Sikkim - Noble Dendrobium

Botanical Name: Dendrobium nobile

'Dendrobium nobile flower', by Fan Wen, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

Importance

Dendrobium is a member of the orchid (Orchidaceae) family. It is originally reported to be from China, but it is also widespread in the tropical to sub-tropical Himalayas and North-East India. This specie has a high horticultural and economic value due to its beautiful and long-lasting flowers. It is generally exported to Europe and many other countries for cultivation.

Uses

The flower has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many centuries to treat thirst, fever, diabetes, infection, inflammation, cancer, protect eyesight, and improve appetite and digestion. Interestingly Noble Dendrobium has been added to the European Union novel foods catalogue and termed as unsafe for human consumption within food supplements without a safety assessment.

Bibliography

https://www.opss.org/article/dendrobium-why-it-supplements

http://bsienvis.nic.in/State_flower/Sikkim%20State%20Flower_29_11.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dendrobium_nobile