Rajendra Yonzone et al JPBR , 2013: Vol.1(1) Available online at www.pharmaresearchlibrary.com/jpbr Re search Article Journal ofofof Pharmaceutical and Biological Research www.pharmaresearchlibrary.com/jpbr JPBR , 2013: Vol.1(1): 22-29 Orchid Species in Darjeeling Himalaya of West Bengal, India: The Genus Phaius Lour. Rajendra Yonzone 1* D. Lama 1 and R. B. Bhujel 2 1Department of Botany, St. Joseph’s College, P.O. North Point, District Darjeeling, W. B., India 734104 2Taxonomy and Ethnobiology Research Laboratory, Cluny Women’s College , P.O. Kalimpong, District Darjeeling, W. B., India 734301 *E-mail: [email protected] Available Online: 27 November 2013 ABSTRACT The present paper deals with three Phaius Lour. Orchid species diversity, distribution and present availability status in Darjeeling Himalaya of West Bengal, India. This attempt is the first step to correct taxonomic identification to workout currently accepted botanical names with Voucher specim en numbers, habitat, altitudinal ranges, phenology and local and general distribution of Phaius species in the regions. Key words : Phaius Orchid Species; Diversity; Distribution; Status, Darjeeling Himalaya, India INTRODUCTION Orchids are characterized by distinct floral morphology, pollination mechanism, association with unique fungal partners and miniscule seeds. They are considered to be the most highly evolved among the monocotyledons [1]. They exhibit in credible diversity in shape, size, structure, colour and fragrance of flowers [2] and three different life forms viz . epiphytic , terrestrial and saprophytic and are pretty admired among the professional and amateur Orchid lovers of the world [3]. In India, Orchids form 10% of the world Orchid flora with Himalayas as their natural home [4] and the largest and commercially important flowering plants [5]. It is estimated that over 22,500 species with 779 genera are distributed throughout the world [6] and a t otal of 996 species under 162 genera listed from India [7]. Subsequently, about 925 species under 144 genera [8]; 166 genera and 1141 species [9]; 1229 species under 184 genera [10] and 1331 species reported respectively from the present India [11]. As man y as 545 Orchid species are reported from the Eastern Himalayan [12] and 244 species from the Trans, North West, and West Himalayan regions [13]. Around 1,300 Orchid species have been estimated to occur in India; the Eastern Himalayas, the Western, and Sou th Indian hills are the Orchid rich areas in the country [14]. The East Himalayas and North -Eastern India; North - West Himalayas; Peninsular India; and Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the major Orchid rich regions in India [15]. Darjeeling Himalayan region of West Bengal is a rich repository of Orchid species. The Orchid species reported from Darjeeling district by many earlier workers viz ., There are 90 genera with 283 species [16]; 25 genera with 35 species [17]; 13 genera with 20 species from [18] ; 16 genera with 26 species [19]; 29 genera with 62 species [20]; 11 genera with 29 species [21]; 56 genera with 212 species [22]; 44 genera with 87 species [23] ; 6 genera with 7 species [24]; recently 85 genera with 311 species reported from Darjeeling Himalaya of India [25]. Location and Boundary Darjeeling Himalaya is the northernmost part of the state of West Bengal. It is triangular in shape extending over an area of 3254.7 sq. kms. It is bordered by Sikkim in the north, Terai and Dooars in the south, Bhutan in the east and Nepal in the west. The Sub-Divisions of Darjeeling are Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong and Siliguri (Fig. 1). The Darjeeling district h as two topographical features. Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong form the hill areas whereas Siliguri is stationed at the foot hill giving way to vast stretches of the plains. The hilly region covers 2320 sq.km. and the remaining 934.75 sq.km. of the area falls under Terai and plains. The altitudinal variations of the district ranges from 150m at Siliguri to 3636m at Sandakphu -Phalut with a sharp physiographic contrast between the plains 22 Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Research Rajendra Yonzone et al JPBR, 2013: Vol.1(1) and the mountainous regions. A trijunction of boundaries of Nepal, Sikkim and India is formed at the peak of Phalut (3600m). Darjeeling Himalaya is rich in Orchid diversity. In the present investigation, the current status of Phaius genus of Orchid available in Darjeeling Himalaya has been carried out through the survey of national parks, forest area and far-flung villages of the region to find out the accurate status of the species. Fig. 1 Location of Darjeeling district (study area) of West Bengal, India Botanical description Plants terrestrial, perennial herb. Stems clustered, cylindric. Pseudobulbs conical or ovoid. Leaves ovoid-elliptic, petiolate, narrowly obovate or narrowly elliptic, acuminate. Inflorescence lateral from base of pseudobulb, or axillary, laxly or densely racemose. Flowers showy, resupinate. Sepals and petals