan Regional Centre Gangtok, Sikkim No. of Himalayan Research/Project One Associate: No. of Himalayan Junior Research/Project Six (6) Fellows: H-RAs Profile Description: Sl. Name of RA Date of Joining Name of the PI Qualification No. 1A. Dr. SAMIRAN PANDAY 17.12.2018 Dr. D.K. AGRAWALA M.Sc., Ph. D. (BOTANY) (Resigned on - 23.8.2019) 1B. Dr. RIJUPALIKA ROY 14.10.2019 Dr. D.K. AGRAWALA M.Sc., Ph. D. (BOTANY) NMHS Fellowship Grant Page 1 of 13 Progress Report: To be filled for each HRA in separate row. RA No. Research Objectives Achievements Addressed Location of Field Deliverables Site with Details, if any H-RA Project name: Systematics and Conservation of •Morphological Characterization done for •Literature survey • Study area for the 1A. Indian Orchids with special emphasis to 15 species under 8 genera conducted. project is entire Indian Himalayan Himalayan species. •Assigned geo co-ordinates: 23 species •Collection of type, Region covering 12 (425 sheets). protologue & states. Allotted group: Sub-families Vanilloideae, •Literature on selected species has been herbarium Orchidoideae and Epidendroideae with 22 collected and studied. specimen genera and 76 species. •Protologues, types & images of continued. herbarium specimen from various Indian Objectives: herbaria is being collected and studied. •Inventurization in Indian Himalayan region and find the occurrence, distribution pattern and affinities. •Morphological characterization. •Solve the taxonomy, nomenclature and decode the species complex (if any) with evidence from morphology, molecular biology and cytology. •Confirm the presence of endemics, near endemics and less known species in their known localities and predict the likely habitat with habitat modeling technique. •Assess the threat status by applying IUCN criteria. •Develop distribution and species richness map. •Germplasm collection and ex-situ conservation. NMHS Fellowship Grant Page 2 of 13 H-RA The same work and objective has been taken •Distribution of different orchid taxa in •Literature survey • Study area for the 1B. over from the outgoing RA IHR reported in different publication has conducted. project is entire been completed. •Collection of type, Indian Himalayan Region covering 12 protologue & •Endemic species has been identified states. herbarium from the published literature and tabulated for all orchid species of IHR. specimen •Less known species are being identified. continued. •Endemics, less •Distributional pattern with altitudinal known species in gradient for the allotted taxa has been their known tabulated and computed. localities are to be •Phenological calendar of allotted taxa recorded. has been prepared. •Protologues & types of herbarium specimen from various Indian herbaria and abroad are collected and studied. •Inputs were provided in editing IUCN Red-list datasheets of 32 taxa. •Inputs were provided in preparing IUCN Red-list datasheets of 54 taxa. •Abstract was submitted and accepted for the poster presentation at International Symposium organized by Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata. •Attended the lecture delivered by Dr. Rajib Gogoi, HoO & Scientist ‘E’ on 07.11.2019. NMHS Fellowship Grant Page 3 of 13 Himalayan Junior Research/Project Fellows H-JRFs Profile Description: Sl. Name of JRF Date of Joining Name of the PI Qualification No. 1. MR. AAZHIVAENDHAN G. 13.07.2018 Dr. D.K. AGRAWALA M.Sc. (BOTANY) 2 MS. SHREYASI NAYAK 27.07.2018 Dr. D.K. AGRAWALA M.Sc. (BOTANY) 3. MS. SANCHAYITA SENGUPTA 01.08.2018 Dr. D.K. AGRAWALA M.Sc. (BOTANY) 4. MR. SAYAK CHAKRABORTY 01.08.2018 Dr. D.K. AGRAWALA M.Sc. (BOTANY) 5. MR. SHUVADIP SARKAR 01.08.2018 Dr. D.K. AGRAWALA M.Sc. (BOTANY) 6. MS. OINDRILA CHAKRABORTY 19.3.2019 Dr. D.K. AGRAWALA M.Sc. (ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE) Progress Report: To be filled for each JRF in separate row. JRF No. Research Objectives Achievements Addressed Location of Deliverable Demonstration/ Study Site with Details H-JPF 1 Project name: Systematics and •Live specimens of 12 species have been studied for •Literature survey • Study area for Conservation of Indian Orchids complete macro morphological characteristics. continued. the project is entire Indian with special emphasis to •Literatures on allotted species are being consulted and data •Collection of type Himalayan Himalayan species. & herbarium on Molecular biology, Phylogeny and Histology are being Region compiled. specimens covering 12 Allotted group: Tribe •Methodology for Molecular studies and Histology is being continued states. Malaxideae with 5 genera and 86 standardized. •One