Geodorum densiflorum (Lam.) Schltr.
Family – Orchidaceae
Local name – Pink nodding orchid
Habit – Herb
Habitat – Moist deciduous and semi- evergreen forests
Location – Mayurbhanj, Odisha
Date – 26/6/21
IPNI – Geodorum densiflorum (Lam.) Schltr., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. Beih. 4: 259 (1919).
(Photo credit – Sweta Mishra)
Morphology
🍀Leaves are long leaf blade ovate to lanceolate, suberect
🍀Flowers are white to pink colour & not widely open
🍀 Inflorescence shorter than the leaves
🍀Fruits are elongated
🍀Pseudobulbs buried or half buried
Medicinal uses
To regularize menstrual cycle in women, the root paste was taken orally by mixing along with two drops of ghee and 5ml of honey.
Reference
Theng PA, Korpenwar AN. (2014). Studies on phytochemical, pharmacognostic and physicochemical investigations of an endangered orchid – Geodorum densiflorum (Lam.) Schltr. International Journal of bioassays. 3(2); 1771- 1774.
Keerthiga M & Anand SP. (2014). Antifungal activity of Geodorum densiflorum (Lam.) Schltr against pathogenic fungi. American Journal of phytomedicine and clinical therapeutics. 2(12); 1456- 1461.
(Biodiversity and Conservation Lab., Ambika Prasad Research Foundation, Cuttack, Odisha)