Format: ORAL

Tirtha R. Pandey

National Herbarium and Plant Laboratories, Godawari, Lalitpur, Nepal

This study presents an analysis of mycoheterotrophy in orchids of the Himalayan region, Diversity of mycoheterotrophic orchids is highest in the eastern Himalaya while Nepal Himalaya also harbors considerable number of species. Owing to their unique genetic rearrangement, they exhibit anomalous feeding mechanism, which signifies a considerable evolutionary modification. However, due to their specific habitat requirements and regenerative potential, conservation of such species in the wild is becoming increasingly challenging. This paper aims to summarize the occurrence and conservation status of one of the enigmatic orchid groups in the Himalayan region so as to understand their diversity and facilitate their conservation efficiently.