The
present study area, located in the eastern to southern part of the Surguja
District of Chhattisgarh, is made up of hills, valleys, plateaus, and plains.
Approximately 18.39% of the area is covered by the Surguja District. The study
area is covered by the west of Mainpat and Ambikapur, the north by Lundra, and
the east by Jashpur District. It lies betweens latitudes 22° 83’ N to 23° 06’ N
(Batauli) and 22° 62’ N to 22° 90’ N (Sitapur) and longitudes 83° 33’ E to 83°
53’ E (Batauli) and 83° 42’ E to 83° 69’ E (Sitapur). The geographical
extension of the study area is 401.73 km² (Batauli) and 500.99 km² (Sitapur),
representing around 7.74% (Batauli) and 9.65% (Sitapur) of the district's
geographical area. The vegetation of the study area is a mixed deciduous type
with a temperature between 250C and 300C and an annual
rainfall of 120 mm. The major drainage system of the study area is the Mand and
Maini rivers, both of which are part of the Mahanadi Basin. Extensive field
surveys of orchids were conducted from 2023 to 2024 in various parts of the
Batauli and Sitapur blocks and adjoining areas. In this study, a total of 24
genera belonging to 12 genera (20 species under 12 genera in Batauli blocks and
18 species under 10 genera in Sitapur blocks) are reported in two blocks of
Surguja District, Chhattisgarh. The study represents Acampe praemorsa var.
longepedunculata (Trimen) Goverts, a new addition to the orchid
flora and the orchid species diversity and distribution throughout the two
blocks of Surguja district and adjoining areas, with the habit, flowering
season, and color photo plate.
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