Orchid wealth of Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

Orchids are a treasured resource to the students of botany, gardeners, flower lovers, floriculturists, ethnobotanists, and experts of ecology, conservation/evolutionary biology, and phylogeny. Orchids are valued high as the product of perfect plant-fungi and plant-animal mutualisms. India is known for its rich wealth of orchids. The potential medicinal value and possible orchid flower export for the subcontinent are not yet adequately explored and estimated. The state of Andhra Pradesh has good number of orchid taxa (36 genera and 76 [+ one cultivated, i.e. Spathoglottis plicata] species). Within the state, region-wise, the number of orchid taxa reported are 52 for Coastal Andhra, 27 for Rayalaseema and 10 for Telangana. While the highest number of orchids recorded were reported from Visakhapatnam district, the lowest score goes to Anantapur-as indicative of the extreams of moisture levels in the environment. In life-form, slightly (51.9%) more than half of the orchids are epiphytes (with equal proportions of simple epiphytes, pseudobulb epiphytes and chamerophytes) whilst the rest are terrestrial (48.1%). The latter are more diversified though a great majority are geophytes (amongst them are 20 tuber geophytes, 11 pseudobulb geophytes, two holomycotrophic rhizome geophytes and one rhizome geophyte). These are indicative of the past temperate climate of the region. There are orchids from Andhra Pradesh which share their distribution with Western Ghats on one hand and NE India on the others. Habenaria ramayyana is the only orchid endemic to Andhra Pradesh.

Full text

ORCHID WEALTH OF ANDHRA PRADESH, INDIA
VATSAVAYA S. RAJU, C.SUDHAKAR REDDY*, K.N. REDDY**, K.S. RAO *** and
BIR BAHADUR
†
Plant Systematics Laboratoy, Department of Botany, Kakatiya University, Warangal - 506 009
*Forestry and Ecology Division, National Remote Sensing Centre, Hyderabad -500 037
** Laila Impex, R&D Centre, Unit I, Phase III, Jawahar Autonagar, Vijayawada - 520 007
***Department of Plant Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad - 500 046
†
The Odyssey, 4A, 10-2-289-46, Santhinagar, Masab Tank, Hyderabad - 500 028
Abstract
Orchids are a treasured resource to the students of botany, gardeners, flower lovers,
floriculturists, ethnobotanists, and experts of ecology, conservation/evolutionary biology, and
phylogeny. Orchids are valued high as the product of perfect plant-fungi and plant-animal
mutualisms. India is known for its rich wealth of orchids. The potential medicinal value and
possible orchid flower export for the subcontinent are not yet adequately explored and estimated.
The state of Andhra Pradesh has good number of orchid taxa (36 genera and 76 [+ one cultivated,
i.e. Spathoglottis plicata] species). Within the state, region-wise, the number of orchid taxa
reported are 52 for Coastal Andhra, 27 for Rayalaseema and 10 for Telangana. While the highest
number of orchids recorded were reported from Visakhapatnam district, the lowest score goes to
Anantapur - as indicative of the extreams of moisture levels in the environment. In life-form,
slightly (51.9%) more than half of the orchids are epiphytes (with equal proportions of simple
epiphytes, pseudobulb epiphytes and chamerophytes) whilst the rest are terrestrial (48.1%). The
latter are more diversified though a great majority are geophytes (amongst them are 20 tuber
geophytes, 11 pseudobulb geophytes, two holomycotrophic rhizome geophytes and one rhizome
geophyte). These are indicative of the past temperate climate of the region. There are orchids
from Andhra Pradesh which share their distribution with Western Ghats on one hand and NE
India on the others. Habenaria ramayyana is the only orchid endemic to Andhra Pradesh.
Key words:
Andhra Pradesh, Orchid wealth, checklist.
Introduction
Orchids (orchis [sing.], testicle, from the shape of the root tuber) are members of the
family Orchidaceae. Globally, there are 788 orchid genera and 18500 species
(Mabberley, 1997). They are distinguished from the closely allied Apostasiaceae in the
parietal placentation and presence of pollinia. The Orchidaceae are a distinctive family of
Magnoliophyta (Liliopsida) with unique features like mycorrhizal associations,
resupinate flowers, showy labellum, formation of gynostemium (also called the column
or gynostegium), pollinia, non-endospermic seeds, etc. They are characteristic in regard
to habit (diverse life-forms like epiphytes, geophytes, saprophytes, etc.) and habitat.
Besides, the orchids are generally acclaimed for their showy and colorful flowers. They

