Orchid Flora of Makalu-Barun National Park, Eastern Nepal

Abstract

This dissertation documented the list and their distribution of orchid species in Makalu-Barun National Park, which exhibited rich diversity of orchid flora. Two visits were made in 1998-1999 to the field to collect plant from different localities. Altogether 107 species of orchids belonging to 47 genera were recorded. Among them 74 were epiphyte, 31 were terrestrial, 2 were lithophytes and 1 species was saprophyte. It was observed that most of the epiphytic species were growing on trunk and bark of the trees.

The maximum number of species represented by genera Dendrobium (9 species) followed by Coelogyne & Eria (each 8 species). Calanthe represented (6 species), Bulbophyllum, Cymbidium, Oberonia & Liparis represented (each 5 species), Gastrochilus represented (4 species), Habenaria, Malaxis, Pholidota & Otochilus represented (each 3 species), Cleisostoma, Goodyera, Platanthera, Geodorum, Pleione, & Satyrium represented (each 2 species). The genera represented by single species are Acampe, Aerides, Agrostophyllum, Anthogoium, Arundina, Chusua, Cryptochilus, Diphylax, Epigenium, Galearis, Galeola, Herminium, Ione, Luisia, Ornithochilus, Panisea, Pecteilis, Phalaenopsis, Pteroceras, Rynchostylis, Smitinandia, Stereochilus, Spiranthes, Thelasis, Tainia, Thunia, Vanda, Vandopsis and Zeuxine.

Tropical region (350-1000m) comprised of 32 species among them 25 were epiphyte and 7 species were terrestrial. Subtropical region included 14 localities and comprised of 71 species, among them 57 species were epiphytes, 14 species were terrestrials and few were lithophytes. Temperate region (2000-3000m) included 6 localities and comprised of 36 species among these 13 species are terrestrial. Sub alpine region (3000-3500m) comprised of 7 terrestrial species.

Among 31 terrestrial species, Chepuwa sector comprised of 11 species and Num & Tumlingtar sectors comprised of 7 species each. Subtropical region comprised of 14 species and temperate region comprised of 13 species.

Chichila forest comprised of 31 species and Tashigown forest comprised of 24 species. 29 species belong to 19 genera were recorded as medicinal orchids, 9 species belong to 7 genera found rarely and only 8 species were recorded as very common species in the studied area. Oberonia parvula subsp. arunense is new taxon and Tainia minor is new record for Nepal.