Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophy
Class: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Cypripedioideae
Genus: Paphiopedilum
The Orchid Biology team at Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) developed a hybrid species of orchid and named it after Prof. Valiathan who had been instrumental in launching the orchid breeding programme at JNTBGRI during his tenure as Executive Vice-President, Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE).
The hybrid, Paphiopedilum M.S.Valiathan, is the first of the genus
registered in India. Paphiopedilums are popularly known as Lady’s Slipper
orchids. Paphiopedilum druryi, the only lady’s slipper orchid of peninsular
India endemic to Agasthyamala, is the female parent of the new hybrid, while
the male parent is the Thai species named Paphiopedilum exul.
According to C. Sathish kumar, who heads the Orchid Biology team, JNTBGRI has taken up a series of studies on
Indian orchids under programmes financed by various national and State funding agencies. Of the 15 new orchid hybrids developed by Dr. Sathish and his team, eight
have already received recognition from the Royal Horticultural Society, London.
News Courtesy: http://www.thehindu.com
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