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are rated very high in floriculture and cut-flower trade. Moreover, orchid species are
individually excellent ecological indicators.
India is a major orchid centre with 186 genera and 1141 species (Kumar and Manilal,
1994). Orchids in India are mostly distributed in the wet evergreen forests of north-
eastern Himalayas and Western Ghats. The Eastern Ghats in general and Andhra Pradesh
region in particular were paid scant attention for the orchid exploration. Although
Eastern Ghats are topographically and climatically not equitably disposed for the
presence of high density and diversity of orchids like Western Ghats and NE India (where
they are looked for), the limited studies in Andhra Pradesh revealed a good number of
orchid taxa of botanical, phytogeographic and economic/ethnobotanical interest. An
attempt was made to prepare a checklist of orchids of Andhra Pradesh as a non-
renewable living resource or natural wealth, with updated nomenclature, extent of
geographic distribution within the state, and docummented (known) value, etc. to serve
as the baseline datum for Andhra Pradesh Biodiveristy Board for lookout, and future
studies of this magnificent plant group.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Three sources of data were utilized for compiling the information on the orchid wealth of
Andhra Pradesh: (i) Field collections, (ii) Herbarium specimens in CNH, MH and local
herbaria in Andhra Pradesh Universities, and (iii) Taxonomic literature. The
ethnobotanic and economic data included are largely of our team (C.S. Reddy et al.,
2001a,b; K.N. Reddy, 2002; K.N. Reddy et al., 2002a,b, 2005; C.S. Reddy et al., 2004;
C.S. Reddy et al., 2006) and of an earlier report by Rejendran et al. (1977).
ENUMERATION
The orchids of Andhra Pradesh are enlisted alphabetically of the currently accepted
scientific names with author citation (Brummitt and Powell, 1992), followed by
basionym, important synonym/s, life-form, habitat, distribution within in the state
(region-wise: Coastal Andhra, Rayalaseema and Telangana), endemic nature if any,
ethnobotanical information starting with vernacular name/s, IUCN category where it was

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assessed for the taxon, and Red Data Book (RDB) category as per Botanical Survey of
India (edited by Nayar and Sastry, 1987, 1988, 1999), and whether it is an addition to
Fischer’s (1928) account of Orchidaceae in Flora of the Presidency of Madras and
Ramakrishna’s (1997) report of Orchidaceae in Flora of Andhra Pradesh. Brief accounts
of orchids were published for Chittoor (Talakona: Savithramma, 2005), Nellore
(Suryanarayana and Rao, 2005) and Eastern Ghats (C.S. Reddy et al., 2005) appeared.
Roxburgh’s drawings, the plant collections of Benjamin Heyne, Col. R.H. Beddome,
A.W. Lushington, C.A. Barber, J.S. Gamble, C.E.C. Fischer, V. Narayanaswami, M.S.
Ramaswami, G.V. Subbarao, R.S. Rao, B. Suryanarayana and P. Santhan constituted the
nucleus for the orchid reporting from Andhra Pradesh. The following is the checklist of
orchids of Andhra Pradesh:
1) Acampe ochracea (Lindl.) Hochr., Saccolabium ochraceum Lindl.: Epiphytic
chamerophyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: Visakhapatnam (Rao, 1964).
2) Acampe praemorsa (Roxb.) Blatt. & McCann, Epidendrum praemorsum Roxb.,
Acampe wightiana (Lindl. ex Wight) Lindl., Vanda wightiana Lindl. ex Wight: Epiphytic
chamerophyte of Moist deciduous and Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: Northern
Circars; Rayalaseema: Chittoor. Ethnobotanical: Vern.: Saga vajinika. The Koyas of East
Godavari use it for bone-fracture. The Bhagatas of Visakhapatnam burn the plants in the
homes on black moon (Amavasya) day to drive away the evil spirits (magico-relgious
belief). Note: Acampe pachyglossa Rchb.f., the species reported from Africa to the
islands of western Indian Ocean, is closely allied to it.
3) Acampe rigida (Buch.-Ham. ex Sm.) P.F. Hunt, Aerides rigida Buch.-Ham. ex Sm.:
Epiphytic chamerophyte of Moist deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: East Godavari
(Maredumilli, V.S. Raju 6000 [KUH]). Reported for the first time from Andhra Pradesh.
4) Aerides maculosa Lindl.: Epiphytic chamerophyte of Moist deciduous forests.
Rayalaseema: Kurnool. Endemic to India. Fischer (1928) recorded it as a species of
Western Ghats. Not reported in Flora of Andhra Pradesh (Ramakrishna, 1997). IUCN
category: Vulnerable.

