Orchids of Telangana State: A Field Guide for Identification

Orchids of Telangana State: A Pictorial Guide for Identification is designed to bridge this knowledge gap by providing a visual and scientific reference for researchers, nature enthusiasts, and conservationists. This book is structured as a pictorial guide to aid in the easy identification of orchids found in Telangana. Each species is represented by high-resolution photographs, brief botanical description, habitat details and phenology of flowering and fruiting. The visual approach ensures that even non-specialists, such as students, amateur botanists, and nature lovers, can appreciate and recognize different orchid species without requiring extensive taxonomic knowledge.

About the Authors:

Sitaram Prasad Panda has obtained M. Phil. from Ravenshaw University, Cuttack and Ph.D. degree from Utkal University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha in Botany. Presently he is working as Scientist-D, Botanical Survey of India, Deccan Regional Centre, Hyderabad. He has been working in Plant Taxonomy, Ethnobotany and Bio-diversity Conservation since more than two decades. He has published more than 110 research papers on journals of national and international repute and authored 04 books.

Yasaswinee Rout is currently working as a Junior Research Fellow at Central National Herbarium (CNH), Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata, India. She is working on Endemic Orchids of India and their threat assessment. She has published about 11 research articles in national and international journals.

Dr. Peddi Harikrishna has obtained Ph.D. in Botany from Osmania University, Hyderabad. He has 16 years of research experience in Biodiversity Conservation, Plant taxonomy and Remote Sensing & GIS applications in forestry and biodiversity. He is working as Botanist in the Botanical Survey of India, Deccan Regional Centre, Hyderabad. He has published 38 research papers in peer reviewed journals and he has co-authored 6 books.