Well explained, Pankaj. Your knowledge on orchids is really amazing. You are a valuable asset not only for this group but for entire India espl in floristics field :) Its really nice to see interactions between 'Orchidopedia' and 'Oudhipedia'. I learnt many new things incl. habit & host preferences of orchids, and also 'Horopathy'. Thanks Pankaj. Thanks also to Oudhia ji for raising questions which yielded a detailed explanation filled with information from Pankaj.
In my area I have seen Vanda growing on rocks! Is it a lithophyte as well? Regards Vijayasankar Raman National Center for Natural Products Research University of Mississippi On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 2:27 PM, Pankaj Oudhia <[email protected]>wrote: > Yes it may be correct if any one sees it as rare case but occurrence of > Dendrobiums on said species is not rare case. It was shocking to see the > paper having no info on it. That's why I reacted immediately But as > Vijayashankar ji said it may be due to standard error, it is not the > author's fault. > > During the said visit I found insect species damaging Dendrobiums. I posted > its picture to International experts but they asked for dead insects for > correct identification. Due to laziness the samples are still with me. > During visit on Shorea and other species mainly on orchids I observed heavy > infestation of scale insects. The guides informed that this year infestation > was at higher side. I searched the literature and based on it, in process of > submitting a paper in journal. In short visit fortunately I got information > about 30 formulations in which Dendrobiums are used. Hoping the > Ethnobotanists from Jharkhand have reported it. > > I am sorry as always if I am encroaching your territories i.e. Jharkhand as > well as Orchids. ;) > > > regards > > Pankaj Oudhia > > On Sat, Mar 26, 2011 at 12:32 AM, Dr Pankaj Kumar > <[email protected]>wrote: > >> I would love to see this report of yours on Mining Impact on Orchid >> Diversity, if you can share. >> There are distinct Orchid zones on trees, The one growing on the main >> trunk is ecologically different from the one growing on the terminal >> branches (twig epiphytes) hence it becomes tricky to understand if an >> orchid grew by mistake of it really has a preference of the tree over >> other trees. >> Orchids have seeds without endosperm and hence they need to make >> association with specialised fungi called mycorrhiza. Now these fungi >> are specific to the host like all other fungi. So where these fungi >> are found, orchids can grow. But, once they have germinated, you put >> the plant on any tree it will grow. This gets more tricky... >> Orchids of Arunachal Pradesh has a picture of Orchid growing >> on....ELECTRIC/TELEPHONE POLE....now who will explain that to me..... >> Its fun when you see things which you cant explain.....orchids have >> lot of such fun... >> Pankaj >> >> On Mar 25, 11:27 pm, Pankaj Oudhia <[email protected]> wrote: >> > Thanks for your detailed reply once again. Hoping to post the pictures >> of >> > Dendrobiums collected from many tree species including Pterocarpus and >> > Terminalia sp. from Jharkhand few years back, in near future. I was on >> visit >> > on request of Ranchi based non-governmental organization. They wanted to >> > prepare a report on impact of mining on Orchid diversity. I was odd man >> for >> > this work but based on superficial (?) knowledge I have done it for >> > them.Also post pictures about my work on Niyamgiri orchids including >> > Dendrobiums in Orissa. >> > >> > There is no doubt that you are one of finest orchid experts of India and >> we >> > are fortunate to have you in our group. >> > >> > And Vijayashankar ji, I agree with your thoughts on development of new >> > research methodology. >> > >> > regards >> > >> > Pankaj Oudhia >> > >> > On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 11:41 PM, Pankaj Kumar <[email protected] >> >wrote: >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > > Thanks Vijay for making it simple. >> > > Respected Oudhia sir, >> > > I have always admired your work in Chhattishgarh, but I would like to >> > > add something here.... >> > > 1. You cant compare the forests of Chhatisgarh with Jharkhand, they >> > > are two different phytogeograhic zones. Just for example, I have never >> > > seen Orchids growing on Pinus roxburghii trees in Jharkhand, but yes, >> > > I have seen it in Himalayas. Jharkhand is not an orchid hotspot and >> > > hence it doesnt have luxuriant growth of Orchids. >> > > 2. As Vijay said, yes you can miss many things outside your plots, >> > > thats not a big deal, as you cant search each and every tree present >> > > in the area for the presence of Orchids. >> > > 3. Pterocarpus and Teminalia chebula, can you please send me some pics >> > > to show how many species grow on these two