similar, free, rather fleshy, spreading or reflexed. Lip free, entire, entire to obscurely 3-lobed, erect, sessile partly adnate to and embracing the column to form a tube, gibbous or shortly spurred. Column long or short, fleshy, curved, with an inflexed foot; pollinia 8. The genus Phaius was established in 1790 by Joao De Loureiro (1717-1791) in his Flora Cochinchinensis . Lindley (1831) used the orthographic variant Phajus . The genus comprises about 30 species distributed in the tropics of Africa, Madagascar, S and S.E. Asia, Australia, New Guinea and the Pacific Islands [16]. MATERIAL AND METHODS The intensive field survey was conducted during the year 2007-2013 covering all the seasons of the year in the entire Darjeeling district including the forest areas, floral nurseries and farms of as low as Siliguri which is located at 150m to as high as Sandakphu-Phalut located at 3636m of entire Darjeeling Himalaya of West Bengal, India. While working on Orchid flora of Darjeeling Himalaya, the Phaius Lour. Orchid species found were also studied intensively. All the relevant data are recorded in the field note book with their necessary information. The collected specimens were dissected and examined in field and laboratory during flowering period. Observations on habitat, present availability status and photography were done in the habitat. Herbarium specimens were prepared by standard methods [26]. specimens so collected were processed, preserved and mounted on herbarium sheets and described, properly identified and authenticated with the help of available literature and confirmed at Botanical Survey of India, CAL. Finally all the Voucher specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of Department of Botany, St. Joseph’s College, North Point, Darjeeling and Taxonomy and Ethnobiology Research Laboratory, Cluny Women’s College, Kalimpong. All the Phaius species are arranged alphabetically as per their altitudinal range in the area with botanical names, local and general distribution, date of collection, voucher specimen numbers, present availability status, habitat and phenology. Key to the species 1. Inflorescence arising from leaf axil halfway up stem………..... P. mishmensis 1a.Inflorescence arising from base of stem or side of pseudobulb…………2 23 Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Research Rajendra Yonzone et al JPBR, 2013: Vol.1(1) 2. Sepals and petals erect-spreading, yellow; apical lobe of lip not protruding; petals and lip yellow to greenish- white, lip with red-brown margins……………………… P. flavus 2a. Sepals and petals spreading, purple within, white without; apical lobe of lip protruding; petals and lip buff and purple…………………………………… P. tankervilleae Enumeration Phaius flavus (Bl.) Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 128 (1831); Pradhan, Indian Orch. Guide Identif. Cult. 2: 440. 1979; Hedge, Orch. Arun. Pradh. 45. 1984; Pradhan et Pradhan, 100 Beaut. Orch. 105. 1997; Chowdhery, Orch. Fl. Arun. Pradh. 582. 1998; Bose et al . Orch. India. 386. 1999; Pearce et Cribb, Fl. Bhutan, 3(3): 303, t. 304. 2002; M. Pradhan, 100 Sikkim Himal. Orch. 90-91. 2005; Lucksom, Orch. Sikkim N.E. Himal. 433. t. 462, pl. 18. 2007; Mishra, Orch. India. 313. 2007; Yonzone et al . Int. J. Pharm. Life Sci. 3(3): 1546-47. 2012. Limodorum flavum Bl., Bijdr. 8: 375. 1825. Phaius maculatus Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 127. 1831; Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 5: 817. 1890; King et Pantl. in Ann. Roy. Bot. Gard. (Calcutta) 8: 107, t. 149. 1898; Bruhl, Guide Orch. Sikkim. 78. 1926. Plant terrestrial herb, 43-115 cm tall. Pseudobulbs 8-15 x 2.8-8 cm, ovoid-ellipsoid to cylindric. Leaves 4-7, 28-61 x 5-9.6 cm, ovate-elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate, acute. Inflorescence densely many-flowered; peduncle 13-24 cm long; rachis 26-41 cm long, glabrous; pedicellate-ovary 2-2.7 cm long; floral bracts 3-5.5 cm long. Flowers 4.6-5.6 cm across, showy, yellow. Sepals subsimilar, 3-3.7 x 0.9-1.5 cm, spreading; dorsal sepal 3.5-4.5 x 1.5-1.7 cm, oblong- elliptic, obtuse to subacute; lateral sepals 3.5-3.7 x 1.6-1.7 cm, elliptic, obtuse. Petals 2.9-3.8 x 0.9-1.3 cm, oblong- elliptic. Lip 3-lobed, 2.5-2.9 x 1.5-3.2 cm, spurred; side lobes erect, enfolding the column, oblong, obtuse; apical lobe ovate to suborbicular; disc with 3 prominent keels; spur conical. Column 1.8-2.2 x 0.6-0.67 cm. [Fig. 2 and 3]. Voucher specimen : [Rajendra et al 1036]. Habitat : Terrestrial. Altitudinal ranges : 550-1600m. Date of collection : 13 April 2010. Flowering : March-May. Present Availability Status : Rare. Local distribution within Darjeeling : Kalimpong 8 th mile, Kumsi, Paiyung – Kalimpong Sub-Division; Mungpoo – Kurseong Sub-Division. General distribution : N. India, Nepal, Myanmar, China, Japan, the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, New Guinea and the SW Pacific Islands. Fig.2 Phaius flavus (Bl.) Lindl. (habitat) 24 Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biological Research Rajendra Yonzone et al JPBR, 2013: Vol.1(1) Fig.