Orchid in Himalayan belts, is hot topic since the subject came in the fore front in context of its exploration, conservation and multiplication. The presented book is a part of flonstic inventory work carried out in different regions of Himalaya with special reference to the Nokrek biosphere reserve. The book deals in 4 sections which indude 17 different subsections. Section on “introduction and review of family Orchidaceae” (Chapter 1-2) deals with study area, people, forest types, vegetal composition, structure of flowers and inflorescence, growth parameters, diversity and distribution. This section also deals in review of literatures and renowned work done by botanist in different epoch. The second section on “diversity and floristic documentation” (Chapter 3) highlights the floristic analysis occurrence, habét endemism. threat, conservation and medicinal aspects. The last section “taxonomic enumeration” (Chapter 4) deals with artificial key to 70 genera and describes the morphology of 140 species along with keys for easy identification. This section also indudes upto-date taxonomic citation, pheriology, habitat, chromosome number, conservation status as per IUCN and distribution The approach taken here is one of detailed critical study of species complexes, with carefu’ attention to their morphological characters. This book contains 77 coloured photographs, 40 herbarium photos, and 11 illustrations on orchid species for easy identification. authentication and serve as a taxonomic guide for future research Description has been kept brief for common species. and elaborated for rare/endemic species.

Dr. Bikarma Singh (born March 1, 1981), an Honours and Gold Medalist in Botany graduated from North-Eastern Hill University (Meghalaya), took his Ph.D. in Botany from Gauhati University (Assam). He has about nine year’s research experience in the field of systematic botany, plants germplasm conservation, ethnobotany, and plant studies related to environmental impact assessment. Most of his work devoted in botanizing two globally biodiversity hotspots: the Himalayas, and part of the Indo-Myanmar (Northeast India) which possesses an extraordinary diversity due to its varied climatic conditions and altitudes. He is a reviewing member of several national and international scientific journals, and till to-date has more than forty publications to his credit published in various reputed national and international peer reviewed journals. Presently, Dr. Singh is working as a Scientist in CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu under Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India. His current research interest focused in studies on forest ecology, sustainable use of medicinal and aromatic plants, floristic inventory (taxonomy) from unexplored areas of Himalaya and IUCN categorization of endangered plant species.