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5) Aerides multiflora Roxb.: Epiphytic chamerophyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal
Andhra: East Godavari. Fischer has not reported it for Madras Presidency. Endemic in
Himalaya to Indo-China.
6) Aerides odorata Lour.: Epiphytic chamerophyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal
Andhra: Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari. Fischer noted it as a species of Eastern
Ghats.
7) Aerides ringens (Lindl.) C.E.C. Fisch., Saccolabium ringens Lindl.:
Epiphytic/lithophytic chamerophyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: West
Godavari. Fischer reported it only from Western Ghats. Endemic to India, Sri Lanka and
Andaman islands.
8) Aphyllorchis montana Rchb.f., Apaturia montana Thwaites, non Lindl. (1876):
Holomycotrophic rhizome geophyte (terrestrial leafless saprophyte) of Dry deciduous
forests. Rayalaseema: Chittoor (Seshachalam hills: Least known). IUCN category: Rare;
RDB (Red Data Book) category: Vulnerable.
9) Bulbophyllum cariniflorum Rchb.f.: Pseudobulb epiphyte of Semi-evergreen forests.
Coastal Andhra: Visakhapatnam (Subbarao, 1979). It is widespread from Himalaya
(Assam) to Myanmar.
10) Bulbophyllum kaitiense Rchb.f.: Pseudobulb epiphyte of Semi-evergreen and Moist
deciduous forests. Rayalaseema: Chittoor (Tirumala hills: Scattered, least known).
Endemic to India (so far known from Anamalai and Nilgiri hills in Western Ghats). RDB
category: Vulnerable.
11) Bulbophyllum sterile (Lam.) Suresh, Epidendrum sterile Lam., Bulbophyllum
neilgherrense Wight (heterotypic synonym): Pseudobulb epiphyte of Semi-evergreen
forests. Coastal Andhra: Visakhapatnam, East Godavari. Fischer reported it only from
Western Ghats; not reported in Flora of Andhra Pradesh. Ethnobotanical: Vern.: Palka

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ranam. Tubers consumed by Valmikies of Visakhapatnam for good health. Pseudobulb
decoction is administed for indigestion and stomach ache whereas the leaf decoction is
drunk by pregnant Bhagata women of Visakhapatnam for cold and respiratory ailments.
12) Cleistostoma tenuifolium (L.) Garay, Epidendrum tenuifolium L., Sarcanthus
peninsularis Dalz.: Epiphytic chamerophyte of Moist deciduous forests. Rayalaseema:
Chittoor.
13) Corymborkis veratrifolia (Reinw.) Blume, Hysteria veratrifolia Reinw.: Rhizome
geophytes of Moist deciduous forests. Rayalaseema: Cuddapah (Seshachalam hills:
Scattered). IUCN category: Rare; RDB category: Vulnerable.
14) Cymbidium aloifolium (L.) Sw., Epidendrum aloifolium L.: Pseudobulb epiphyte of
Semi-evergreen and Moist deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: Visakhapatnam, East
Godavari, Srikakulam, Vizianagaram. Ethnobotanical: Vern.: Peddda vajinika, Manu
vajinika. The aerial root paste used to cement broken bones by Koyas of Khammam; the
same is applied for cracks on foot by Konda reddis of East Godavari. It has a wide range
of distribution (Himalaya to western Malesia).
15) Cymbidium pendulum (Roxb.) Sw., Epidendrum pendulum Roxb.: Pseudobulb
epiphyte of coastal vegetation. Coastal Andhra: Hills of Circars (Roxburgh, 1795);
Nellore. Fischer recognized it as a species distinct from that of C. aloifolium (L.) Sw. - a
Rheede’s species (kansjiram maravara: epihytic orchid on Strychnos nux-vomica) from
Malabar, Western Ghats. Pending the disposal of this species as conspecific to
C. aloifolium, it is maintained here distinct (contrary to Monocot checklist by Govaerts)
in view of its report from West Godavari and our personal observations.
16) Dendrobium aphyllum (Roxb.) C.E.C. Fisch., Limodorum aphyllum Roxb.,
Dendrobium pierardii Roxb. ex Hook. (1822), nom.illeg.: Pseudobulb epiphyte of Semi-
evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari.

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Ethnobotanical: Juice of tender shoot tips used as ear drops by Valmikes of
Visakhapatnam.
17) Dendrobium aqueum Lindl.: Pseudobulb epiphyte of Semi-evergreen forests.
Coastal Andhra: East Godavari. Fischer reported it from Western Ghats only. Endemic
to southern India.
18) Dendrobium herbaceum Lindl.: Pseudobulb epiphyte of Semi-evergreen forests.
Coastal Andhra: Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari. Fischer reported it from
Western Ghats only. Ethnobotanical: Vern: Radam. Juice of tender tips used as ear drops
by Nooka doras and Valmikies of Visakhapatnam. Restricted to India, Bangladesh and
Andaman islands.
19) Dendrobium macrostachyum Lindl., Callista macrostachya (Lindl.) Kuntze:
Pseudobulb epiphyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: Visakhapatnam
(Lankapakala: MPCA: K.N. Reddy et al. 2002a). Fischer reported it from west coast and
Western Ghats only. Ethnobotanical: Vern: Radam. Juice of tender tips of shoots used as
ear drops by local tribes(Valmikis) of Visakhapatnam. Note: It is treated as conspecific
to D. aphyllum (Roxb.) C.E.C. Fisch. (cf. Monocot checklist: Govaerts); it was
maintained distinct by Jayaweera (Rev. Handb. Fl. Ceylon 2: 90. 1981).
20) Dendrobium ovatum (L.) Kraenzl., Epidendrum ovatum L., Cymbidium ovatum (L.)
Willd.: Pseudobulb epiphyte of Moist deciduous forests. Rayalaseema: Chittoor
(Seshachalam: Scattered). Endemic to southern India; Fischer reported it from Western
Ghats only. IUCN category/RDB category: Vulnerable.
21) Didymoplexis pallens Griff., Apetalon minutum Wight: Holomycotrophic rhizome
geophyte (leafless saprophytic herb) of dense Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra:
West Godavari. Fischer noted it from Coorg (Western Ghats) after Jerdon’s collection. Of
phytogeographic interest: extends the distribution from Eastern Ghats to North-eastern
India.

