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Paphiopedilum druryi
ORCHIDACEAE
 Vernacular
name:
not known
Threat
status: Critically Endangered – Globally
Habit:
Terrestrial herb
Habitat:
Shady forest floors, amidst grasses, near rocky and grassy aslopes at
higher altitudes
Altitude:
+ 1500m
Distribution:
Endemic to southern Western Ghats in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. Regional:
Very rare, in the western slopes of Agastiyarmalai hills, Thiruvananthapuram
district, Kerala. In Tamil Nadu, very rarely seen in the eastern slopes
of Agastiyarmalai hills and Singampatti in Kalakad range, Tirunelveli
district. Not recorded in Karnataka.
Description:
A terrestrialperennial herb, growing up to 1 m tall. Rhizomes stout, straw-coloured,
creeping horizontally on the floor, up to 1 m long, producing 5-6 shoots.
Stems purplish green, woody up to 30 cm long. Roots thick, fleshy and
fibrous. Leaves more or less crowded at the base of the stem, distichously
arranged, strap-shaped, 15-25x2-3 cm, base narrowed, apex rounded or sub-acute
or notched, margin entire, leathery, dark green, glossy. Flowers bisexual,
solitary, terminal, 4-6 cm across, yellowish green streaked and blotched
with reddish purple, seated on 15-40 cm long purplish pubescent peduncle.
The lip of flower is helmet-shaped, bright yellow with reddish purple
spots.
Phenology: Flowering: March to April
Notes:
Included in the negative list of exports notified by Govt. of India (Notification
2 (RE-98) dt 13.4.98, 1997-2002).
Degradation
of habitat and over collection from natural population are the major factors
for decline of this narrow endemic precious and rare orchid.
Medicinal
uses: IUCN Plant Red Data Book (1978) suggests that it is used
medicinally in India.
Trade
information: Overexploited for horticultural purpose
Mode
of propagation: By rhizome cutting and seeds
Special
characters: This precious orchid can immediately be recognised
by its long leathery ribbon-like compactly arranged flossy leaves. The
attractive large single flower, with inviting golden yellow colour is
speckled with reddish purple spots arising on long purplish hairy stalk |
