Volume : 4, Issue : 7, July - 2015

Dendrobium herbaceum Lindl. (Orchidaceae) from the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal

Sam P. Mathew

Abstract :

<p>Andaman-Nicobar Archipelago, the insular habitat in the Bay of Bengal is highly affluent with plant diversity. According to latest statistics, the tropical rainforests of these islands are known to host over 2463 Angiosperm taxa within a limited geographical region of 8,249 sq km, indicates its fragile ecological equiliium. Orchidaceae is one of the well represented Angiosperm families of the Andaman- Nicobar Archipelago. Dendrobium Swartz is one of the predominant insular orchid genera with wide range of occurrence from tidal swamps at sea level to hilltop vegetations at higher altitudes represented with 19 species including the present addition. Dendrobium herbaceum Lindl. is a new addition to the flora of Andaman Islands is described here with illustrations.</p>