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22) Dienia ophrydis (J. Koenig) Seidenf., Epidendrum ophrydis J. Koenig; heterotypic
synonyms: Malaxis latifolia Sm., M. plicata Roxb.: Pseudobulb geophyte of Semi-
evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: East Godavari. Not reported in Flora of Andhra
Pradesh.
23) Diplocentrum recurvum Lindl., Diplocentrum longifolium Wight: Non-pseudobulb
leafy epiphyte of Moist deciduous forests. Rayalaseema: Chittoor (Horselykonda:
Gamble, Fibscher). Endemic to southern India (common to Western and Eastern Ghats)
and Sri Lanka,
24) Eria bambusifolia Lindl.: Epiphyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra:
Visakhapatnam. Fischer reported it only from the Mahendragiri hills (Orissa) of Eastern
Ghats.
25) Eulophia epidendraea (J. Koenig ex Retz.) C.E.C. Fisch., Serapias epidendraea
J. Koenig ex Retz., Limodorum virens Roxb.: Terrestrial pseudobulb geophyte of Dry
deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari, Nellore;
Rayalaseema: Cuddapah, Chittoor, Anantapur. Folklore: Vern.: Sega domma gadda.
Pseudobulbs of the species along with the roots of Curculigo orchioides and Withania
somnifera (2:1:1) crushed with garlic and pepper used for anorexia; 100g of pseudobulbs
with triphala and sufficient quantity of pepper administered for a fortnight to treat
anthrax in Anantapur. Ethnobotanical: Pseudobulb powder (a spoonful) fired with ghee
and milk administered daily once for a month by Koyas of Khammam to enhance
potency. Endemic to India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
26) Eulophia explanata Lindl.: Pseudobulb geophyte of Moist deciduous forests. Coastal
Andhra: Visakhapatnam, East Godavari. Not reported by Fischer from Madras
Presidency; endemic to India.
27) Eulophia graminea Lindl.: Pseudobulb geophyte of Moist deciduous forests.
Rayalaseema: Cuddapah. It is known to occur from Western Ghats (Tiruvananthapuram)
to Cuddapah in Andhra Pradesh.

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28) Eulophia ochreata Lindl.: Pseudobulb geophyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal
Andhra: Visakhapatnam. Fischer recorded it only from Visakhapatnam of Madras
Presidency; endemic to India.
29) Eulophia spectabilis (Dennst.) Suresh, Wolfia spectabilis Dennst., E. nuda Lindl.:
Pseudobulb geophyte (large tuberous herb) of Moist deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra:
Visakhapatnam; Rayalaseema: Chittoor. It is known from both Western and Eastern
Ghats. IUCN category: Endangered.
30) Gastrochilus calceolaris (Buch.-Ham. ex Sm.) D. Don, Aerides calceolaris Buch.-
Ham. ex Sm.: Epiphytic chamerophyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra:
Visakhapatnam.
31) Geodorum densiflorum (Lam.) Schltr., Limodorum densiflorum Lam.: Pseudobulb
geophyte of Dry, Moist and Semi-deciduous forests. In all districts. Ethnobotanical:
Vern.: Donthula dumpa. Koyas of Khammam administer orally the extract of tubers with
pepper and garlic for ephemeral fevers. Tuber paste is applied over the body of humans
for insect bits, and of cattle to get rid of lice and insects. Note: Our plant could be
Geodorum recurvum (Roxb.) Alston based on Limodorum recurvum Roxb. from
Coromandel coast.
32) Goodyera procera (Wall. ex Ker Gawl.) Hook., Neottia procera Wall. ex Ker Gawl.:
Terrestrial therophyte of Moist deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: Visakhapatnam;
Rayalaseema: Cuddapah.
33) Habenaria barbata Wight ex Hook.f., H. virens (Lindl.) Abeyw., nom. illeg; Ate
virens Lindl.: Tuber geophyte of Moist deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: Nellore
(Venkatagir durg: Fischer, 1928). Endemic to India (common to Western and Eastern
Ghats) and Sri Lanka. Note: The recent surveys (1960-1980; 1983-1986) by
Suryanarayana and Rao (2005) failed to rediscover this taxon after Fischer (1928) who
reported this species from Venkatagiri Drug in Cuddapah (instead of Nellore). Ate virens

