Geodorum densiflorum – NSD 38

[Nayan Singh]

Friends,

This herb is from Pench Tiger Reserve

Photographed on 13-7-05

Family : Orhcidaceae

I think this plant is Geodorum densiflorum

Experts please comment on id

Thanks

Nayan

 

N.S.Dungriyal IFS
Chief Conservator of Forests
and Field Director
Satpura Tiger Reserve Hoshangabad
M.P.
09424792100

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[Dr. Pankaj Kumar]

Dear Sir,

This is not densiflorum, this is most likely to be Geodorum
laxiflorum. Flowers are white coloured, less in number, lip more
squarish and offcourse the spur which is pointing backwards.

G. densiflorum has pinkish flowers (may be very light pale pink),
partially opened smaller flowers. tallest of all Geodorums in India
with offcourse dense flowers the numbers may go up to 50.

There is a very interesting thing about Geodorums.

Usually flowers in orchids are resupinate (not always though), that
means, they rotate by 180 degrees, so the lip which is supposed to be
on the upper side comes to the lower side, this is mainly for:
1. Facilitate pollination by providing landing platform.
2. THIS IS MY OWN THEORY: To avoid pollen from falling on the ground,
as till they are lying on the labellum, the chances of getting
attached to the insect is there.
3. When the lip or labellum (the most colourful part) is on the lower
side, it is more visible to insects and other pollinators to attract
them towards the flowers.

But in of Geodorum, due some unknown reasons (may be due to very short
and thick pedicel), flowers are unable to resupinate, instead the
whole inflorescence curves downward to bring the lip to the lower
side!!!

After the pollination is over, during the process of fertilization,
the spikes gradually turns upright!!! may be to help in proper ascent
of sap (this is also my unproven theory)!!!

ISN'T THAT INTERESTING !!!! ORCHIDS ALWAYS DO UNEXPECTED THINGS !!!

Regards
Pankaj

PS. So I expect Dungriyal sir is now going to help me find this plant
next year !!!

[Satish Phadke]

This is becoming very interesting.
Thanks Pankaj ji for the valuable information.
I think nayan ji is showing us many interesting orchids. Most of us must be tempted to visit the area. May be we have to arrange Indiantreepix meet there !!
Dr Satish Phadke

2009/10/8 Dr. Pankaj Kumar <sahani...@gmail.com>

--

http:// satishphadke.blogspot.com

[Nayan Singh]

Dear Satish ji

Satpura Tiger Reserve is one of the biodiversity rich area in central India. There are many species of plants found in Himalaya and Western Ghat. This area is known for the famous Satpura Hypothesis. Yes we can arrange our Indiantreepix meet here. But for the Orchids most suitable time seems to be June - August, where as most of the small plants are in flowering stage mostly during August - Oct, but any way it is true for all the area. This is one of the most suitable are in central India for our meet.

Thanks & Regards

nayan.

................................ 

N.S.Dungriyal IFS
Chief Conservator of Forests
and Field Director
Satpura Tiger Reserve Hoshangabad
M.P.
09424792100

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From: Satish Phadke <phadke...@gmail.com>
To: Dr. Pankaj Kumar <sahani...@gmail.com>
Cc: indiantreepix <indian...@googlegroups.com>; raw...@wii.gov.in; m.c...@kew.org
Sent: Thu, 8 October, 2009 7:51:03 PM
Subject: [indiantreepix:20468] Re: Geodorum densiflorum – NSD 38

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[Nayan Singh]

Dear Pankaj

Thanks for your promp reply and detail information

but now i am totaly confused, because the tow orchids idied as Geodorum laxiflorum were appearing totaly different to me.

The shape & size of flowers were different

in one flowering and leaves were apperearing together &  in other, there was only flowering shoot, no leaves.

Is there any chance of having different variety?

For compereasion i am again attaching the pics both.

These orchids were seen in different place in years in Pench, let us hope next year we will be able to find them.

 

Thanks 

Nayan.

......................................... 

N.S.Dungriyal IFS
Chief Conservator of Forests
and Field Director
Satpura Tiger Reserve Hoshangabad
M.P.
09424792100

---

From: Dr. Pankaj Kumar <sahani...@gmail.com>
To: indiantreepix <indian...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: raw...@wii.gov.in; m.c...@kew.org
Sent: Thu, 8 October, 2009 11:26:34 AM
Subject: [indiantreepix:20436] Re: Geodorum densiflorum – NSD 38

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[Pankaj Kumar]

Dear Sir,

I have made few observations during my 6 years of study some of which
I am discussing below.

Geodorums are very peculiar. A small shoot like green structure
originates from the previous years underground corm that are present
at the end of the chain of corms. Then at a certain point, the shoot
bifurcates, one tip growing into foliar part and the other part
growing into the floral axis, on the onset of monsoon (but both
emerges from the same shoot, so at the lower end if u dig out the corm
you will wild them covered with same foliar bracts). Sometimes, when
the rain abruptly stops the foliar part gets stunted for the time
being, sometimes they even die, but the floral axis gets nourishment
from the previous years corm so it keeps growing. Thats a kind of
successful flowering strategy in this particular orchid. So its not a
big deal if the plant will bear leaves or not during the flowering
period.

