Author

Snehal Gamit1, Vijesh Gamit2, Rasik Sojitra1, Santosh Yadav3, Suhas Vyas1 , Sandip Gamit1

Abstract

This study documents the first confirmed record of monotypic species Cottonia peduncularis (Lindl.) Rchb.f. (Bee Orchid) from Gujarat, India, based on observations in the Subir region of the Dang district. This epiphytic orchid, belonging to a monotypic genus characterised by its insect-mimicking floral morphology, was previously considered endemic to the Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Odisha with additional records from Sri Lanka. The species was found flowering between March and May on trees in semi-evergreen forests and moist deciduous forests. However, the newly reported habitat lies within a highway corridor subject to anthropogenic pressures, including road expansion, habitat fragmentation, and unregulated tourism. This discovery expands the known distribution range of C. penduncularis, enriching the orchid flora of Gujarat and emphasising the biogeographic significance of the Dang forests as a transitional zone between the Western Ghats and Satpura ranges. The finding underscores the importance of sustained field surveys and habitat conservation in biodiversity-rich yet underexplored regions

pages: 122-124

Doi Number 10.61289/jibs2026.12.15.0520

Keywords Epiphytic orchid, Monotypic genus, Dang (Gujarat), Range extension.