Sathowai Marma : Rare Orchid Collector

A nature lover has created quite a stir in Khagrachhari together with his plan to preserve rare sorts of orchids born on the hills. He collect all rare orchids from 3 hilly are Rangamati, Khagarachori, Banderban in Bangladesh

Orchids are under threat thanks to widespread orchid trafficking and increased tourist arrivals. Marma formed a corporation called Hill Orchid Society, which works to preserve orchids, and employs unemployed youth to cultivate orchids commercially.

Sathowai Marma features a collection of 55 different sorts of flowers in his home yard in the Rajyomoni neighbourhood within the hilly district. The 33-year-old men have taken the move simply to boost awareness among the indigenous community and not out of any commercial purpose. “They aren't purchasable . Many common species are becoming extinct day by day thanks to deforestation. That's why I have even taken the initiative to preserve the species,” Sathowai told this paper recently when this correspondent visited his home.

The loss of 54 species orchids from the flora of Bangladesh by 100 years warns that the family Orchidaceae is in most vulnerable state and need immediate and proper conservation measures before their disappearance from the wild for sustainability of the environment.

Enumeration of possibly lost orchid taxa of Bangladesh 

1. Acampe cephalotes Lindl., Fol. Orch. 4: 3 (1853). Gastrochilus cephalotes (Lindl.) Kuntze (1891); Saccolabium cephalotes (Lindl.) Hook.f. (1890). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Epiphytic. Fl.-Fr.: Not on record. Potential value: Ornamental. Recorded locality: Sylhet (lnc). No report of collection Hook.f. (1890). Global distribution: Bnagladesh, Cambodia, Chins, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan and Vietnam. Herbarium specimens: Sylhet: 19.11.1947, J. D. Hooker and T. Thomson 197 (K). No herbarium specimens available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH. 

2. Acanthephippium sylhetense Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orch. Pl.: 177 (1831). Acanthephippium ringiflorum Griff. (1851). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Terrestrial. Fl.-Fr.: April – May (Bose et al. 1999). Potential Value: Medicinal (http://www.ecoindia.com/flora/s/orchid). Recorded locality: Sylhet (lnc). No report of collection Hook.f. (1890). Golbal distribution: Bangladesh, China, NE India, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar and Thailand. Herbarium specimens: No herbarium specimens available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH. 

3. Anoectochilus setaceus Blume, Bijdr.: 412 (1825). Anaectochilus roxburghii (Wall.) Lindl. (1839); A. setaceus Lindl. (1837) nom. illeg.; Chrysobaphus roxburghii Wall. (1826); Orchis picta Reinw. ex Lindl. (1857). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: J. biodivers. conserv. bioresour. manag. 3(1), 2017 68 Terrestrial. Fl.-Fr.: April – June (Peaece and Cribb 2002). Potential Value: Medicinal (Ratna et al. 2014). Recorded locality: Sylhet (lnc). No report of collection Hook.f. (1890). Golbal distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Japan, Laos, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. Herbarium specimens: No herbarium specimens available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH. 

4. Ascocentrum ampullaceum (Roxb.) Schltr. in Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 1: 975 (1913). Aerides ampullacea Roxb. (1832); Oeceoclades ampullacea (Roxb.) Lindl. ex Voigt (1845); Gastrochilus ampullaceus (Roxb.) Kuntze (1891); Saccolabium ampullaceum (Roxb.) Lindl. (1832). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Epiphytic. Fl.-Fr.: March-May (Yonzone et al. 2012). Potential Value: Not known. Recorded locality: Sylhet (lnc). No report of collection Hook.f. (1890). Golbal distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India (including Andaman Islands), Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand. Herbarium specimens: No herbarium specimens available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH. 

5. Calanthe densiflora Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 250 (1833). Alismorkis densiflora (Lindl.) Kuntze (1891); Calanthe kazuoi Yamamoto (1930). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Terrestrial. Fl.-Fr.: August - October (Lang et al.1999). Potential Value: Not known. Recorded locality: Sylhet (lnc). No report of collection Wallich (1824). Golbal distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Japan, Nepal and Vietnam. Herbarium specimens: Sylhet: F. De Silva, Wall. Cat. 7344 (K). No herbarium specimens are available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH. 

6. Calanthe puberula Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl.: 252 (1833). Alismorkis puberula (Lindl.) Kuntze (1891); Calanthe amoena W. W. Smith (1921); C. lepida W. W. Smith (1921). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Terrestrial. Fl.-Fr.: October – December (Peaece and Cribb 2002). Potential Value: Medicinal (Pant 2013). Recorded locality: Sylhet (lnc). No report of collection Lindley (1830-1840). Golbal distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Japan, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan and Vietnam. Herbarium specimens: Sylhet: F. D. Silva, Wall. Cat. no 7342 (K). But no herbarium specimens are available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH. 

