Orchidaceae, Chotanagpur, state of Jharkhand, India.

Abstract

Orchids display a diversified range in terms of shape, size and colour of flowers. They have a unique floralmorphology compared to other angiospermic plants. They have minute seeds that are dispersed through air, and thatmay be why they are distributed throughout the world, except for the hot deserts and Antarctica. Though the familyOrchidaceae represents a highly advanced group of plants, they are highly susceptible to even slight changes inenvironmental conditions. In India, orchids are represented by 1,141 species belonging to 186 genera. The present studywas conducted on the Chotanagpur region of India, most of the part of which lies in the state of Jharkhand. A systematicsurvey was conducted through out the state from April 2002, on foot in different forested regions in different seasons. Achecklist of 63 species of orchids recorded from this area is provided. That includes 26 new records.