Research Article

Taxonomic Notes and Medicinal Uses of Two Taxa of Orchids Cymbidium devonianum Lindl. ex Paxt., and Vanda testacea (Lindl.) Rchb. f., in Darjeeling Himalaya of West Bengal, India

Rajendra Yonzone*

Directorate of Cinchona and Other Medicinal Plants, India

Submission: August 22, 2018; Published: October 12, 2018

*Corresponding author: Rajendra Yonzone, Directorate of Cinchona and Other Medicinal Plants, P.O. Mungpoo - 734313, District Darjeeling, West Bengal, India, Email: ryonzone99@gmail.com

How to cite this article: Rajendra Yonzone. Taxonomic Notes and Medicinal Uses of Two Taxa of Orchids Cymbidium devonianum Lindl. ex Paxt., and Vanda testacea (Lindl.) Rchb. f., in Darjeeling Himalaya of West Bengal, India. J Complement Med Alt Healthcare. 2018; 8(2): 555733. DOI: 10.19080/JCMAH.2018.08.555733

Abstract

Present paper deals with brief taxonomic notes and medicinal uses of two taxa of Orchids like Cymbidium devonianum Lindl. ex Paxt. and Vanda testacea (Lindl.) Rchb. f., in Darjeeling Himalaya of West Bengal, India. Detailed description with colour photographs, digital displays, phenology, habitat, exact field status, altitudinal range, local distribution within Darjeeling Himalaya and geographical distribution are provided.

Keywords:Orchid Taxa; Cymbidium devonianum; Vanda testacea; Medicinal uses; Darjeeling Himalaya; India

Introduction

The name Darjeeling is a corruption of dorje, the precious stone or ecclesiastical scepter, which is emblematic of the thunderbolt of Sakhra (Indra) and of ling, a place and it means therefore the place of the dorje, the mystic thunderbolt of the Lamaist religion, this being the name by which the Buddhist monastery, which once stood on Observatory Hill, was formerly known [1]. By another thought, the name Darjeeling is derived from the corruption of Lepcha name Darjyu-Lyang meaning abode of the god and goddesses. The present Darjeeling town was a small market of few mat roofed houses till 1886 with the name Gundri Bazar.

Darjeeling Himalaya falls under Singalila and Chola range, the Sub-Himalayan region of Mt. Kanchanjanga and it is the northernmost hilly districts of West Bengal, India and it is the part of Eastern Himalaya with different physiographic features. They lie between 27º31’05” and 26º27’10” North latitude and between 88º53’00” and 87º59’30” East longitude. The Northern boundary commences on the West at Phalut (3600m), the trijunction of the boundaries of Nepal, Sikkim and West Bengal. This boundary runs East from Phalut along the ridge descending to the Rammam river and proceeding East of that junction the boundary follows the Teesta upstream until its junction with the Rango Chu. From Phalut the Western boundary Nepal follows the Southward ridge until it joins the Mechi river upto the plains. On the South lies the district of West Dinajpur intercepted by the Mahananda river and the rest other part of the district is bounded by Bangladesh and the Jalpaiguri district. There are three Sub-Divisions in Darjeeling district viz., Darjeeling, Kurseong (hills) and Siliguri (plain) and three blocks come under Kalimpong district viz., Kalimpong, Algarah and Gorubathan (till June 2017) (Figure 1). The altitudinal variations range from 120m at Siliguri to as high as 3660m at Sandakphu.

General Features of the Region

Vegetation of Darjeeling Himalaya is also determined by the variations corresponding to the altitudes and the vegetation of this region is classified into five categories i. Plain and Tropical vegetation, ii. Sub Tropical vegetation, iii. Sub Temperate vegetation, iv. Temperate vegetation (Figure 2, (A)) and v. Sub Alpine vegetation. The rivers and streams that originate from the Ghoom and Lava saddle however, flow northwards. The complicated network of the spurs and ridges govern the direction of the flow along different directions. The most important natural lakes include Kalpokhri, Singalila National Park (3186 m), (Figure 2(B)), two small ponds at Sandakphu (3660m) that serve as the main sources of drinking water. In the Neora Valley region of the Kalimpong Sub-Division, a pair of natural lakes Jorepokhari are located at Neora Valley National Park, Rachela (3100m), (Figure 2(C)). Five types of rock formation are observed as we move from the South to the North in the district of Darjeeling are i. Siwalik formation, ii. Gondwana formation, iii. Buxa formation, iv. Daling formation and v. Darjeeling formation. Generally there are four different colours of soil found in Darjeeling Himalayan region viz. white clay (Kamero mato), gritty red (Lishailo mato), brown clay (Chimte mato) and black (Kalo mato). The variations of the parent materials exert a strong influence on soil characterization rather than the climate and vegetation. Depending upon the various changes in altitudinal ranges, from 120-3660m, the temperature also changes in great extremities from warmer to colder. This change in fact, produces a bracing and congenial climate in the upper hills. The climate (rainfall, temperature and humidity) varies from one part of the district to another corresponding to the altitudes, and configurations of different areas. Elevation wise the district is unique in having three distinct climatic zones, namely Tropical, Temperate and Sub-Alpine. The district has five distinct climatic seasons, namely i. Spring, ii. Summer, iii. Monsoon/Rainy, iv. Autumn and v. Winter. The area receives rainfall throughout the year, except for a short spell during the winters. Maximum rainfall is brought about by the south-west monsoon, which picks up the moisture from across the Indian Ocean and the Bay of Bengal and showers in the form of torrential rains. The district experiences highest rainfall between June to September and lowest between November to February, and moderate from March to May. The temperature of the Darjeeling Himalaya varies from place to place depending upon the altitudes. In the hilly regions the temperature (day and night) remains higher during rainy season than in the summer and spring while the range of fluctuation of temperature between the day and night is higher in the plains of Siliguri and terai region. Normally January is the coldest month and the daily temperature at Darjeeling, Sonada, Lava and Rachela often go down below 0 ͦC. The plains are warm or hot throughout the year except a brief period during winters.

