Visitors take a ride around the zoo on Tuesday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Oct. 23: Did you know that orchids derive nutrients and water directly from the air, and have no need to be anchored to the ground? Such plants are epiphytes, commonly known as “air plants”.

If you are interested in orchids and gobble up any information on these exotic species, then spare some time and visit the botanical garden at the zoo this winter.

The zoo will shortly open its orchid house, which will have some of the most exotic epiphytes from the region, to the public.

“The orchids would be a rich addition to the botanical garden at the zoo. Our motive is to conserve the orchid varieties found in the region,” a zoo official said.

Of the 1,300 species of orchids belonging to 158 genera found in India, the region is home to 700 species.

“As the region is such a huge storehouse of orchids, attempts should be made to conserve them. A number of rare orchid varieties, which once grew abundantly in the hills and valleys of the region, are now on their way to extinction, thanks to rampant deforestation,” the official said.

The zoo has so far collected 25 species of orchids from the region and is planning to collect some more varieties to add to its collection.

The orchid house, which will house the plants, is under construction. The house will be ready shortly and opened to the public, a source said.

The official said the orchid house is part of the development plan for the botanical garden. “We always wanted to develop the botanical garden and add beautiful varieties to it. We found out that orchids would be the best addition,” the official said.

“Field visits were made to different places of the region to collect different orchid species, which also provided us with the knowledge of orchids which grow in the region,” the official said.

The zoo will also serve as a place for conducting research on orchids and would be of immense help to botanists.

“Many people forget that the zoo also has a botanical garden as the general interest is about the animals while plants and flowers are not looked at with so much interest,” the official said.

Information would be provided on each and every orchid being kept in the orchid house. “This would help the students immensely,” the official added.