9
was mentioned as synonym under H. barbata, but not as Habenaria virens; it wrongly
quoted as such by Suryanarayana and Rao, 2005:4).
34) Habenaria digitata Lindl.: Tuber geophyte of Semi-evergreen and Moist deciduous
forests. Coastal Andhra: East and West Godavari, Nellore. Common to Western and
Eastern Ghats.
35) Habenaria furcifera Lindl., Habenaria ovalifolia Wight: Tuber geophyte of Semi-
evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East and West
Godavari; Rayalaseema: Chittoor. Fischer has noted and reported only H. ovalifolia from
Western Ghats. Ramakrishna maintained H. ovalifolia distinct from H. furcifera on
account of midlobe of the lip ovate and inflexed in the former. Ethnobotanical: Vern.:
Nela jimmi gadda. The paste of tubers is used by Chenchus of Kurnool as ointment for
cuts, wounds and poisonous bites.
36) Habenaria hollandiana Santapau, H. affinis Wight, nom. illeg, H. indica C.S.Kumar
& Manilal, nom. superfl.: Tuber geophyte of Moist deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra:
Vijayanagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari, Prakasam, Nellore;
Rayalaseema: Kurnool. Common to Western and Eastern Ghats. Ethnobotanical: Fresh
plant paste is externally applied for scorpion sting and for maggot infested sores by
Konda reddis and Valmikies of East Godavari.
37) Habenaria longicorniculata J. Graham, H. longicalcarata A Rich.: Tuber geophyte
of Semi-evergreen and Moist deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: Visakhapatnam;
Rayalaseema: Chittoor. Ethnobotanical: Vern.: Ruddi. Children gather flowers to
ornament and play. Juice of tubers applied for cuts and boils, and with turmeric for
leucoderma by Yanadies of Chittoor. Endemic to India and Sri Lanka. IUCN category:
Vulnerable.
38) Habenaria longicornu Lindl.: Tuber geophyte of Moist deciduous forests.
Rayalaseema: Chittoor. Reported to be endemic in southwestern India. Common to
Western and Eastern Ghats. Not reported in Flora of Andhra Pradesh.

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39) Habenaria marginata Colebr.: Tuber geophyte of Moist deciduous forests. Coastal
Andhra: Visakhapatnam; Rayalaseema: Anantapur; Telangana: Mahaboobnagar, Medak,
Nizamabad, Warangal. Common to Western and Eastern Ghats.
40) Habenaria plantaginea Lindl.: Tuber geophyte of Moist deciduous forests. Coastal
Andhra: Vijayanagaram, Visakhapatnam, East and West Godavari, Krishna, Prakasham,
Nellore; Rayalaseema: Kurnool. Common to Western and Eastern Ghats. Endemic in
India to Myanmar. Ethnobotanical: Vern.: Kusuma gadda. In Khammam, the paste of
tuber is applied for insect bites; the extract of tubers crushed with pepper and garlic is
administered for stomach ache by Koyas while Konda reddis apply the tuber paste for
cuts and wounds.
41) Habenaria ramayyana Ram.Chary & J.J. Wood: Tuber geophyte of Dry deciduous
forests. Telangana: Mahaboobnagar. So far know from type collection in Telangana
region (endemic) of Andhra Pradesh.
42) Habenaria rariflora A. Rich.: Tuber geophyte of Semi-evergreen forests.
Rayalaseema: Chittoor. Telangana: Khammam. Common to Western and Eastern Ghats.
IUCN category: Vulnerable.
43) Habenaria roxburghii R.Br., Habenaria platyphylla (Willd.) Spreng., nom.superfl.,
H. roxburghii Nicolson, nom.: Tuber geophyte of Dry to Moist deciduous and Semi-
evergreen forests. Common in all districts and common to Western and Eastern Ghats.
Ethnobotanical: Vern.: Malleleena gadda. The extract of tubers crushed with pepper and
garlic is administered thrice in a day for snake bite by Konda reddis of Khammam.
Endemic to India.
44) Liparis deflexa Hook.f., L. prazeri King & Prantl:. Pseudobulb epiphyte of Moist
deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: East Godavari, Prakasham; Rayalaseema: Kurnool.
India, Himalaya to Indo-china. It is of phytogeographic interest.

