Abstract
The present paper describes the distribution, natural habitat and phenology of some terrestrial orchids in Shimoga district, Karnataka. The phenophases viz., leafing, flowering, fruiting, fruit dehiscence are observed for 25 orchid taxa belonging to 13 genera in Shimoga district. They are Dienia ophrydis (J. Koenig) Seidenf., Disperis zeylanica Trimen., Epipogium roseum (D. Don) Lindl., Eulophia spectabilis (Dennst.) Suresh., Geodorum densiflorum (Lam.) Schltr., Habenaria crinifera Lindl., Habenaria elwesii Hook f., Habenaria furcifera Lindl., Habenaria grandifloriformis Blatt. & Mc Cann., Habenaria heyneana Lindl., Habenaria longicorniculata J. Graham., Habenaria multicaudata Sedgw., Habenaria plantaginea Lindl., Liparis deflexa Hook. f., Liparis odorata (Willd) Lindl., Malaxis versicolor (Lindl.) Abeyw., Nervilia concolor (Blume) Schltr. Nervilia crociformis (Zoll. & Moritzi) Seidenf., Nervilia infundibulifolia Blatt. & Mc Cann., Nervilia plicata (Andrews) Schltr., Pecteilis gigantea (Sm.) Raf.. Peristylus plantagineus (Lindl.), Peristylus spiralis A. Rich., Satyrium nepalense D. Don, Zeuxine longilabris (Lindl.) Trimen. Phenology is the timing of plant life cycle events. Regular field visits were carried to observe the different life events. Most of the terrestrial orchids complete their life cycle in April to September or October month. The present research gives additional phenological aspects of terrestrial orchids in Shimoga district. Vegetative phenology is important to understand the ecology and instinct history of a plant species and may help to develop the conservation strategies of endangered species.
Highlights
The Orchidaceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants represented by 25000-35000 species distributed in 600-800 genera in the world [1]
The present paper describes the distribution, natural habitat and phenology of some terrestrial orchids in Shimoga district, Karnataka
The phenophases viz., leafing, flowering, fruiting, fruit dehiscence are observed for 25 orchid taxa belonging to 13 genera in Shimoga district
Summary
The Orchidaceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants represented by 25000-35000 species distributed in 600-800 genera in the world [1]. In India, Orchidaceae is represented by about 152 genera and 1300 species [2], in which 84 species in 30 genera are endemic to Western Ghats [3]. Orchidaceae in the state of Karnataka is represented by 203 species belonging to 59 genera, of which 17 species are terrestrial orchids in Shimoga district [4]. The Biodiversity rich Western Ghats represents 300 species out of which 84 species under 30 genera are endemic and 15 species are endangered [5]. Observations were on 15 terrestrial orchids in Shimoga district [10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
