Species

Malaxis muscifera (Lindl.) Kuntze

Family
Orchidaceae
English Name
Jivak
Malayalam Name
Jivakam
Tamil Name
Jivakam
Kannada Name
Jivakam
Telugu Name
Jivakam
Hindi Name
Jivak
Sanskrit Name
Jivakah, Jivaka
Trade Name
Jivak
Part Used
Bulbs
In Wild
NA
Under Cultivation
NA
Temperature
NA
Rainfall
NA
Farmers
NA
Traders
NA
Institution
NA
Individually
NA
State/Region
NA
District
NA
Nursery Information
NA
Yield
Yield of fresh bulbs is about 60 kg /ha. It loses 2/3rd of weight on drying.
Economic of cultivation
Present market price is ?. 800-900 per kg (as on March 2018).
Quantitative quality standards
1. Foreign matter: Nil 2. Ash : 6.5% (w/w) 3. Acid-insoluble ash: 1.52% (w/w) 4. Ethanol-soluble extractive : 5.0 (w/w) 5. Water-soluble extractive: 11.0% (w/w)
Description
Terrestrial glabrous herbs with ovoid pseudobulbs; pseudo-stem 15-30 cm tall, erect, swoolon at the base. Leaves 2, from the base of stem, elliptic lanceolate or ovate, unequal, 2-10 x 1-4 cm, base narrowed. Flowers small, 3 mm long, yellowish-green in terminal, 8-12 cm long racemes.
Agro technology/Cultivation practices
The plant has been observed to grow well in sandy loam soil with high organic matter. It prefers temperate climatic conditions with low rainfall. Cultivation 1. Planting-stock production: Since the seeds are microscopic, it is hard to get seed germination in nursey and laboratory conditions. Hence, pseudo-bulbs are used for raising the crop. The pseudo-bulbs of sizes 3 to 4 cm in length (0.8 -1.0 cm diameter) are selected and used to rise propagules. In April-May the maximum survival percentage (78-80%) was found in pseudobulbs. Mother bulbs after about 2 years growth are chosen for target usage and the daughter bulbs should be used for planting the subsequent crop. However, sprouting in mother bulbs is better than that in daughter bulbs younger than 1 year. Damaged bulbs are not to be used for planting. 2. Field planting: The pseudo-bulbs should be planted during mid-October to early November at 30 x 30 cm spacing accommodating about 1,11,100 plants/ha as a pure crop. 3. Manuring/Fertilizer: Farmyard manure/compost may be applied at the time of land preparation based on plant/soil analysis. 4. Irrigation: The crop requires light irrigation at the time of establishment soon after transplanting. 5. Pest and diseases: No disease or insect pest has been noticed in this crop.
Harversting
Plants normally bear flowers and fruits during September-October. The crop attains senescence during October-November of second year which is the right time of harvesting the crop.
Processing
The bulbs should be separated from the plants, washed and dried in shade before storing.
References
NA