PREFACE 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Conservation of biodiversity is important for continued existence of 

life on earth. Convention of biological diversity is the most important and 

globally binding effort made towards this. Growing human population, 

multifarious anthropogenic activities and natural calamities push many of 

the taxa towards threatened categories. Maximum destruction is taking place 

in forest corporation areas of the region. Therefore, proper conservation of 

biodiversity is immediately required and every efforts towards exploration 

and documentation of Orchid flora is highly appreciable because there are 

maximum chances for species to get threatened and extinct before they are 

made known to the floristic world.  

 

Darjeeling is situated almost at the central part of Eastern Himalaya. 

Darjeeling is a part of Himalayan hotspot. Sir J.D. Hooker appreciated the 

floristic richness of this region and introduced it to outside world. The 

occurrences of very large variation in physiographic, climatic and edaphic 

conditions often aided by biotic factors which are responsible for such 

richness and diversity.  

 

 The Darjeeling district is divided into four Sub-Divisions, three of 

which are now on hills namely Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong and the 

remaining Siliguri Sub-Division is situated in the plains adjacent to the hills. 

The region experiences the highest rainfall during the months between June 

to September.  The  areas  located  above  3000 m,  specially  from Tonglu to  

 

 

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Sandakphu to Phalut remain very cold for most of the time. It exhibits a 

typical monsoon climate, with wet summer and dry winter. The great 

variation in altitude and configuration of the neighboring mountain ranges 

greatly affect air movement, rainfall and temperature and leads to a greater 

range of variation in local climatic conditions.  

 

Orchid species need special environmental conditions for their 

growth. Darjeeling Himalaya is positioned in such a way that the region is 

not only able to capture maximum rainfall and high humidity, which is 

favorable for lavish growth of vegetation including Orchid species.  

 

I started my floristic work in the year 2007 when I was engaged for 

two years in a research project entitled “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants of 

Darjeeling District and Documentation of Status Habitat and Local Uses of 

the Plant Species” funded by the West Bengal State Department of Science 

and Technology, Kolkata. I have done synergistic field work both on project 

of medicinal plants and my Ph.D. research work covering the entire four Sub-

Divisions of Darjeeling district. After completion of my project work, I was 

awarded Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship for the achievement of a Ph.D. 

degree. My present work includes 321 species under 86 Genera from 

Darjeeling Himalaya. It has been recorded that 2 species with 2 genera are 

saprophytic, 100 species with 34 genera are terrestrial and the rest 219 

species with 52 genera are epiphytic. 

 

Field surveys were carried out between June 2007 to April 2015 and 

recorded the distribution and habitat status of different taxa. During my 

earlier field trips, random collection of 2-3 specimens of each Orchid species 

both flowering and non-flowering stages were gathered and planted near the 

residence of Dr. R. B. Bhujel, Hill Top, Kalimpong with tags and label. 

Proper management of those collected species was done by Mr. Aden Alfred  

 

 

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Lepcha who was the Project Assistant in the same project. After the 

completion of his tenure, Mr. Rakesh Tamang, assisted me on my several 

field trips to Siliguri, Sevoke low altitude to Sandakphu, Phalut high altitude 

of the studied region. Both of them are skilled for tree climbing for the 

collection of epiphytic Orchids from tree trunk and branches and I myself 

being habituated to climb the trees in absence of those two assistants. Some 

locally collected Orchid species were also planted at my own residence at 

Samalbong Busty, Kalimpong with proper care my sisters. While collecting 

specimen, we always assured that there is sufficient number of plants in the 

nature and without disturbing their population in the nature, specimens were 

collected. 

 

This thesis provides details updated nomenclature, synonyms, 

flowering, fruiting, specimen cited, present availability status, local 

distribution within Darjeeling Himalaya, general distribution which is placed 

in enumeration chapter and details of above findings are given in discussion 

chapter. Besides this, photo plates and line drawings are also provided to 

facilitate the identification and observation of floral morphology and colour 

variated taxa of the region. A key based on noticeable field characters of each 

species is provided to help for identification of each taxa. The description has 

been based on characters of fresh specimens both in field and in laboratory. 

