A checklist to the orchids of Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, India

Authors

  • J. Jayanthi Botanical Survey of India, Headquarters, CGO Complex, Salt Lake, Kolkata – 700064, India. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6660-5887
  • Jeewan Singh Jalal Botanical Survey of India, Headquarters, CGO Complex, Salt Lake, Kolkata – 700064, India.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15517/lank.v23i1.54573

Keywords:

Biligirirangan, biodiversity hotspot, checklist, diversity, evergreen forest, Karnataka, Orchidaceae, wildlife sanctuary

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive account of the orchid diversity in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve (BRTTR), Karnataka, India. A total of 97 orchid species belonging to 33 genera were documented. This includes 50 terrestrial and 47 epiphytic orchids, including one mycoheterotrophic orchid, Epipogium roseum, and a climbing leafless Vanilla walkerae. Additionally, 39 endemic orchids were documented during the study. The evergreen forests provide the most habitable conditions for the orchids in BRTTR. The present study adds 26 species to the orchid flora of BRTTR. About 49% of the orchid flora of Karnataka state and 32% of orchids of Western Ghats is found in BRTTR, making this area a microcenter for orchid diversity.

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Published

2023-03-23 — Updated on 2023-03-23

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How to Cite

Jayanthi, J., & Jalal, J. S. (2023). A checklist to the orchids of Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve, Western Ghats, India. Lankesteriana: International Journal on Orchidology, 23(1), 45–79. https://doi.org/10.15517/lank.v23i1.54573