A study of the conservation status of the Thai species of the genus Calanthe
(Orchidaceae)
Hubert Kurzweil 1, Somran Suddee 2 and Piyakaset Suksathan 3
1
Singapore Botanic Gardens, National Parks Board, Singapore
Forest Herbarium, Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation,
Bangkok, Thailand
3
Herbarium, Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, Chiang Mai, Thailand
2
The primarily terrestrial orchid genus Calanthe R.Br. is represented in Thailand with 21
species. Due to habitat destruction and collecting for horticultural purposes several Thai
calanthes have become rare. We are planning to assess the national conservation status of all
Calanthe species that are currently known in the country, based on herbarium examinations
as well as on field observations. Preliminary comments are presented in this poster. Only five
species are rather common in suitable habitats (Calanthe cardioglossa, C. lyroglossa, C.
rosea, C. rubens, C. triplicata). Several other species are seldom seen as they are localised in
their occurrence (C. biloba, C. clavata, C. densiflora, C. labrosa, C. masuca, C. odora, C.
puberula, C. simplex, C. succedanea, C. vestita). Four primarily Malesian species have their
northernmost limit of distribution in peninsular Thailand which presumably accounts for their
rarity in Thailand (C. angustifolia, C. ceciliae, C. pulchra, C. speciosa). C. herbacea, ranging
from the eastern Himalayas through Indochina to China, has its southernmost limit of
distribution in northern Thailand where it is currently known from only two localities. The
only endemic Calanthe species in Thailand is C. hirsuta, and seeing that it is rare and
localised in the country, this species should have high priority in future conservation projects.
1