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Top Blossom- Orchids
Top Blossom- Orchids
One of the most beautiful species of the flower world, orchids are truly a viewing pleasure. Orchids are plants that belong to the world’s most highly evolved family. Orchidaceae represent around 10% of the total flora of the Sikkim Himalayas. The total number of species has been found to be 510 in 127 genera. Orchids are estimated to have about 25,000 species.
There is tremendous diversity in the shape, colour and size of orchids yet all these are the same in their basic form. The floral structure comprises of an outer segment consisting of three sepals and an inner segment of three petals. Sometimes the uppermost sepal is modified into a hood - like structures called the dorsal sepal, while the lateral sepals may be fused to form the synsepalum.Of three petals, one of them varies gently in shape, colour and structure. This modified petal is called the lip or labellum.
Orchids can also be categorized by their growth habit. They are either monpodial or sympodial. Monpodial orchids grow upwards from a terminal growing point. New growth begins as an extension of the growth of previous years. Sympodial orchids produce their new growths from the base of previous growths, the season growth being arrested by a terminal flower spike.
The drive itself from Gangtok via Singtam to Yuksom is interesting for orchid enthusiasists. One can see Cymbidium aloifolium, Bulbophyllum ssp, Dendrobium densiflorum, Dend aphyllum, Dend nobile along the valley. As one begins from Singam, the forest is a host for Cymbidium devonianium, elegans,etc.
Yuksom is the last motorable village at an altitude of 1,600 m. It also happens to be the seat of the first Chogyal (king) of Sikkim. The first stretch of the trek up to Prekchu river passes through dense temperate forest. This area is rich in Rhododendron griffithianum, Dalhousie and Lindleyi.
On reaching Prekchu, a strenuous climb through thickets of Arundinaria habit with large colonies of Arisaemia griffithii, Cardiocrinum gigantium, falconeri takes us past Bakhim and brings us to the temperate coniferous forests around Tsokha. Tsokha is a little village and a delight for ornithologists. This is the natural habitat of the state animal, namely the Red Panda.
As one nears the plateau where Dzongri is situated, the vegetation is taken over by Junipers and Rhododendron lepidotum, anthopogon, etc. Dzongri is located at an altitude of 3800 m and is exceedingly rich in alpine flora and it would definitely merit a few days stay. The area is host to Gentians, Pedicularis, Meconopis, terrestrial orchids and a host of primula species and it also commands a magnificent view f the mountain peaks.
The route from Dzsongri to Chemathang via Thangsing is almost a repetition of the trip from Tsokha to Dzongri with the added allure of spectacular scenery. The area between Chemathang and Gochela is a vast tract of alpine moraines and is a delight for alpine plant enthusiasts. One comes across Gentians, Corydalis Saxfraagus, Fritillaries, Rheum nobile, Bistorta spp Weldhemia and nivale and a number of other plants.
Rhododendrons occupy the most prominent place, clothing the mountain slopes with a deep green mantle flowing with bells of brilliant flowers. Primroses are the next both in beauty and abundance and they are accompanied by yellow cow ships, three feet high, purple polyanthus, and pink large flowered dwarf kinds nestled in the rocks. Gentians begin to unfold their deep azure bells, aconites rear their tall blue spikes and fritillaries burst into flowers. On the black rocks, the gigantic rhubarb forms pale pyramidal towers a yard high of inflated reflex bracts.
The forests of Sikkim are home to these exotic plants which are considered some of the top blossoms of nature. If one has a yearning to experience nature in all her beauty, Sikkim is definitely the way to go.