A Handbook of the Orchids of Nepal

Contents: Foreword. 1. Introduction. 2. List of the orchids of Nepal. 3. References. Appendix 1. Details of figures. Index.

Nepal is very rich in orchid flora. Orchids are the important natural resources of Nepal and are the precious jewels of the nature. Due to wide climatic variations in Nepal orchid flora are very much diversified and well flowering plants with about 25,000 species in the world, comprise various attractive flowers, not only important for their beauty but also for their use in medicine and trade. The orchid species are included in the Appendix 2 and some in the Appendix I of CITES. Most of the wild orchids of Nepal are under threat, and some are at the verge of extinction. Multiple factors are responsible for the threats to the orchids in Nepal.

The taxonomic researches on Nepalese orchids are continuously carried out and recently many new reports of orchid species in Nepal have been published. There is still need for their detailed systematic investigation and need to conserve them before they become extinct from Nepal. A lot of work has still to be done at the National Herbarium to make the complete collections of the species found in Nepal.. There is a need to publish a list of all the orchids found wild in Nepal for their proper utilization and management. Flora of Nepal on the basis of the herbarium specimens housed in the National Herbarium of Nepal and other international herbaria and the various publications. The book contains list of all orchid species of Nepal with their habit and distribution. Black and white and colour photographs are included in each species. The book will be useful to know the status of the orchid species found in Nepal and also to identify orchid species with the help of photographs.