In India orchids are known to occur from Andaman and Nicobar Islands to Himalayas, the maximum number of species are however concentrated in the North-Eastern region where excessive rainfall coupled with warm humid climate and tropical evergreen forests offer the most congenial conditions for orchid growth. Sathish Kumar and Manilal (1994) have reported a total of 166 genera and 1141 species from India of which North-Eastern region alone accounts for more than 700 species. There are about 1000 genera and more than 17000 species of orchids widely distributed from tropical to alpine regions of the world and the family Orchidaceae (Monocotyledons) is one of the largest families of the flowering plants. Orchids have amazing ability of hybridization. Ever since the release of first man made orchid hybrid- Calanthe Dominyi, as back as in 1856, a large number of orchid hybrids have been produced through hybridization between different species of a genus, or between different genera. Today more than 80,000 orchid hybrids are known and more and more are being registered every day.
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