DIVERSITY RESOURCES, DISTRIBUTION AND PRESENT ECOLOGICAL STATUS OF HERMINIUM R. Br. A LESS KNOWN TERRESTRIAL ORCHID SPECIES OF DARJEELING HIMALAYA OF INDIA

The present paper deals botanical description with five Herminium viz., Herminium jaffreyanum, H. lanceum, H. mackinnonii, H. macrophyllum and H. quinquelobum terrestrial Orchid species diversity resources and distribution in Darjeeling Himalaya of India. This attempt is the first step to correct taxonomic identification to workout currently accepted botanical names with ecological status, voucher specimen numbers, habitat, altitudinal ranges, phenology and local and general distribution of Herminium species in the regions. For the assessment of present ecological status, plot of 5mx5m quadrates was laid down diagonally in the field for terrestrial orchid species. Of them, three are sparse and the rest two are rare status in the region. June to October is the main flowering seasons of these species. It is found that the diversity and distribution frequency of Herminium species is rich and widespread throughout the Darjeeling Himalaya.