A Checklist of Orchids Inside Dibrugarh University Campus, Assam, North-East India

Abstract

Widespread, ornamentally valuable angiosperm orchids belong to the family Orchidaceae. The Dibrugarh University campus is rich in biodiversity. Therefore, a survey was conducted inside the 500 acres area of the university to know the orchid diversity inside the campus. The campus bears 22 different orchid species belonging to 17 genera. The presence of two rear species like Dendrobium nobile and Vanda bicolour was reported from the campus. The campus provides a habitat for endangered species like Aerides odorata. Dendrobium and Cymbidium are the two dominant genera from the campus. The campus holds 17% of total species found all over the Dibrugarh district and 6% of species found in Assam. The species found inside the campus are economically important as they can be used as medicine, food and ornamentally. Although the university has a healthy environment for orchids still, they need more scientific methods and strategies to be developed for their conservation.