Table Of ContentWAVY
ORCHIDS OF HIGH RECOLLECTED
1
N. Sasidharan 2 K.P. Rajesh and Jomy Augustine3
,
Key words: orchids, High Wavys, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Odontochilus
rotundifolius, Bulbophyllum agastyamalayanum, B. xylophyllum.
The High Wavy Mountains are remarkable for their endemic flora, particularly orchids.
Among the 34 orchids reported by Blatter in 1928, some ofthem could not be located and
are considered as possibly extinct, mainly due to habitat degradation. This paper deals
with 64 species of orchids including all the species reported by Blatter, except
Chrysoglossum halberii Blatt., Odontochdus rotundifolius Blatt. relocated. Bulbophyllum
agastyamalayanum Gopalan & Henry is reduced to B. xylophyllum Par. & Reichb.f.
Distribution analysis and relevant notes are provided.
Introduction restricted distribution and habitat degradation,
the 3 new species described by Blatter from the
The High Wavy mountains or the High Wavys could not be relocated and placed
m
Varushanad Hills, towering more than 1500 under various threat categories (Henry et ah
above msl are steep and high spurt hills, 1979). Though Eria pseudoclavicaulis has been
extending North East from Kumily at the eastern relocated from Panniyar forests and Nyamkkad,
junction ofCardamom Hills and Pandalam Hills Anamudi (Abraham & Vatsala, 1981); from
to Andipatti Hills of Madurai district, Tamil Munnar, Idukki district and Agastyamalai,
Nadu. Except for the south western junction, Trivandrum district (Sasidharan et ah 1990), the
bordering the Idukki district ofKerala, the High other two species Chrysoglossum halbergii and
Wavys are entirely in Tamil Nadu. Parts of the Odontochilus rotundifolius could not be located
High Wavy Mountains, Manalar, Vellimala and and are considered to be possibly extinct (Nayar
Brook’s peak lie adjacent to the Periyar Tiger and Salary, 1988).
Reserve, Idukki district, Kerala.
During plant exploration in 1917 by Blatter Observations
and Halberg, 34 species of orchids under 19
genera, including 3 new species and 1 new The area bordering the High Wavy
variety, were collected. The new taxa des- Mountains in the Periyar Tiger Reserve is
cribed were Chrysoglossum halbergii, Eria undisturbed and supports dense vegetation.
pseudoclavicaulis, Odontochilus rotundifolius During our studies on the flora of Periyar Tiger
andDendrobium nutans var. rubrolabris. Among Reserve, we were able to collect 64 species of
the 34 species, 14 are endemic to the Western orchids from the region adjoining the High
Ghats. Wavys in the Periyar Tiger Reserve, including
Parts ofthe HighWavy inTamilNaduhave all the orchids except Chrysoglossum halbergii
been cleared forraising plantations ofcardamom, reported by Blatter(1928). The orchids collected
coffee, tea and other cash crops. Owing to the are listed below with relevant notes. The
specimens cited are deposited in the Kerala Forest
'AcceptedFebruary, 1997 Research Institute Herbarium (KFRI). The
2NonWoodForestProductsDivision,
abbreviations NS, JA, and KPR denote the names
KeralaForestResearchInstitute,Peechi-680 653,Kerala.
3PresentAddress: Dept, ofBotany,St. ThomasCollege, of collectors N. Sasidharan, Jomy Augustine,
Pala,Kottayam,Kerala. and K.P. Rajesh respectively.
474 JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATUR.iLHIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 94 (1997)
List of Orchids: 8. B. fuscopurpureum Wight
1. Aerides maculosa Lindl. Rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to
Rare, in evergreen forests. Endemic to southern Western Ghats. JA & KPR 15036.
southern Western Ghats. JA & KPR 15364. 9. B, kaitense Riechb.f.
2. Anoectochilus rotundifolius (Blatt.) Rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to
Sathish & Rasm. southern Western Ghats. NS & JA 15017.
Odontochilus rotundifolius Blatt. 10. B. macraei (Lindl.) Reichb. f.
Very rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to Rare in evergreen forests. Southern
southern Western Ghats. JA 13779. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. JA 13777.
Note: This species reported from the Note: This was considered endemic to Sri Lanka
High Wavys by Blatter (1928) based on the until recently reported from Tamil Nadu
collection made in 1917 had not been collected (Srinivasan & Chitra, 1989). The present
since then. Balakrishnan (1966) transferred it collection is a new record for Kerala.
to Anoectochilus rotundifolius (Blatt.) Balakr. 11. B. neilgherrense Wight
There was no report of this species for a long Fairly common in evergreen forests. India
period and it was considered extinct (Henry and Bangladesh. JA 14726.
et al. 1979); Ahmedullah and Nayar, 1987; 12. B. xylophyllum Par. Reichb. f.
Nayar and Sastry, 1987). Recently, Gopalan Bulbophyllum agastyamalayanum
(1993) published a new species under a new Gopalan & Henry syn. nov.
genus, Aenhenrya agastyamalayana, from Rare in evergreen forests. Indo-Malayan.
