Abstract This paper provides a comprehensive account of the orchid diversity in the Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Tiger Reserve (BRTTR), Karnataka, India. A total of 97 orchid species belonging to 33 genera were documented. This includes 50 terrestrial and 47 epiphytic orchids, including one mycoheterotrophic orchid, Epipogium roseum, and a climbing leafless Vanilla walkerae. Additionally, 39 endemic orchids were documented during the study. The evergreen forests provide the most habitable conditions for the orchids in BRTTR. The present study adds 26 species to the orchid flora of BRTTR. About 49% of the orchid flora of Karnataka state and 32% of orchids of Western Ghats is found in BRTTR, making this area a microcenter for orchid diversity.

Abstract Habenaria agasthyamalaiana, a new species of terrestrial orchid is described from Shendurney Wildlife Sanctuary of Agasthyamalai biosphere reserve, a part of the South-western Ghats. This species is morphologically similar to Habenaria crinifera. Detailed description and photographs are provided for identification of this new taxon.

Abstract A checklist of the Orchidaceae of Maharashtra is presented based on herbarium collections and recent botanical explorations. This list comprises 32 genera with 106 taxa. The best represented genus is Habenaria with 23 species, followed by Dendrobium with eleven, Eulophia and Oberonia with seven and Peristylus with six. In Maharashtra, the total endemic orchid species are 41 spread over in 13 genera. Of these 30 species, six species are endemic to Peninsular India and five species are endemic to India. Generally orchids are found in the nine major habitats in Maharashtra of which the best representation was observed in the semi-evergreen forests (55 species) followed by moist deciduous forests (48 species), high altitude rocky plateaus (26 species) and dry deciduous forests (25 species). Flowering, habit, habitat, endemic status and distribution in Maharashtra are presented in the checklist.

A checklist of the Orchidaceae of Western Himalaya is presented based on recent orchid explorations and herbarium collections. This checklist comprised of 239 taxa of orchids belonging to 72 genera. Of these, 130 are terrestrial, 13 mycoheterotrophic and 96 epiphytic. Thirteen (13) species are endemic to Western Himalaya. The best represented genus is Dendrobium, with 16 species followed by Habenaria with 14 species and Bulbophyllum with 12 species. In this checklist habit, habitat, phenology, elevational range of distribution etc. are provided.