7. Cleisostoma subulatum Blume, Bijdr.: 363 (1825). Cleisostoma dealbatum Lindl. (1843); Sarcanthus secundus Griff. (1851); S. oxyphyllus Wall. ex Reichb.f. (1855); S. subulatus (Blume) Reichb.f. (1857); S. secundus Griff. (1851). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Epiphytic. Fl.: August – October (Internet). Potential Value: Not known. Recorded locality: Chittagong (lnc) (Prain 1903), CHT (lnc) (Heinig 1925), Sundribans (Prain 1903), Sylhet (lnc) (Hook.f. 1890). No report of collection Heinig (1925). Golbal distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, eastern Himalayas, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysian peninsula, Sumatra, Java, Lesser Sunda Islands, Borneo, the Moluccas and the Philippines. Herbarium specimens: No herbarium specimens available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH. J. biodivers. conserv. bioresour. manag. 3(1), 2017 69 

8. Coelogyne punctulata Lindl., Coll. Bot. ad t. 33 (1821). Coelogyne brevifolia Lindl.; C. nitida (Roxb. ) Hook.f. (1890), C. ocellata Lindley; Cymbidium nitidum Roxb. (1832), not Wallich ex D. Don (1825); Pleione goweri (Reich.) Kuntze (1891); P. nitida Kuntze (1891). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Epiphytic. Fl.-Fr.: March – April (Peaece and Cribb 2002). Potential Value: Medicinal (Deb et al. 2009). Recorded locality: Sylhet (lnc). No report of collection after Roxburgh (1832) by its synonym Cymbidium nitidum Roxb. Golbal distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, NE India, Myanmar and Nepal. Herbarium specimens: No herbarium specimens available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH.

9. Crepidium biauritum (Lindl.) Szlach., Fragm. Florist. Geobot. Suppl. 3: 124 (1995). Crepidium andamanicum (King and Pantl.) Marg. and Szlach. (2001); Malaxis andamanica (King and Pantl.) N. P. Balakr and V. Rao (1981); M. brevicaulis (Schltr.) S. Y. Hu (1974); M. biaurita Kuntze (1891); Microstylis andamanica King and Pantl. (1897); M. biaurita Lindl. (1830); M. brevicaulis Schltr. (1919); M. thorelii Finet (1907). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Terrestrial. Fl.-Fr.: July - October (Hook.f. 1890). Potential Value: Medicinal (San et al. 2015). Recorded locality: Sylhet (Pandua). No report of collection Wallich (1832). Golbal distribution: Andaman Islands, Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand. Herbarium specimens: Sylhet: Pandua, 1832, Wallich, Wall. Cat. 1941 (K). But no herbarium specimens are available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH. 

10. Crepidium calophyllum (Rchb.f.) Szlach., Fragm. Florist. Geobot. Suppl. 3: 125 (1995). Epidendrum variegatum König (1791); Liparis elegantissima Ridl. (1888); Malaxis calophylla (Reichb. f.) Kuntze (1891); M. scottii (Hook.f.) Kuntze (1891); Microstylis calophylla Reichb. f. (1879); M. scottii Hook.f. (1890); M. wallichii var. brachycheila Hook.f. (1890). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Terrestrial. Fl.-Fr.: July (Peaece and Cribb 2002). Potential Value: Horticultural. Recorded locality: Dhaka (lnc). No report of collection after Hook.f. (1890). Golbal distribution: Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, China, India (Sikkim), Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Herbarium specimens: No herbarium specimens available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH. 

11. Dendrobium angulatum Lindl. Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 88 (1830). Callista angulata Kranzl (1891); Dendrobium inconcinnum Ridl. (1896); D. podagraria Hook.f. (1890) nom. illeg. Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Epiphytic. Fl.-Fr.: April – May (Gogoi et al. 2014). Potential Value: Horticultural plant. Recorded locality: Chittagong (lnc; Prain 1903) and CHT (lnc; Heinig 1925). No report of collection Heinig (1925). Golbal distribution: Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, southwestern Thailand and Vietnam. Herbarium specimens: Bangladesh: 1821, De Silva 2001/2 (K). But no herbarium specimens are available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH. 