A total of 940 herbarium sheets were prepared during this course of study. 

  

Description of species, drawing and dissection were done based on 

fresh specimens both in the field and the Laboratory. Consultation with Prof. 

A.P. Das, Professor of the Department of Botany, North Bengal University 

and Secretary of Taxo Club and Chief Editor of Plant Taxonomy Journal 

“Pleione”, was also taken for publication of Himalayan Medicinal Orchids, 

colour variations of species of Cymbidium lowianum, Chilochista parishii, 

Geodorum densiflorum, Eria lasiopelata, Malaxis acuminata, Phalaenopsis  

 

 

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lobbii, Pinalia amica etc. were observed. On the suggestion of Mr. U.C. 

Pradhan, President, IUCN, Kalimpong, images were also taken while 

preparing the new variety of Geodorum densiflorum var. kalimpongense 

Rajendra Yonzone et al.  

 

I have discovered a new variety of Geodorum densiflorum var. 

kalimpongense and named after Kalimpong Sub-Division from where the 

original specimens were collected and preserved and finally published in the 

Journal of McAllen International Orchid Society, USA. The Holotype was 

deposited at the Central National Herbarium and Isotypes are kept at NBU 

herbarium and the CWC herbarium. Many colour variations of Geodorum, 

species were observed and finally published in the Journal of Mc. Allen 

International Orchid Society, USA. In present study, it was possible to add 

41 new records in the lists of the flora of Darjeeling Himalaya.   

 

During this course of study, I have published 51 research articles 

related with Orchids in different national and international scientific journals, 

proceeding volumes, book chapters, and further published and presented 33 

abstracts in different national and international seminars and conferences.  

 

Survey work was done not only in forest and villages but also 

conducted in floral nurseries, research centres, botanical garden etc. Many 

Dendrobium and Paphiopedilum, species were found in nurseries viz., 

Nurserymen’s Heaven, Holumba, International and Kaneybreed floral 

nurseries of Kalimpong in cultivated condition and those were brought from 

North Eastern states like Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Assam 

for business purposes and many of them were acclamitized in the climatic 

condition of Kalimpong. National Research Centres for Orchids, Indian 

Council of Agriculture Research, Darjeeling Campus, Darjeeling; Lloyd 

Botanic Garden,  Darjeeling  were  also  visited 4-5 times respectively during  

 

 

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the course of field survey work. Local field survey works were done with Mr. 

Khyanjeet Gogoi, Orchid Taxonomist, Life member of the Orchid Society of 

India (TOSI), and Dr. Samuel Rai, former Programme Coordinator of 

Darjeeling Krishi Vigyan Kendra, Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, 

Kalimpong and now the Director, Cinchona and Other Medicinal Plants, 

Mungpoo, Darjeeling.   

 

            I also visited various herbaria, more importantly the Central National 

Herbarium, Botanical Survey of India, Howrah, BSI Dehradun, Gangtok and 

NBU, Siliguri.  

 

Epiphytic Orchid species like Bulbophyllum, have the highest number 

of species diversity. Similarly in case of terrestrial species like Peristylus and 

Platanthera, possess equal and high number of species diversity in the 

Darjeeling Himalayan region. Some species of Cymbidium and Liparis, are 

found both in epiphytic and terrestrial habitat. After literature review, fourty 

five (45) species were found to be utilized for many medicinal purposes. 

 

Indiscriminate collection of Orchids for floral business, frequent 

landslides, extension of agricultural lands, developmental projects like 

National Hydral Power Corporation (NHPC), the extension of the National 

Highway 31 and harvesting of epiphytic old host trees for timber and fuel 

wood collection are major threats to the Orchid species in the studied region. 

Population of Diplomeris hirsuta, in the Coronation Bridge sides and 

Kalijhora road sides are drastically damaged because of habitat destruction 

by anthropogenic activities.  

 

The  present work is helpful for Orchid Taxonomists, 

Conservationists,  Botanists,  Floriculturists,  Environmental  scientists  and  

 

 

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Government agencies for their future course of action and for a ready 

reference guide for study and assessment of the Himalayan Orchid Diversity 

Resources of India. 