Agastya-malai Hills, Tamil Nadu. After critical JA & KPR 14474.
studies and discussion with Dr. C. Sathish Note: The similarity of B. agastyamalayanum
Kumar, TBGRI, it was found that Aenhenrya Gopalan & Henry and B. xylophyllum Par. &
agastyamalayana and Odontochilus rotundifolius Reichb.f., was commented on by Sathish Kumar
are the same. Thus the present collection is a and Manilal (1994). Gopalan and Henry (1993)
rediscovery from the type locality after a long described the new species as allied to
lapse. For a detailed discussion refer to Sathish B. hymenanthum Hook.f., which belongs to
Kumar and Rasmussen, 1997. section Aphanobulbon Schltr., characterised
3. Anoectochilus elatus Lindl. by “inflorescence one to few flowered or with
Rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to a lax flowered rachis” (Seidenfaden, 1979).
&
southern Western Ghats. JA 13124. B. xylophyllum Par. Reichb. f., belongs to the
4. Brachycorythis splendida Summerh. section Globiceps Schltr., characterised by
Occasional in grasslands. Endemic to “inflorescence a densely packed head of
southern Western Ghats. JA 14061. many small dark coloured flowers”. Studies
5. Bulbophyllum aureum (Hook.f.) J.J.Sm. with our collections from Periyar Tiger
rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to Reserve an Shenduruny Wildlife Sanctuary,
southern Western Ghats. JA & KPR 1 7089. Quilon district, [NS 11371 (KFRI)] and with
6. B elegantulum (Rolfe) J.J. Sm. the type specimen Gopalan 96220 (MH), shows
.
Rare in evergreen forests. Endemic that B. agastyamalayanum belongs to Sec-
to southern Western Ghats. JA 13713, tion Globiceps and is no different from
13745. B. xylophyllum. Hence B. agastyamalayanum
&
7. B. fischeri Seidenf. Gopalan Henry is synonymised with
&
Cirrhopetalum gamblei Hook.f. B. xylophyllum Par. Reichb. f. The present
Rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to collection extends the distribution range of the
southern Western Ghats. JA 15018. species ofKerala.
ORCHIDSOFHIGHWAVYRECOLLECTED 475
13. Calanthe masuca (D.Don) Lindl. Fairly common in evergreen forests.
Fairly common in evergreen forests. Indo- Endemic to southern Western Ghats. JA
Malayan. JA 12601, 13981. 13973.
14. C. triplicata (Willem.) Ames 27. E. reticosa Wight
Occasional in evergreen forests. Indo- Rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to
Malayan. JA 13772. southern Western Ghats and Himalayas. JA
15. Coelogyne breviscapa Lindl. 14001, KPR 16874.
Occasional in evergreen forests. South 28. Gastrochilus acaulis (Lindl.) O. Ktze.
India and Sri Lanka. KPR 14365. Saccolabium pulehelium Fischer
16. C. nervosa A. Rich. Occasional in evergreen forests. South
Rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to India and Sri Lanka. JA 17853.
southern Western Ghats. JA 13863. Note: Seidenfaden (1988) comments that all the
17. Dendrobium anamalayanum Chandrb. plants known by the names Saccolabium
et al. nilagiricum Hook.f., Vanda pulchella Wight,
Fairly common in evergreen forests. Gastrochilus pulchellus (Wight) Schltr., G.
Endemic to southern Western Ghats. JA nilagiricus (Hook, f.) O. Ktze., G. calceolaris
& KPR
15362. (J.E. Sm.) D. Don., and G. indicus Garay from
18. D. herbaceum Lindl. South India are G. acaulis (Lindl.) O. Ktze.
Common in evergreen forests. Endemic to 29. Habenaria barnesii Summerh.
southern Western GhatsandBihar.JA 13149. Rare in grasslands. Endemic to southern
19. D. microbulbon A. Rich. Western Ghats. JA 17880.
Rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to 30. Habenaria muldcaudata Sedgw.
southern Western Ghats. JA & KPR 14408. Rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to
20. D. nutantiflorum Hawkes & Heller southern Western Ghats. KPR 14344.
D. nutans Lindl. var. rubrolabris Blatt. 31. Kingidium niveum Sathish
Rare in evergreen forests. Southern Rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to
Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. JA & KPR southern Western Ghats. KPR 16885.
15016. 32. Liparis cespitosa (Thou.) Lindl.
21. Diplocentrum recurvum Wight Rare in evergreen forests. Indo-Malayan.
Fairly common in evergreen forests. JA 13967.
Southern Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. 33. L. elliptica Wight
JA 15218. Rare in evergreen forests. Indo-Malayan.
22. Disperis neilghprrense Wight JA & KPR 14477.
Rare in evergreen forests and grasslands. 34. L, viridiflora Lindl.
Indo-Malayan. JA 13773. Occasional in evergreen forests. Indo-
23. Epipogium roseum (D. Don) Lindl. Malayan. JA 1 7843.
Occasional in evergreen forests. Indo- 35. L. walkeriae Grab.
