Kerala’s Kanakakunnu Palace grounds will get the luxurious aroma of orchids very soon. The stunning palace will soon have garden-fresh orchids. Nestled in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala’s institutes and universities and London’s Royal Botanic Gardens took up the project of planting these orchids. The aim of this project is brilliant and to know all about it, read on!
Kerala’s Kanakakunnu Palace Grounds To Be Bathed In 800 Orchids
The Royal Botanic Gardens in London’s Kew is collaborating with many institutions and universities in Kerala for the pilot project of planting 800 orchids inside the Kanakakunnu Palace campus. Kew’s Royal Botanic Gardens joined hands with —Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden & Research Institute and the University of Kerala (Botany Department & Centre for Biodiversity Conservation) They also joined hands with the Kerala Tourism Department.
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The aim of this initiative is to spread information and awareness about orchids among the masses. Not a lot of people are well aware of these plants and this pilot project in Kanakakunnu Palace has the motive to create a connection between nature and the masses.
The Pilot Project Of Planting Orchids Will Start On This Week
The alluring orchids found in Kerala will very soon find their home in the Kanakakunnu Palace grounds. They will plant almost 800 orchids here this coming Tuesday. Also, they will start planting as a part of the pilot project from 2 pm.
Why Did They Choose Kerala’s Native Orchids?
The primary reason behind choosing orchids is how beautifully these orchids represent India’s vast diversity. It also truly displays the heterogeneity of the rich ecosystem of Western Ghats.
According to a report by The Hindu, the species of Orchids used in this initiative are:
- Cymbidium bicolor
- Cymbidium aloifolium
- Taprobanaea spathulata
- Vanda tessellata
- Vanda testacea
- Luisia zeylanica
- Vanda spathulata
- Acampe praemorsa
- Rhynchostylis retusa
- Dendrobium macrostachyum.
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Had there been no COVID-19 pandemic, this orchid project at Kanakakunnu Palace would have started a long time back. It was expected to start in 2019 to represent Kerala’s rich biodiversity and collection of orchids. Due to all the restrictions of the pandemic, the project was delayed. Nevertheless, are you looking forward to this orchid extravaganza?
News Source: The Hindu
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
