SDC Founder Anoop Nautiyal was invited by IFS Officer and Magsaysay awardee Mr. Sanjiv Chaturvedi to inaugurate India’s first cryptogamic garden at Deoban forest in Chakrata district, Dehradun.
The garden, located at a height of 9,000 feet, is spread over three luscious acres and houses nearly 50 species of lichens, ferns and fungi. According to Mr. Chaturvedi, they chose to locate the garden at Deoban because of its low pollution levels and moist conditions which are conducive for the growth of these cryptogamic species. Deoban is also home to pristine majestic forests of Deodar and Oak which create a natural habitat for cryptogams.
A cryptogam (scientific name cryptogamae) is a plant or plant-like organism that reproduces by spores, without flowers or seeds. Cryptogamae means “hidden reproduction” and thus cryptogams represent a class of non-seed bearing plants. Algae, bryophytes (moss, liverworts), lichens, ferns and fungi are the best-known groups of cryptogams that require moist conditions to survive.