trees? I would be grateful. >> > > When you say storehouse, you may be referring to only one taxa growing >> > > luxuriantly on the tree, not a big deal. I am talking about areas with >> > > more than 9-10 orchids were sampled. I will give you another example. >> > > I went to coal mine areas in Hazaribag, where due to some reasons, the >> > > trees were laden with orchids, but only two species. >> > > 4. As you can see, the paper deals exclusively with Dendrobiums and >> > > hence I am not talking about any other orchids, which might be or are >> > > found on these two trees. >> > > 5. When you say, if I used locals, my answer is ALWAYS!! except for >> > > some naxallite prone zones where no one was willing to accompany me. >> > > If you say they play vital role in such surveys, then may be yes, but >> > > its not of much help unless you are looking for a particular orchid >> > > which they know. For example, if I wish to know about Pathal Kela >> > > (Pholidota imbricata and P. pallida. The first point here is, they >> > > cant differentiate between two), then for sure, they know places where >> > > these plants grow as they have been using them. But, I can go to a >> > > patch of Pholidota and lay a plot saying its abundant in the area. >> > > That will be ridiculous. For each of my plot, I used to check orchids >> > > on my own for their identity which they cant do. >> > > 6. You should understand that there is a difference between devoting >> > > you life in the forest and working for your PhD. If I had 10 years in >> > > hand to work for my PhD, then may be my results would have shown >> > > differences. This answer your question that more survey can lead to >> > > more result. Secondly, for you information, one of my friend went to >> > > Chattisgarh for one week and we had new records of Orchids from that >> > > area, it doesnt mean that you didnt survey well. Its mere luck and >> > > also the area where he worked. >> > > 7. Your sampling design is based on your objectives as well as your >> > > duration. One simple example will be, if you wish to calculate the >> > > density of lets say one species of Orchid in an area, then for sure >> > > you will either have to do the total count, which is not possible, or >> > > you will have to lay RANDOM plots and then count inside the plots. You >> > > will surely get chances when you will find that particular orchid >> > > outside your plot, but you are not supposed to count it. Hope you >> > > understand what I mean here. >> > > 8. No, I never acknowledged local people in my articles but all those >> > > who helped me have been acknowledged in my thesis, each and every >> > > person. But that doesnt mean that I dont respect them. There are so >> > > many friends here and at Jharkhand who have helped me in my work, I >> > > cant write each and every name there on the articles. Infact my boss >> > > found my acknowledgement in the thesis too long and smiled when I >> > > showed him so many names. >> > > 9. I had around 33 new records of Orchid from chhotanagpur and this >> > > doesnt include around 12 species which I know they are present, but >> > > couldnt identify due to lack of flowers. There could be many more new >> > > records of both orchids as well as host trees. I have seen Vanda >> > > growing on ground, it makes no sense as it some how fell down and was >> > > carried away by flow of water. Orchids are very opportunistic. They >> > > can grow anywhere and you wont find a reason to explain. Just because >> > > I found ONE ORCHID GROWING ON ONE TREE, doesnt make it publishable. If >> > > you really want to publish it, then for sure you need to prove it >> > > scientifically. >> > > 10. When you say how random sampling can give accurate result: YES IT >> > > CAN...BEST WAY IS TO INCREASE YOUR SAMPLING EFFORT. >> > > 11. You send me the list of orchids found on these trees and list of >> > > hosts and may be list of orchids and I would be there to help you >> > > publish it. No authorship needed, no acknowledgement needed. I always >> > > believe in distributing rather than gathering. I thought you should >> > > have known by now. >> > > 12. I can give you suggestions how to do scientific interviews and >> > > sampling, which could yield you good PUBLISHABLE results, you just >> > > need to ask...FOR FREE... otherwise you will end with yet another book >> > > on list of medicinal plants, which most of the people do now a days. >> > > There are books on HOROPATHY, if you know. It comes in volumes, and it >> > > is available at ranchi. Then there are so many people writing same >> > > book over and over again. If you wish to come out with better >> > > publication then for sure you need to do it more scientifically. For >> > > which I can help you and it is evident that Dr. Vijay will also be >> > > able to help you. >> > >> > > Regards >> > > Pankaj >> > >
