Sri Lanka: Royal Family of Plants…The Orchids

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About 120 million years ago when Dinosaurs were around and most of the planet earth was lush with primordial forest, believe it or not Orchids were around!



As the world changed, many species of flora and fauna died but Orchids survived and today it is believed there are 35,000 different types of Orchids. This makes them one of the most adaptable plant species in the world. They grow on the ground, under the ground, under rocks, on the trees, tropical rain forest and plain grass land. Except for Antarctica, they grow everywhere.



They are affectionately called “Royal family of plants”…..
 
Approximately 68 miles or 110 kms away from Colombo and closer to Kandy is the Peradeniya Royal Botanical gardens. It is well known for sheer number and variety of plants that are indigenous as well as introduced. The gardens contain over 4000 species and varieties making it one of the best and most valuable collections in the world.



Here are some of the photos of most wonderful flowers of all…… The Orchids….. from the Royal Botanical Gardens of Sri Lanka













 

Author: Dr K.B. Mallya- Canada


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