India's first cryptogamic garden was inaugurated in Deoban area of the Dehradun district in the northern state of Uttarakhand on Sunday. The garden is situated at an altitude of 9,000 feet and is spread over an area of three acres, Asian News International (ANI) reported. It has around 50 different species of cryptograms, the primitive plants which do not propagate through seeds and includes Algae, Mosses, Fern, Fungi, and Lichens. In an official statement, Sanjiv Chaturvedi, Chief Conservator of Forests (Research), said, "It is India's first cryptogamic garden, established in view of the ecological importance of these species and to create awareness among the public about these important group of plants." Cryptograms are lower plants which exist on earth since the Jurassic era. These species have tremendous economic value also as many lichens are used as spices in popular 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 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, said the ANI report. — WAM
