Nervilia aragoana Gaud.

ORCHIDACEAE

 

Vernacular names:

Hindi                  - Sthala padma, Sthala kamal

Malayalam           - Orila tamara, Nila tamara, Kal tamara

Sanskrit              - Padma karini

Tamil                  - Orilai thamarai

 

Threat status:

Lower Risk near threatened - KA

Vulnerable (A 1 c) - KL

Endangered (A 1 c) - TN

 

Habit: Tuberous terrestrial herb

 

Habitat: In humid shady localities of dense forests, rarely in wet grassy slopes of moist deciduous forests

 

Altitude: 300 - 900 m

 

Distribution: Global: Indo-Malaysia, Pacific and Australia. National: Recorded in the Himalayan region and southern India. Regional: Occasional in the higher altitudes of Western Ghats in Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Rare in Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh.

 

Description: Terrestrial single-leaved herbs, with underground tubers. Tubers spherical to egg-shaped, 1-2 cm across, white, fleshy. Leafsingle, more of less round-shaped, 10-25 cm diameter, base deeply heart-shaped, apex rounded to acute, margin wavy and coarsely toothed, hairless, green with purple shade on both surface and with prominent 9-15 ribs from the base; leaf stalks 10-20 cm long, greenish purple, with a distinct groove in the middle. Flowers usually 3-5 or even more, bisexual, greenish yellow, about 2 cm long, confined at the tip of 20-30 cm long flowering scapes. Lip 3-lobed, white with purplish veins and yellowish throat.

 

Phenology: Flowering & Fruiting: March to July

 

Notes: Included in the negative list of exports notified by Govt. of India (Notification 2 (RE-98) dt 13.4.98, 1997-2002).

 

Medicinal uses: Tubers used in postnatal treatments.

 

Trade information: Local and regional. Tubers may be adulterated with other Nervilia species. Tubers were priced at Rs.3.50/Kg. (Kerala, 1993).

 

Mode of propagation: By tubers

 

Special characters: This curious orchid draws immediate attention by its single, round-shaped and long-stalked leaf jutting above the soil surface. The leaf nerves on the upper surface forms distinct furrows. Leaves and flowers not appearing simultaneously, is a unique character of this ephemeral orchid.