The Orchids Research and Development Centre (ORDC), Tipi located at
about
25kms from the Sanctuary. It has state of the art facilities for research on orchids
of
the Arunachal Pradesh which includes:
-
Species House: There are about four species houses provided with
nylon
shade and evergreen climber shade within the campus. About 10,000 orchid
plants
belonging to various genera and species are under cultivation in these
houses
ensuring ex-situ conservation. These orchids include rare and endangered
orchids
like Vanda coerulea, Renanthera imschootiana, Dendrobium densiflorum, Vanda
bicolor, Paphiopedilum venustum, Paphiopedilum fairrieanum, Acanthephippium
sylhetense and others..
-
Natural Orchidaria: There are two natural orchidaria created within
the
orchid center under the shade of erythrina and teak plantations. Large
number of
native orchid species which are being wasted in the timber coupes and
landslide
areas have been rescued and rehabilitated in this orchidaria as a part of
ex-situ conservation.
-
Orchid Herbarium: The herbarium specializes on orchids and about 2770
specimen of orchids representing about 380 species of 100 genera of orchids
distributed in Arunachal Pradesh have been preserved in it. All the type
specimen of new species of orchids (about 30) discovered from orchid centre
Tipi
are deposited in this Herbarium.
-
Tissue Culture Laboratory: The orchid centre has very well-equipped
laboratory for micro propagation of orchid species through seed and tissue
culture. About 20,000 to 40,000 number of orchid seedlings of various rare,
endangered, and ornamental species and hybrids are produced annually from
this
laboratory to distribute to farmers, commercial people, and rehabilitation
in
natural habitat.
-
Orchid Museum: The museum at Tipi depicts the orchid wealth of
Arunachal
Pradesh in maps, color and black & white photographs, blow-ups, charts, and
specimen preserved in jars and tubes. Activities and achievements of the
center
have also been displayed in the museum.
-
Hardening Unit: : The hardening unit is provided with controlled
light,
temperature; relative humidity and periodic water spray system to harden
(acclimatize) the orchid plantlets produced in the lab. The hardening unit
is
provided with controlled light, temperature; relative humidity and periodic
water spray system to harden (acclimatize) the orchid plantlets produced in
the
lab.
