India’s first cryptogamic garden opens in Dehradun

Last Updated12/07/2021

The garden houses nearly 50 species of cyptograms like lichens, ferns and fungi.
The garden is situated at an altitude of 9000 feet and is spread over an area of three acres

Cryptograms are those primitive plants that do not propagate through seeds.
Cryptogamae means “hidden reproduction” referring to the fact that no seed, no flowers are produced. Thus, cryptogams represent the non-seed bearing plants.
Algae, bryophytes (moss, liverworts), lichens, ferns and fungi are the best-known groups of cryptogams.
These are lower plants which exist on earth since the Jurassic era.
These plants are good bio-indicators as species like Lichens do not come up in pollution-infected areas.

Algae comprises the most primitive organisms which are predominantly aquatic, both in marine as well as freshwater habitats
Bryophytes are the simplest and primitive land plants that occupy an intermediate position between algae and pteridophytes.
Lichens are a complex life form that is a symbiotic partnership of two separate organisms, a fungus and an algae
Ferns are the largest living group of primitive vascular plants while fungi is a kingdom of usually multicellular eukaryotic organisms that are heterotrophs.

These species have tremendous economic value also as many lichens are used as spices in some well-known culinary items like Hyderabadi Biryani and Galouti Kebab to add flavor.
Similarly, many algae species are a good source of various nutrients and also many of edible mushrooms.
Many species of moss have good anti-fungal properties, many lichen species are used as medicines by local people and many fern species are used to filter heavy metals.

Deoban has pristine majestic forests of Deodar and Oak which create a natural habitat for cryptogamic species.
The garden, which is spread over three acres has been located at Deoban because of its low pollution levels and moist conditions which are conducive for the growth of these species