It is that season again when ‘celebrity orchids’ bloom at the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI). One of the biggest stars among them, the tiger orchid (Grammatophyllum speciosum) is the centre of attraction now. The flowers, noted for their huge size and the resemblance to tiger skin flowers once every alternate year.
“The plant produces more than 75 flowers in a single spike. Flowering usually begins at the end of June and continues till August. It is usually seen in rain forests of South East Asia. The plant distributed to New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines. Now, one of our plans have produced three inflorescence. It is planted only in three our four locations in the institute. It cannot be planted extensively, as it takes a considerable area and also we have to protect it from animals, using barriers,” said Prakash Kumar, Director of JNTBGRI.
According to M.Salim, Technical Officer at the institute, the Tiger Orchid has been there from the time the institute was founded.
“It was our founding director who got these plants from somewhere. The first flowers came after eight years. Since then, it has been flowering every alternate year,” he said.
The tiger orchid has an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records due to its massive size. Mature plant in its natural habitat weighs up to 2 tonnes. The plant is usually seen in New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines.