Malayan. JA 13165. Rare in grasslands. Southern Western
24. Eria nana A. Rich. Ghats and Sri Lanka. JA 14006.
Rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to 36. L. wightiana Thw.
southern Western Ghats. KPR 16873. Common in grasslands. Southern Western
25. E. pauciflora Wight Ghats and Sri Lanka. JA 14007.
Common in evergreen forests. Endemic to 37. Malaxis rheedei Sw.
southern Western Ghats. JA 13980. Fairly common in evergreen forests. India
26. E. pseudoclavicaulis Blatt. and Sri Lanka. JA 14073.
476 JOURNAL, BOMBAYNATURALHIST. SOCIETY, Vol. 94 (1997)
38. Oberonia anamalayana Joseph 52. Phreatia elegans Lindi.
Rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to Rare in evergreen forests. India and Sri
southern Western Ghats JA 13677. Lanka. JA 13951.
&
39. O. arnotiiana Wight 53. Robiquetiajosephiana Manilal Sathish
Rare in evergreen forests. India and Sri Rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to
KPR
Lanka. 16879. southern Western Ghats. JA 13970.
40. O. bicornis Lindi. 54. Satyrium nepalense D. Don
Rare in evergreen forests. South India and Common in grasslands. Indo-Malayan. JA
Sri Lanka. JA & KPR 14406. 12181, 13190.
41. O. brunoniana Wight 55. Seidenfadeniella chrysantha (Wight)
Occasional in evergreen forests. Endemic Sathish
to southern Western Ghats. JA 12983. Saccolabium filiforme Lindi.
42. O. denticulata Wight Rare in evergreen forests. Southern
Occasional in evergreen forests. Indo- Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. JA & KPR
Malayan. J. 12982. 15361.
43. O. ensiformis (J.E. Sm.) Lindi. 56. Sirhookera lanceolata (Wight) O. Ktze.
Common
in evergreen forests. Indo- Josephia lanceolata Wight
Malayan. KPR 16886. Common in evergreen forests. Southern
44. O. longibrateata Lindi. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. JA 12331.
Rare in evergreen forests. Southern 57. S. latifolia (Wight) O. Ktze.
KPR
Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. 14317. Occasional in evergreen forests. Southern
45. O. santapaui Kapad. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. JA 13982.
O. lindleyana Wight 58. Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames
Common in evergreen forests. Endemic to Spiranthes australis Lindi.
southern Western Ghats. JA 13988, 13989. Rare in grasslands. Indo-Malayan. JA
&
46. O. sebastiana Shetty Vivek. 14988.
Occasional in evergreen forests. Endemic 59. Tainia bicornis (Lindi.) Reichb. f.
to southern Western Ghats. JA 12972, KPR Occasional in evergreen forests. Southern
14312, 16878. Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. JA 13433.
47. O. verticillata Wight 60 Trias bonaccordensis Sathish
Rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to Rare in evergreen forests. Endemic to
southern Western Ghats. JA 17854. southern Western Ghats. JA 13433.
48. O. wightiana Lindi. 61. T. stocksii Benth. ex Hook. f.
Occasional in evergreen forests. Southern Occasional in evergreen forests. Indo-
KPR
Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. 16875. Malayan. JA 13165.
49. Papilionanthe subulata (Koenig) Garay 62. Zeuxine cladestina Bl.
Common in evergreen forests. Southern Rare in evergreen forests. Indo-Malayan.
Western Ghats and SriLanka. JA&KPR15026. JA & KPR 14873.
50. Peristylus aristatus Lindi. 63. Z. gracilis (Breda) Bl.
P. stenostachys Krzl. Z. blatterii Fischer
Rare in evergreen forests. India, Sri Lanka Rare in evergreen forests. Indo-Malayan.
and Nepal. JA 14147. JA & KPR 14821.
51. P. densus (Lindi.) Sant. & Kapad. 64. Z. longilabris (Lindi.) Benth. ex Hook f.
Rare in evergreen forests. Indo-Malayan. Occasional in evergreen forests. Indo-
JA 14142. Malayan. JA 13628.
ORCHIDSOFHIGHWA VYRECOLLECTED All
Conclusion Acknowledgements
The distribution analysis reveals that The authors are thankful to Dr. C. Sathish
among the 64 species, 24 are endemic to the Kumar, TBGRI, Trivandrum for his critical
southern Western Ghats, Dendrobium opinion and to Dr. V. J. Nair, Deputy Director,
herbaceum extends to Bihar and Eria reticosa Botanical Survey of India, Coimbatore, for
upto Himalayas. The Indo-Sri Lankan elements permission to examine the authentic material at
are 19 and Indo-Malayan 18. The orchids ofHigh Madras Herbarium (MH). Sincere thanks are due
Wavys, especially the endemics, have a narrow to Dr. K.S.S. Nair, Director, KFRI, for providing
distribution range; and as many as 12 endemics facilities. The study was carried outwith financial
are considered rare and a few critically assistance from the Wildlife Wing of Kerala
endangered. Forest Department.
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