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45) Liparis viridiflora (Blume) Lindl., Malaxis viridiflora Blume, L. longipes Lindl.:
Pseudobulb epiphyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: Visakhapatnam. Fischer
reported it only from Western Ghats and as distinct from L. longipes Lindl.
46) Luisia zeylanica Lindl., Luisia teretifolia auct. non Gaudich. (1829): Epiphyte of
Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: Srikakulam, Vijayanagaram, Visakhapatnam,
East Godavari. Fischer records it from Western and Eastern Ghats. Ethnobotanical:
Vern.: Vanka vajinika, Gundu badanika. Valmikis and Nooka doras of Visakhapatnam
pound the leaves with turmeric and pepper (a spoonful) administered orally for fits. The
crushed plant with turmeric, egg albumen, and calcium are used for setting the broken
bones.
47) Malaxis acuminata D. Don: Pseudobulb geophyte of Semi-evergreen and Moist
deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: East Godavari. Ayurveda: Vern.: Jivak, Rishvaka
(Sanscrit). Pseudobulbs used one of Ashtawarga in tonic preparations. Not reported in
Flora of Andhra Pradesh; reported by C.S. Reddy et al. (2001a).
48) Malaxis resupinata (G.Forst.) Kuntze, Epidendrum resupinatum G. Forst.,
M. rheedei Sw., nom. illeg.: Pseudobulb geophyte of Semi-evergreen and Moist
deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East
Godavari; Rayalaseema: Chittoor. Telangana: Khammam. Etnnobotanical: Vern.: Jeeva
gadda/dumpa. The paste of tubers applied on insect bites by Konda reddis and the tubers
crushed with jaggery (2: 1 ratio) and mixed in castor oil is applied externally for
rheumatism in cattle by Koyas of Khammam. It is of phytogeographic interest.
49) Nervilia aragoana Gaudich.: Tuber geophyte of Semi-evergreen and Moist
deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: Visakhapatnam, East Godavari; Rayalaseema:
Kurnool; Telangana: Khammam. Ethnobotanical: Vern.: Ontelu dumpa, Ontaaku dumpa.
Leaf/tuber paste applied as ointment to cuts and wounds by Konda reddis of East
Godavari. The boiled tubers are eaten daily once for a month for general debility by
Konda reddis of Khammam. IUCN category: Endangered.

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50) Nervilia crociformis (Zoll. & Moritzi) Seidenf., Bolborchis crociformis Zoll. &
Moritzi: Tuber geophyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: Visakhapatnam,
East Godavari.
51) Nervilia plicata (Andrews) Schltr., Arethusa plicata Andrews, N. biflora (Wight)
Schltr.: Tuber geophyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: Visakhapatnam, East
Godavari. Ethnobotanical: Vern.: Adavi dumpa, Satram dumpa. A tea-spoon of juice of
tubers is given orally for fits whereas the tuber paste is applied externally for insect bite
by Konda reddis of East Godavari.
52) Oberonia brunoniana Wight: Epiphyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra:
East Godavari. Endemic to India; Fischer reported it from Western Ghats only.
53) Oberonia ensiformis (Sm.) Lindl., Malaxis ensiformis Sm. ex Rees: Epiphyte of
Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: Vijayanagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari.
Fischer reported it common to Western and Eastern Ghats. Ethnobotancal: Vern.:
Badanika. Leaves chewed by Konda/Nooka doras of Visakhapatnam to be relieved of
cough.
54) Oberonia falconeri Hook.f. : Epiphyte of Moist deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra:
Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari. Fischer reported it from both
Western and Eastern Ghats.
55) Oberonia mucronata (D.Don) Ormerod & Seidenf., Stelis mucronata D.Don,
O. denticulata Wight, O. iridifolia (Roxb.) Lindl., Cymbidium iridifolium Roxb. :
Epiphyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: Vijayanangaram, Visakhapatnam,
East Godavari. Fischer reported it from both Western and Eastern Ghats as O. iridifolia
var. denticulata.
56) Oberonia wightiana Lindl., O. arnottiana Wight, O. wightiana Lindl. var. arnottiana
(Wight) R. Ansari et al.: Epiphyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra:
Visakhapatnam, East Godavari. Fischer reported it from Western Ghats only.

13
Ethnobotanical: Vern.: Badanika. Leaves chewed by Nooka doras of Visakhapatnam to
be relieved of cough. Leaves crushed with calcium, salt and turmeric, and applied for
external body tumors by Koyas of East Godavari.
57) Papilionanthe teres (Roxb.) Schltr., Dendrobium teres Roxb., Vanda teres (Roxb.)
Lindl.: Epiphytic chamerophyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: East
Godavari, Visakhapatnam. Fischer’s peport of it from Madras Presidency was based on
A.W. Lushington’s collection from Vizagpatam hills. It occurs from Nepal to China to
Indo-China.
58) Pecteilis gigantea (Sm.) Raf., Orchis gigantea Sm.: Tuber geophyte of Moist
deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: East Godavari.
59) Pecteilis susannae (L.) Rafin., Orchis susannae L.: Tuber geophyte of Moist
deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: East Godavari. It was not reported from Madras
Presidency. It is of phytogeographic and horticultural interest.
60) Peristylus goodyeroides (D.Don) Lindl., Habenaria goodyeroids D.Don: Tuber
geophyte of Semi-evergreen and Moist deciduous forests. Rayalaseema: Kurnool. Fischer
noted its distribution only from Western Ghats.
61) Peristylus lawii Wight, Habenaria lawii (Wight) Hook.f.: Tuber geophyte of Moist
deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: East Godavari. Not reported in Flora of Andhra
Pradesh. Ethnobotanical: Vern.: Malli dumpa. Tuber paste applied externally for insect
bite by Konda reddis of East Godavari. It occurs from Himalaya southern Indian
Peninsula.
62) Peristylus plantagineus (Lindl.) Lindl., Herminium plantagenium Lindl.: Tuber
geophyte of Moist deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: East Godavari. Common to
Western and Eastern Ghats. Endemic to India and Sri Lanka.