Generally rural economic condition of the Darjeeling Himalayan people is not very good and the principal livelihood of the common people of rural areas of the region had been traditional agriculture farming and at present, only 13% of the total land is utilized for agriculture purpose (Figure 3(A – F)). Very few people are engaged in commercial floriculture, horticulture, large cardamum and thysanolena latifolia plantation and floral nursery business in the region.

Orchids exhibit incredible diversity in colour, shape, size, structure and fragrance of flowers and four different life forms viz., epiphytic, terrestrial, saprophytic and subterranean and are pretty admired among the professional and amateur Orchid lovers of the world and are important both botanically and commercially [2] and highly evolved among the monocotyledons. Orchids are used as ornamentals, food, aphrodisiac, religious beliefs and as medicine. Orchids comprise 25000 - 30000 species distributed throughout the world [3]. In India, the Eastern Himalaya is the centre of Orchids, followed by Western Himalaya and the South Indian hills. The Khasia hills in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and the Sikkim and Darjeeling Himalayas are richest in Orchid flora in India. Of the total Orchid species found in India nearly 70% found in North East India [4].

Some Orchid species reported to contain alkaloids, triterpenoids, flavonoids and stilbenoids. Recently, some important phytochemicals like orchinol, hircinol, cypripedin, jibantine, nidemin and loroglossin are extracted from Orchids [5]. Presence of these phytochemicals provides antimicrobial, antitumor, anti- inflammatory, antiviral activities etc. and some species used as potent inhibitor against gram positive and gram negative bacteria and some species were found to have strong antioxidative properties [6].

The medicinal importance of Orchids is known as early as 250- 300 BC by Susruta and Vagbhata in ancient Sanskrit literature. Ashtavarga, a group of eight drugs employed in the preparation of tonics such as Chyawanprash etc.; four species Jivak (Malaxis muscifera), Rishbhak (Malaxis acuminata), Ridhi (Habenaria intermedia) and Vridhi (Habenaria edgeworthii) are used in its preparation [7].

Materials and Methods

March 2018 covering all the seasons of the year and far-flung villages, tea gardens, wild life areas and forests of Darjeeling Himalaya of West Bengal, India (Figure 4(A-C). The specimens were collected and properly worked out both in the field and laboratory and pressed in blotting paper. Medicinal uses of Orchid species have been done by consulting those relevant literatures including Manandhar [8]; Baral & Kurmi [9]; Kaushik [10]; Jain [11], Hussain et al. [12] and Srivastava [13]. Some earlier workers like Bose et al. [14]; Bruhl [15]; Hara [16]; Hara [17],; Hooker [18]; King & Pantling [19]; Ohashi [20], Pradhan [21,22]; Pradhan & Pradhan [23]; Pearce and Cribb [24], Yonzone et al. [25-28] studied the Orchids of Darjeeling district. Recently, medicinal Orchids of the region and their uses are partially studied by workers like Yonzone et al. [29-31]; Yonzone [32-39]; Yonzone and Rai [40,41]. However, no attention has yet been given on the taxonomic notes and medicinal uses of Cymbidium devonianum and Vanda testacea from the regions in details. Therefore, present communication is aimed to provide taxonomic notes, exact field status and medicinal uses with phenology, altitudinal range, local distribution within Darjeeling Himalaya and geographical distribution of Cymbidium devonianum and Vanda testacea in details.

Taxonomic enumeration

Cymbidium devonianum Lindl. ex Paxt., Paxt.’s Mag. Bot. 10: 97 + fig. 1843.

Generic name origin from Greek word cymbi means a boat, a reference to the shape of the lip and species epithet is named after William, 6th Duke of Devonshire, a great orchid collector and patron of horticulture.