field tour • One field tour species. NMHS Fellowship Grant Page 4 of 13 •Checklist of species endemism and distribution has been conducted. has been Objectives: prepared. •Germplasm of 48 conducted at Meghalaya. •Inventurization in Indian •Types & images of herbarium specimen from various species Himalayan region and find the Indian herbaria is being collected and studied. introduced for ex- occurrence, distribution pattern •Plant description prepared for 17 species situ conservation and affinities. •Geo co-ordinates were assigned for 60 species (1954 sheets) •Morphological characterization. •Inputs were provided for IUCN Red-list datasheets of 182 •Solve the taxonomy, species. nomenclature and decode the species complex (if any) with FIELD TOURS evidence from morphology, •16/07/2019 to 21/07/2019: Cherrapunjee, Mawsmai, Jowai, molecular biology and cytology. Nongpoh (Meghalaya). C. 500 km2 were covered, 28 •Confirm the presence of species were collected and introduced in BSI SHRC endemics, near endemics and campus for further studies and ex situ conservation. less known species in their •27/07/2019 to 30/07/2019: Nongstoin, Mawsynram, Dwaki known localities and predict the (Meghalaya). C. 600 km2 were covered and 20 species were likely habitat with habitat collected and introduced in BSI SHRC campus for further modeling technique. studies & ex situ conservation. During this field trip many •Assess the threat status by epiphytic orchid species were rescued from fallen tree logs. applying IUCN criteria. HERBARIUM CONSULTATION •Develop distribution and species •22/07/2019 to 26/07/2019: Botanical Survey of India richness map. Eastern Regional Centre herbarium (ASSAM) Shillong, •Germplasm collection and ex- Meghalaya. Total of 530 herbarium sheets of respective situ conservation. groups has been studied for complete morphological characters. MISCELLANEOUS •Abstract was submitted for the poster presentation at International Symposium organized by Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata. NMHS Fellowship Grant Page 5 of 13 H-JPF 2 Project name: Systematics and •Live specimens of 10 species have been studied for •Literature survey • Study area for Conservation of Indian Orchids complete macro morphological characteristics. continued. the project is entire Indian with special emphasis to •Methodology for Molecular studies and Histology is being •Collection of type Himalayan Himalayan species. & herbarium standardized. Region •Checklist of species endemism and distribution has been specimens covering 12 Allotted group: Genus prepared. continued states. Bulbophyllum with 135 species. •One field tour •Types & images of herbarium specimen from various • One field tour conducted. has been Indian herbaria is being collected and studied. Objectives: •Germplasm of 48 conducted at •Plant description prepared for 29 species •Inventurization in Indian species Meghalaya. Himalayan region and find the •Geo co-ordinates were assigned for 3 genera (886 sheets) introduced for ex- occurrence, distribution pattern •Inputs were provided for IUCN Red-list datasheets of 106 situ conservation and affinities. species. •Morphological characterization. FIELD TOURS •Solve the taxonomy, •16/07/2019 to 21/07/2019: Cherrapunjee, Mawsmai, Jowai, nomenclature and decode the Nongpoh (Meghalaya). C. 500 km2 were covered, 28 species complex (if any) with species were collected and introduced in BSI SHRC evidence from morphology, campus for further studies and ex situ conservation. molecular biology and cytology. •27/07/2019 to 30/07/2019: Nongstoin, Mawsynram, Dwaki •Confirm the presence of (Meghalaya). C. 600 km2 were covered and 20 species were endemics, near endemics and collected and introduced in BSI SHRC campus for further less known species in their studies & ex situ conservation. During this field trip many known localities and predict the epiphytic orchid species were rescued from fallen tree logs. likely habitat with habitat HERBARIUM CONSULTATION modeling technique. •Assess the threat status by •22/07/2019 to 26/07/2019: Botanical Survey of India applying IUCN criteria. Eastern Regional Centre herbarium (ASSAM) Shillong, Meghalaya. Total of 350 herbarium sheets of respective •Develop distribution and species groups has been studied for complete morphological richness map. characters. •Germplasm collection and ex- NMHS Fellowship Grant Page 6 of 13 situ conservation. MISCELLANEOUS • Abstract was submitted for the poster presentation at International Symposium organized by Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata. H-JPF 3 Project