14
63) Phalaenopsis parishii Rchb.f., Kingidium decumbens (Griff.) P.F. Hunt,
K. deliciosum (Rchb.f.) Sweet, Aerides decumbens Griff.: Epiphyte of Moist deciduous
forests. Coastal Andhra: Visakhapatnam.
64) Pholidota imbricata Lindl., Cymbidium imbricatum (Lindl.) Roxb.: Pseudobulb
epiphyte of Moist deciduous forests. Coast Andhra: East Godavari, Visakhapatnam. Not
reported in Flora of Andhra Pradesh. Ethnobotanical: Pseudobulb paste is applied
externally for rheumatic swellings by Nooka doras of Visakhapatnam.
65) Pholidota pallida Lindl.: Pseudobulb epiphyte of Moist and Dry deciduous forests.
Coastal Andhra: Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East Godavai.
66) Polystachya concreta (Jacq.) Garay & H.R.Sweet, Epidendrum concretum Jacq.:
Pseudobulb epiphyte of Moist deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: Visakhapatnam. It is
an addition to Flora of Madras Presidency.
67) Pomatocalpa spicatum Breda et al., P. mannii (Rchb. f.) J.J. Sm., Cleisostoma
mannii Rchb.f., Pomatocalpa wendlandorum (Rchb.f.) J.J. Sm., Cleisostoma
wendlandorum Rchb.f.: Epiphyte of Moist deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: East
Godavari. Note: Ramakrishna treated P. manii and P. wendlandorum as two distict
species which are treated here as conspecific to P. spicatum.
68) Rhynchostylis retusa (L.) Blume, Epidendrum retusum L.: Epiphytic chamerophyte
of Moist deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: Srikakulam, Visakhapatnam, East
Godavari. It is more common in Western Ghats. B. Heyne and A.W. Lushington were
the first to collect it from Coastal Andhra. Ethnbotanical: Fresh plant extract applied
externally for inflammation of wounds and centipede bite by Valmikis of East Godavari.
69) Saccolobium curvifolium Lindl.: Epiphyte of Moist deciduous forests. Coastal
Andhra: Visakhapatnam. Not reported from Madras Presidency by Fischer.

15
70) Satyrium nepalense D.Don: Tuber geophyte of Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal
Andhra: East Godavari. It is spread from Indian subcontinent to SC China. This is the
only taxon occurring in India though Satyrium is a Old World genus with 100 terrestrial
species.
71) Spathoglottis plicata Blume: Pseudobulb geophyte commonly cultivated as
ornamental in gardens. Native of tropical to subtropical Asia to Western Pacific.
72) Tropidia angulosa (Lindl.) Blume, Cnemidia angulosa Lindl.: Hemicryptophyte of
Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: East Godavari. Native of Bhutan to Western
Malesia. It is of phytogeographic interest.
73) Vanda spathulata (L.) Spreng., Epidendrum spathulatum L.: Epiphytic
chamerophyte of Dry deciduous forests, more at sea level. Coastal Andhra: Nellore;
Rayalaseema: Chittoor. Ethnobotanical: The powder of the dried flowers is used to treat
asthma and maniac troubles by Chenchus (Savithramma, 2005); the juice of plant is
administered to temper the bile and abate fenzy; leaves pounded and the paste is smeared
over the body to bring down fever (Thammanna and Rao, 1990). Endemic to southern
India and Sri Lanka.
74) Vanda tessellata (Roxb.) Hook. ex G. Don, Epidendrum tessellatum Roxb., Vanda
roxburghii R.Br.: Epiphytic chamerophyte of Moist deciduous forests. Common in
almost all districts. Ethnobotanical: Badanika, Kodikalla chettu, Ippa vajanika. Root
paste is applied externally daily once for 5-6 days for rheumatism by Konda reddis of
Khammam while the Konda reddis of East Godavari use the white root extract (spoonful)
once a day for three days for dysentery. The dried shoots are burnt to fume the homes to
free the children of fever by Koyas of Khammam and Gonds of Warangal.
75) Vanda testacea (Lindl.) Rchb.f., Aerides testacea Lindl.: Epiphytic chamerophyte of
Semi-evergreen forests. Coastal Andhra: Vijayanagaram, Visakhapatnam, East Godavari,
Nellore; Rayalaseema: Chittoor. Ethnobotancial: Vern.: Mardaru, Badanika. Whole plant
crushed with onion and the extract applied externally for rheumatism by Koyas of