Cymbidium sikkimense Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6(1): 9. 1890. [Figure 5 & 6]

Plant epiphytic (frequently lithophytic) herb, 26-40cm tall. Pseudobulbs 2-3 × 1.4-1.9cm, ovoid, sheathed. Leaves 2-4, 12- 26 × 3.2-5cm, elliptic, obtuse to subacute, oblique, mucronate, petiolate. Inflorescence pendent, densely 10 to 25-flowered. Flowers 2.6-3.3cm across, pale-green with dark purple nerved. Sepals subsimilar, 2-2.7 × 0.8-1cm, spreading, erect, elliptic, obtuse. Petals 1.8-2.2 × 0.7-0.9cm, subquadrate, subacute to acute. Lip 1.5-1.6 × 1.1-1.4cm, slightly 3-lobed, purple with dark maroon blotch.

Habitat: Epiphytic (frequently lithophytic)

Specimen examined: India, West Bengal, Kalimpong, Toroyok busty 1690 m.

Altitudinal range: 1300 - 2400m [42]; 1300 - 2330m [24,43].

Flowering and fruiting: April - September; Current availability status: Sparse in wild [44].

Distribution within darjeeling himalaya: Lungshel, Lava, Sukiapokhari, Damsang forest, Toroyok, Takdah, Ramam, Baggonra.

Geographical distribution: India (North East India, West Bengal); Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand, South China.

Vanda testacea (Lindl.) Rchb. f., Gard. Chron. n.s. 8: 166. 1877.

Generic name is derived from a Sanskrit name for certain parasitic mistletoes and species epithet is derived from the Latin word testaceus in reference to the sepals and petals.

V. parviflora Lindl., Bot. Reg. 30 (misc.): 45, 1844; Hook. f., 6: 50. 1890; King & Pantl., 215, t. 236, 1898.

Aerides testaceum Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 238. 1833.

Aerides wightianum Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. 238. 1833. [Figure 7 & 8]

Plant epiphytic. Stem erect, sheathed. Leaves 8-25×1.5-2cm, equitant, oblong, coriaceous, apex unequally 2-lobed, 3-dentate, lobules triangular to rounded. Inflorescence laxly many-flowered; peduncle stout; rachis 7-13cm long. Flowers 1.9-2.1cm across; sepals and petals cream-yellow, lip white, purple or reddishpink. Dorsal sepal 7-11×3-5.4mm, obovate-spathulate, obtusely rounded and incurved at apex; side sepals 5.8-9.4×3-5.5mm, spreading, obovate-spathulate, falcate, apex rounded, incurved and twisted. Petals 6-11×2.5-4.5mm, spreading, spathulate, concave, base narrow and twisted. Lip 3-lobed, spurred, sessile, 8-9.5mm long. Fruit long-stalked.

Specimen examined: INDIA, West Bengal, Darjeeling, Kalimpong Sub-Division, Pudung busty, 820m, 14. 05. 2016.

Altitudinal range: 750-2000m. Up to 1000m [45]; Up to 1000m [46]; 300-2000m [42]; 500-700m [43]; 800-2000m [47]; 100- 1000m [48].

Habitat: Epiphytic on tree trunks and branches of Schima wallichii.

Flowering and Fruiting: April-September;

Current availability status: Sparse in wild [44].

Distribution within Darjeeling Himalaya: Kumsi forest, Godok, Nimbong busty of Kalimpong sub-division.

Distribution within India: (Himachal Pradesh to Arunachal Pradesh), Assam, Orissa, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Western Ghats, North Kanara, Southern Peninsular India in hilly tracts, Burma and Sri Lanka [46].

Geographical distribution: Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, China and Thailand [24].

Results and Discussion

Two taxa of medicinal orchids i.e., Cymbidium devonianum Lindl. ex Paxt. and Vanda testacea (Lindl.) Rchb. f., were reported with taxonomic notes, exact field status and medicinal uses from Darjeeling Himalaya of West Bengal. Exact field status of Cymbidium devonianum is sparse and Vanda testacea is rare and natural habitat of both the taxa were epiphytic but Cymbidium devonianum frequently grown also in lithophytic habitat and flowering and fruiting of both the taxa were April to September months. Root paste of C. devonianum applied externally to treat boils and concentrated decoction of whole plant administered orally to cure cough and cold [8,9] and leaves of V. testacea warmed with Mustard oil and applied over swollen parts to reduce pain [10]. Leaves are used to cure cuts and wounds [11]. Leaves are used in fever; juice is introduced into the aural metus as a remedy for otitis media [12]. Root is used as antipyretic, laxative, liver and brain tonic, also used in bronchitis, dyspepsia, boils on scalp, fractures, hiccup, inflammations, lumbago, piles, secondary syphilis, diseases of the nervous system and abdomen, toothache, tremors [13].

Conclusion

Darjeeling Himalaya is the natural home of Orchid species but at present natural population of Orchid species of the region is depleting by means of deforestation, habitat destruction by multifarious anthropogenic activies like indiscriminate collection from habitat, frequent landslides, forest fire, harvesting of old host epiphytic trees for timber collection, many developmental schemes, grazing of goats and cattle etc. Therefore, Orchid sanctuaries and germplasm conservation centres should be established both in situ and ex situ conservation in the region and mass multiplication by means of micropropagation should emphasized to conserve and plantation in the suitable habitat in nature.

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