Documentation of orchid diversity in Sarl Hkam Village, Kachin State, Myanmar

Putao Township in northern Kachin State, Myanmar, remains botanically underexplored despite its rugged terrain, high rainfall, evergreen forests and diverse habitats that support a rich orchid flora. This study documented 10 orchid species from Sarl Hkam Village, Putao Township, based on field observations, photographs, georeferenced locality data, morphological descriptions of living plants and documentation of pollinia. The documented species were Appendicula cornuta Blume, Bulbophyllum delitescens Hance, Brachycorythis helferi (Rchb.f.) Summerh., Calanthe sylvatica (Thouars) Lindl., Crepidium orbiculare (W.W.Sm. & Jeffrey) Seidenf., Peristylus constrictus (Lindl.) Lindl., Coelogyne articulata (Lindl.) Rchb.f., Robiquetia spathulata (Blume) J.J.Sm., Thunia alba var. bracteata (Roxb.) N.Pearce & P.J.Cribb & P.J.Cribb and Uncifera obtusifolia Lindl. Among these, A. cornuta, B. delitescens, C. sylvatica, P. constrictus, C. articulata, U. obtusifolia and T. alba var. bracteata have previously been reported from Putao or Kachin State. In contrast, B. helferi, C. orbiculare and R. spathulata are new township-level records for Putao. The study provides baseline taxonomic information on the orchids of Putao and highlights the need for further floristic exploration in northern Kachin.