Terrestrial Orchid Diversity in Sharavati River Valley of Shimoga District Karnataka (India)

Soumya Mahabaleshwara Hegde; Krishnaswamy K

doi:10.34293/sijash.v8iS1-Feb.3927

Soumya Mahabaleshwara Hegde Department of Botany, Kuvempu University, Shimogga, Karnataka, India.
Krishnaswamy K Department of Botany, Sahyadri Science College, Shimogga, Karnataka, India

DOI: https://doi.org/10.34293/sijash.v8iS1-Feb.3927

Keywords: Sharavati river valley, Habenaria sp, Shimoga, Western Ghats

Abstract

Sharavati is a river which originates and flows entirely within the state of Karnataka in India. Sharavati river valley is the one of the most beautiful valley in the Western Ghats. Extensive field surveys during 2018-2020, revealed the occurrence of 25 species of orchids under 13 genera in river basin region in Shimoga district. Habenaria with 9 species is the largest genus in the river basin region, followed byNervilia with 3 species;Malaxis, Peristylus are 2 species each and the remaining genera by a single species each. The habit, distribution, phenology and population status of terrestrial orchid species is presented in this paper. Efforts have also been initiated for their conservation at Sharavati river valley region in Shimoga district Karnataka.