Orchids have very peculiar growth habits. Some orchids flower in the
stress when there is scarcity of food material whereas some flowers
when the food material is abundant. Some orchids give both foliar and
floral shoot whereas some gives floral first, whereas some give foliar
first.......In orchids like some species of Eulophias (Eulophia
explanata) floral stalk emerges in extreme stress, its like when the
perrenating underground corms think that they can't bear it anymore
(in the extreme heat of summer at a temperature of around 40 degree
celsius) then they give out small callus like structure near the
previous year's corm. The callus has usually two apices. If the stress
persists then one apice give rise to floral stalk, where as other
remains stunted and when it starts raining, then it becomes active to
give foliar stalk....but if it rains abruptly, then it give foliar
stalk and the plant doesnt flower in that year at all.......

U can see a healthy flower of Eulophia explanata growing in the
extreme heat of summer, without any leaf, when most of the other herbs
seems to be dying off !!!

..INTERESTING NA !!! :)

Regards
Pankaj

[Nayan Singh]

Dear Pankaj

Really it is very interesting

thanks a lot for giving detail informaiton & educating me a lot about the orchides

thanks again

Nayan

................................... 

N.S.Dungriyal IFS
Chief Conservator of Forests
and Field Director
Satpura Tiger Reserve Hoshangabad
M.P.
09424792100

---

From: Pankaj Kumar <sahani...@gmail.com>
To: Nayan Singh <ns_dun...@yahoo.co.in>
Cc: indiantreepix <indian...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thu, 8 October, 2009 11:02:18 PM
Subject: Re: [indiantreepix:20436] Re: Geodorum densiflorum – NSD 38

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[Nayan Singh]

Dear Prashant ji

You are well come to  visit Pachmari and its surrounding area.

this is one of the most important hot spot for floral and faunal diversity in central India.

Yes I agree with you it is best suited for Indiantreepix group meet in Central India.

thanks & regards

Nayan.

............................... 

N.S.Dungriyal IFS
Chief Conservator of Forests
and Field Director
Satpura Tiger Reserve Hoshangabad
M.P.
09424792100

---

From: Prashant awale <pka...@gmail.com>
To: Nayan Singh <ns_dun...@yahoo.co.in>
Cc: satish phadke <phadke...@gmail.com>; J.M. Garg <jmg...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thu, 8 October, 2009 10:00:33 PM
Subject: Re: [indiantreepix:20472] Re: Geodorum densiflorum – NSD 38

Dear Nayan ji,
I agree with Satish ji's view. In fact after seeing your collection of orchids, i too am tempted to visit this region. Long back i had trekked in the Pachmari area in the region covering Nandiya, Rorighat, Bori, Nag dwar etc. The region is   different from sahayadri ranges and i think probably best suited for Indiantreepix group meet.

Thanks & best wishes
Prashant

2009/10/8 Nayan Singh <ns_dun...@yahoo.co.in>

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[Dr Pankaj Kumar]

Dear Sir,

(Eulophiaexplanata) floral stalk emerges in extreme stress, its like

when the
perrenating underground corms think that they can't bear it anymore
(in the extreme heat of summer at a temperature of around 40 degree
celsius) then they give out small callus like structure near the
previous year's corm. The callus has usually two apices. If the stress
persists then one apice give rise to floral stalk, where as other
remains stunted and when it starts raining, then it becomes active to
give foliar stalk....but if it rains abruptly, then it give foliar
stalk and the plant doesnt flower in that year at all.......

U can see a healthy flower ofEulophiaexplanatagrowing in the

[Muthu Karthick]

Dear Pankaj sir,

My obsessions about Orchids are that they are mostly present in shades and as Epiphytes and opposing this fact, the flowering of Eulopia sp. in extreme summer due to stress making me wonder. Sharing your scientific observation is really fruitful for us. Many thanks for the post sir.

2011/3/22 Dr Pankaj Kumar <sahani...@gmail.com>

--
Muthu Karthick, N
Care Earth Trust

#15, second main road,

Thillai ganga nagar,
Chennai - 600 061

Mob: 0091 96268 33911
www.careearthtrust.org

[Pankaj Kumar]

Dear Muthu
Eulophia explanata, I have seen flowering in extreme heat of summer
during June in open areas. The temperature was around 40 degree
Celsius and the plant was flowering and it was perfectly healthy.
Orchids need light, so in general they dont grow in shade except for
some particular groups among the terrestrials. Those which grow in
shades, do so for special purpose and most of them I believe dont have
fully developed pigment system.
Secondly, I believe that there are much more number of terrestrial
ones than the epiphytic orchids. Its just that epiphytic ones are more
visible that the ones on the ground.
Will write more on it when I get free after sometime. Life is too
hectic and kind of get tempted to write once I start :))
Take care and enjoy.
Pankaj

2011/3/22 Muthu Karthick <nmk...@gmail.com>:

--
***********************************************
"TAXONOMISTS GETTING EXTINCT AND SPECIES DATA DEFICIENT !!"

Pankaj Kumar Ph.D. (Orchidaceae)
Research Associate
Greater Kailash Sacred Landscape Project
Department of Habitat Ecology
Wildlife Institute of India
Post Box # 18
Dehradun - 248001, India