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VOL. 8, ISSUE 12 (2023)
A review on terrestrial and lithophytic orchid diversity in the north eastern state of Assam
Authors
Rakesh Kalita, Mustafizur Rahman
Abstract
Orchidaceae resembles a unique group of epiphytic, saprophytic,
terrestrial or lithophytic herbal flora that have reached a highest position of
complex morphological adaptations among angiosperms to bring about successful
cross pollination by various motile agents. Comprising about 10% of total
flowering plants it accounts for about 25,000 to 35,000 species. Assam being a
part of the greater bio-diverse seven sister states houses for about 400
species of orchids, with many yet to be explored. Although a greater mass is
attracted towards epiphytic orchids due to their captivating floral appearances
but an equal amount of terrestrial and lithophytic orchids are also found in
abundance in the mighty forests of Assam. This study gives an overall idea on
distribution of members of Orchidaceae from global to national perspectives,
narrowing down to their abundance in Assam. This review additionally emphasizes
on the species diversity of terrestrial and lithophytic orchids of the state
Assam. There are about 120 documented species of terrestrial orchids in Assam,
representing at least 50 different terrestrial genera. Of all the terrestrial orchid
species that have been described from Assam, the genus Zeuxine and Calanthe
has shown the maximum species diversity followed by Eulophia and Habenaria.
With regard to orchids that are growing as lithophytes, there are at least 59
distinct species of them belonging to 27 different genera are described
in the state. Maximum species found in lithophytic habitats were from the
genera of Dendobrium, followed by Coelogyne and Cymbidium.
But lithophytic orchid species do not always grow exclusively on rocks instead
the same species may have diverse habitat forms which are also further explored
in this review. Using an illustration of the species diversity within different
ground orchid genera, this review seeks to shed light on the terrestrial
orchids' numerical strength in Assam.
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Pages:6-12
How to cite this article:
Rakesh Kalita, Mustafizur Rahman "A review on terrestrial and lithophytic orchid diversity in the north eastern state of Assam". International Journal of Botany Studies, Vol 8, Issue 12, 2023, Pages 6-12
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