 

Taxonomic studies on the Orchid Flora of Darjeeling Himalaya needs 

more field trips rather than laboratory work. In this present work, several 

efforts have supported me to complete the work. Field work started from 

Sevoke and Sukuna of Siliguri Sub-Division of Darjeeling district (low 

altitude) to Sandakphu-Phalut (high altitude), and was conducted throughout 

the year. Epiphytic, terrestrial and saprophytic Orchids collections needed 

extra effort and were supported by many person without which, this work 

would have been incomplete. Therefore, I acknowledge their help and I 

express my sincere heartful gratitude to those people.  

 

First of all, my sincere gratitude and indebtedness to Dr. Dorjay 

Lama, Associate Professor, Department of Botany, St. Joseph’s College, 

North Point, Darjeeling and Dr. R. B. Bhujel, Principal, Cluny Women’s 

College, Kalimpong, district Darjeeling, for their consistent guidance and 

supervision of the present work.  

 

Special credit goes to Dr. Bhujel, who has provided me a great 

platform by engaging on different research projects of “West Bengal State 

Council of Science and Technology and Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship of 

University Grants Commission, and again Major Research Project of West 

Bengal Department of Science and Technology” at present.  

 

I am indebted to Professor A. P. Das, eminent plant taxonomist, 

Taxonomy and Environmental Biology Laboratory, Department of Botany, 

North   Bengal   University   for   his    guidance   and    helpful   suggestions,  

 

 

 

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encouragement and providing the necessary laboratory facilities.  

 

I am very much grateful to Dr. C. M. Sabapati, Botanical Assistant, 

Botanical Survey of India, Indian Botanical Garden, Central National 

Herbarium, Howrah, Kolkata for the identification and authentification of the 

collected Orchid specimens.  

 

I am very thankful to Mrs. Sarada Nayak, who helped me to provide 

initial funding for the start of my research work while I am at Kalimpong 

College with Dr. Bhujel. 

 

I am indebted to Sri Aden Alfred Lepcha and Sri Rakesh Tamang, 

who were the Project Assistants and helped me in collecting the specimens 

and preparation of the herbarium specimens in the laboratory.   

 

My thanks goes to Dr. Samuel Rai, Director, Directorate of Cinchona 

and Other Medicinal Plants, Mungpoo, Darjeeling for his encouragement, 

effective suggestions, co-operation, enthusiasm and guidance for all the 

activities of my research and to complete my Ph.D. work. 

 

I am personally indebted to Dr. Monoranjan Chowdhery, Professor, 

Department of Botany, North Bengal University, Raja Rammohunpur, 

Siliguri; Dr. Upakar Rai, Associate Professor, Department of Botany, St. 

Joseph’s College, North Point, Darjeeling; Dr. Pranay Bantawa, Lecturer, 

Department of Botany, Suryasen College, Siliguri and Mr. Khyanjeet Gogoi, 

Assistant Teacher as well as Orchid Taxonomist, Daisa Bordoloi Nagar, 

Tinsukia, Assam for compilation of my thesis work. 

 

I also express my thankfulness to my senior research scholar of 

Taxonomy and Environmental Biology Laboratory, North Bengal University 

 

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Mr. Suman Nirola, and other junior research colleagues Mr. Anurag 

Chowdhery, Mr. Depankar Chowdhery for their cooperation in laboratory 

work. 

 

I would also like to place in record my sincere gratitude to Mr. Karma 

T. Pempahishey and his son Mr. Norden Pempahishey of Nurserymen’s 

Heaven, Holumba, Kalimpong for their valuable suggestion and cooperation.  

 

I express my extreme sense of gratitude to the villagers, who kindly 

provided accommodation during our field trips and also helped me in 

locating Orchid species both in the forest and villages.   

 

I sincerely convey my thanks to all of them whom I may have 

inadvertently missed acknowledging.  

 

I finally, thank my sisters and last but not the least my wife, who has 

always inspired me and for their patience during my prolonged engagement 

in this floristic work.  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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