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Taeniophyllum scaberulum, an orchid
rediscovered after 150 years
The floristic richness
of the reserve is unique with more than 50% of the
entire flowering plants of Kerala, that includes 149 species
listed under various threat categories. The degree of endemism
and species richness is very high.
Orchids found here constitute more than
65% for the entire Kerala. Of the 1966 species of flowering
plants reported from Periyar Tiger Reserve, 515 (26%) are
Southern Western Ghat endemics.
| ANGIOSPERMS
|
Orchids |
– 145
Sps. |
Habenaria
rariflora,
a rare species |
|
| Grasses |
– 168 Sps. |
| Legumes |
– 155 Sps. |
| Balsams |
– 28 Sps. |
| Palms |
–
10 Sps. |
Out of the estimated 3800 species
of flowering plants of Kerala the tiger reserve has 1966 species
which is the highest record from a protected area of the state.
The Angiosperms include 1441 species of Dicots and 525 species
of Monocots. The Dicots are represented by 613 genera spread
over 128 families, while the Monocots are distributed under
210 genera belonging to 23 families. In all, the Angiosperms
represent 823 genera under 151 families. Poaceae (Gramineae)
with 168 species under 76 genera is the largest family of
the tiger reserve. Impatiens with 28 species forms the largest
genera of the reserve.
Orchids
Orchidaceae is the third largest family among the Angiosperms
of the reserve. It is represented by 145 species under 60
genera that include 53 endemics.
Oberonia with 17 species is the largest genera. The presence
of 145 species of orchids out of the reported 216 species
from Kerala is the highest number from a district in the state.
The reserve is the only known home for the ground orchid,
Habenaria periyarensis.
Among the rare and endangered species are, Vanda thwaitesii
(a Sri Lankan species) Taeniophyllum scaberulum (a species
formerly considered as possibly extinct), Pecteilis gigantea
and Bulbophyllum macraei.
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