12. Dendrobium blumei Lindl., Sp. Orchid. Pl. 88 (1830). Aporum blumei (Lindl.) Rauschert (1983); Callista boothii (Teijsm. and Binn.) Kuntze (1891); C. tuberifera (Hook.f.) Kuntze (1891); Dendrobium tuberiferum Hook.f. (1890); Onychium fimbriatum Blume (1825). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Epiphytic. Fl.-Fr.: Late winter and early spring (IOSPE PHOTOS). Potential Value: Not known. J. biodivers. conserv. bioresour. manag. 3(1), 2017 70 Recorded locality: Chittagong (lnc). No report of collection Hook.f. (1890). Golbal distribution: Bangladesh, Borneo, Java, Malaysia and Thailand. Herbarium specimens: No herbarium specimens are available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH. 

13. Dendrobium chryseum Rolfe, Gard. Chron. Ser. 3, 3: 233 (1888). Callista aurantiaca Kuntze (1891); Dendrobium aurantiacum Reichb.f. (1887); D. clavatum Wall. ex Lindl. (1852); D. flaviflorum Hayata (1911); D. rivesii Gagnep. (1930); D. tibeticum Schltr. (1921). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Epiphytic. Fl.-Fr.: June (Peaece and Cribb 2002). Potential Value: Not known. Recorded locality: Sylhet (lnc). No report of collection Hook.f. (1890). Golbal distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, eastern Himalayas, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Western Himalayas. Herbarium specimens: No herbarium specimens are available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH. 

14. Dendrobium crepidatum Lindl. and Paxton, Paxt. Fl. Gard. 1: 63 (1850). Callista crepidata (Lindl. and Paxton) Kuntze (1891); Dendrobium lawanum Lindl. (1859); Dendrochilum roseum Dalz. (1852). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Epiphytic. Fl.-Fr.: April - May (Abraham and Vatsala 1981). Potential Value: Medicinal (Nongdam 2014; Pant 2013). Recorded locality: Cox’s Bazar (Below Pagoda on hill side). No report of collection Sinclair (1956). Golbal distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. Herbarium specimens: Cox’s Bazar: Below Pagoda on hill side, 01.03.1945, Sinclair s.n. (K). No herbarium specimens are available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH. 

15. Dendrobium lituiflorum Lindl., Gard. Chron.: 372 (1856). Callista lituiflora (Lindl.) Kuntze (1891); Dendrobium hanburyanum Reichb.f (1856). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Epiphytic. Fl.-Fr.: February - April (Huda 2000). Potential Value: Horticultural. Recorded locality: CHT (lnc; Heinig 1925), Cox’s Bazar (lnc; Sinclair 1956). No report of collection from Cox’s Bazar Sinclair (1956). Golbal distribution: Bangladesh, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Herbarium specimens: No herbarium specimens are available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH. 

16. Dendrobium longicornu Lindl., Gen. Sp. Orchid. Pl. 80 (1830). Callista longicornis (Lindl.) Kuntze (1891); Dendrobium bulleyi Rolfe (1913); D. flexuosum Griff. (1851); D. hirsutum Griff. (1851); Froscula hispida Raf. (1838). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Epiphytic. Fl.-Fr.: August - December (Huda 2008). Potential Value: Medicinal (Pant 2013). Recorded locality: Sylhet (lnc). No report of collection de Silva (1821). Golbal distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, NE India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Vietnam. Herbarium specimens: Sylhet: 1821, F. De Silva 1997(2), (K). But no herbarium specimens available in DACB, DUSH, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH. 

17. Dendrobium moschatum (Buch.-Ham.) Sw. in Schltr., Neues J. Bot. 1: 94 (1805). Callista calceola (Carey ex Hook.) Kuntze (1891); C. moschata Kuntze (1891); Cymbidium moschatum Willd. (1805); Dendrobium calceolaria Carey ex Hook. (1825); D. cupreum Herb. ex Lindl. (1835); D. moschatum Wall. ex D. Don (1825); D. calceolaria Carey ex Hook. (1825); Epidendrum moschatum J. biodivers. conserv. bioresour. manag. 3(1), 2017 71 Buch.-Ham. (1800). Bangla name: Not known. Habitat: Epiphytic. Fl.-Fr.: May – July (Huda 2000). Potential Value: Medicinal (Pant 2013). Recorded locality: Chittagong (lnc; Prain 1903), Cox’s Bazar (near Buddhist Monastery; Sinclair 1956), CHT (lnc; Heinig 1925), Sylhet (near Forest School). No collection Sarkar (1956). Golbal distribution: Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand and Vietnam. Conservation measures proposed: Further search should be made to relocate this species, if exists, then in-situ oSchool, 13.03.1956, Sarkar s.n. (DUSH) and no herbarium specimens available in DACB, HCU, BFRIH and BCSIRH.