16
Khammam. The Bhagatas of Visakhapatnam burn the plants in the homes on black moon
day to drive away the evil spirits (magico-relgious belief). Leaves crushed and the paste
applied as bandage for bone fracture in cattle by Konda reddis of East Godavari.
76) Vanilla wightiana Lindl.: Vine of Dry deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: East
Godavari; Rayalaseema: Chittoor. Endemic to southern India and scattered. Fischer
recorded it only from Travancore (Kerala) in Madras Presidency. Phytogeographic
interest as well as of great economic value for its essence. IUCN category: Rare; RDB
category: Vulnerabla.
77) Zeuxine strateumatica (L.) Schltr., Orchis strateumatica L.: Therophyte or rhizome
geophyte of Moist deciduous forests. Coastal Andhra: Srikakulam, Vizianagaram.
Common to Western and Eastern Ghats.
ANALYSIS OF ORCHID FLORA
There are 77 species of orchids pertaining to 36 genera grow in Andhra Pradesh. The
life-forms analysis reveals the presence of 40 epiphytic and 37 terrestrial orchids: they
occur in equal proportions (1:1 ratio) though a slight majority (3 taxa, i.e. about 4%) are
epiphytes. Amongst the epiphytes, the typical epiphytes, epiphytic chamerophytes and
pseudobulb epiphytes crop up in equal proportions (33.3%). The ground or terrestrial
orchids (49%) are largely tuber geophytes (20 taxa), followed by pseudobulb (10) and
rhizome (three) geophytes. There are two therophytes, one each of hemicryptophytes
(Tropidia angulosa) and vines (Vanilla wightiana). Of the species enlisted, one
(Spathoglosttis plicata) is a commonly cultivated ground orchid throughout the Andhra
Pradesh whereas the rest are wild. Excluding Spathoglottis, the number of orchid taxa
occurring in the three geographic regions of Andhra Pradesh are: Coastal Andhra 52,
Rayalaseema 27 and Telangana 10. Conversely, within the State, Coastal Andhra is the

17
paradise for orchids with its higher atmospheric humidity and soil moisture, the important
environmental gradient for orchid growth. As many as 26 out of 36 orchid genera, either
exclusively or with most of the species, thrive only in Coastal Andhra region. Of these,
17 taxa are exclusive to East Godavari, 15 to Visakhapatnam; six taxa are common to
both the districts. In Rayalaseema, more orchids were gathered from the districts of
Chittoor (13), followed by Kurnool (four) and Cuddapah (three). Within Telangana,
Khammam, Warangal and Mahaboobnagar districts have more number of orchid taxa
occurring than the rest. Besides, Habenaria ramayyana is endemic to Telangana
(Mahaboobnagar).Vanda tessellata (epiphytic chamerophyte) and Geodorum densiflorum
(terrestrial pseudobulb geophyte) are two most common orchids of the State.
The following observations may be of use to the on-site conservation of these orchids:
(i) The orchids are very much habitat specific and occur in undisturbed conditions.
(ii) They are distributed in diverse habitats which largely exhibit narrow spatial
(ecological) niches. (iii) Of the different forest types in Andhra Pradesh, moist deciduous
forests are richest in orchid flora, and (iv) The district-wise numerical analysis shows that
Visakhapatnam in Coastal Andhra has the highest number of orchid taxa due to its
geographic location, high rainfall, humidity, moist deciduous forests and also may be due
to more exploratory studies with due credit to Dr G.V. Subbarao of BSI.
CONCLUSIONS
Despite the fact that there occur no less than 78 orchid species in the State of Andhra
Pradesh, the individual populations (profusion) of most of the species are paltry in

18
comparison to their counterparts (ecological equivalents) in the Western Ghats of
Peninsular India. The hilly tracts with slopes and streams formed high humidity sites
suited for the growth of orchids along the Eastern Ghats in Andhra Pradesh region. The
orchid flora is under various degrees of threat due to anthrapogenic activity and political
pressure. To elaborate, the forests of Andhra Pradesh are under severe stress owing to
deforestation, podu (shifting) cultivation, forest fires, felling of select huge tree species
for timber, medicinal products, mining activities, etc. This has resulted in the decrease of
forest tree cover and opening of forests, depriving the orchids of their terrestrial and
epiphytic habitats. On the other hand, biological invasions of weeds and indiscriminate
exploitation of ground (forest soil) resources and attendant soil erosion are coming in the
way of terrestrial orchids. These factors are collectively destroying the native orchid flora
of the state slowly but steadily. Therefore, orchids are the victims of the front category
because they are either geophytes or epiphytes. Moreover, the conservation measures
contemplated by the Govt. of Andhra Pradesh though Forest Department are nil. Above
all, the policy of the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department to keep clean the ground and
trim the shoots of economic trees on VSS sites is detrimental to the orchid survival.
The present checklist of orchids of Andhra Pradesh reveal that all the orchids reportedly
occurring constitute a wealth from the standpoints of biodiversity, academic, economic
(horticultural), cultural, aesthetic, and ethnobotanical value. Therefore, the Andhra
Pradesh Biodiversity Board has to take immediate steps to care these orchids from
further exploitation and initiate steps through different agencies for their in situ and ex
situ conservation.

19
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