Overview for Ecological and Anatomical Marvels of the Himalayan Orchids
The Fruits of Vanilla are used to provide flavour to ice-cream. Many species of orchids are used as constituents of ayurvedic medicines. The orchids are of immense horticultural importance and play a useful role to balance the forest-ecosystem (Kaushik, 1981 b). The orchids are generally regarded as the most beautiful flowering plats. This is true particularly of the tropical orchids which are met with in abundance in the tropical belt al over the world. These were known to the natives since ancient times. Some of them were named after their unique morphological shape, others after the drug of commerce they produced. In the Khasi Hills of India which is one of the richest regions for these beautiful monocots, they are popularly known as "U Thiew Dieng' among the local folk. Orchids sow great modifications in vegetative as well as gloral structures. Regarding high grade variability Breyne (1678) wrote in his 'Exoticarum Aliarumque Cognitarum Plantarum'. 'If nature ever showed her playfulness in the formation of plants, this is visible in the most striking way among the orchids. The manifold shape of these flowers arouses our highest admiration. They look like a man, like a woman, sometimes like an austere, sinister fighter, sometimes like a clown who excites our laughter. They represent the image of lazy tortoise, a melancholy toad, an agile ever-chattering monkey. Nature has formed orchid flower in such a way that unless they make us laugh, they surely excite our greatest admiration. The causes of their marvelous are at least in my opinion hidden by nature under a secret veil.
Purshotam Kaushik (Author)
Dr. Purshotam Kaushik, is currently professor of Botany and Microbiology, Gurukul Kangri University, Hardwar and he has also headed the department for two terms. Prof. Kaushik did his doctorate from Punjab University, Chandigarh. He has professed teaching and research at Punjab University, and Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar. He has bean the principal investigator of Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India, project on 'Environment Biology of the Himalayan Orchids' and U.G.C. project on Lectins. Prof. Kaushik has published over 70 research papers and has authored two text books on microbiology and original research monographs on orchids, medicinal plants and raw drugs. Prof. Kaushik, is currently President of Academy of plant sciences. He has visited Universities of London, Cambridge and R.B.G., kew (United Kingdom) and institute Pasteur, Paris (France). Prof. Kaushik has been associated with designing and starting M.Sc. (Microbiology) Courses at Gurukul Kangri University, Hardwar, since very inception of the courses, and possesses a teaching and research experience of three decades.
Bagchee
