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D. Veeranjaneyulu¹, C. Suvarna², N. Kshitija², J. Akbar², K. Dhamodhar Reddy², P. Krishnamachary², M. Murali², G. Sampath Kumar², K. Jyothi¹, D. Md. Shareef¹, B. Shireesha¹, B. Padmaja¹, Md. Naseer Pasha¹, Ch. Avinash¹ and Ahmad Nadeem¹

¹Environment Protection Training and Research Institute (EPTRI)

²Telangana Forest Department (TGFD)

Received-22.11.2025, Revised-13.12.2025, Accepted-27.12.2025

Abstract: The genus Peristylus Blume (Orchidaceae) comprises about 102 species worldwide, with 36 species reported from India. During field studies of third party Evaluation of works carried out under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) Scheme, conducted in August 2025, Peristylus constrictus (Lindl.) Lindl., a rare terrestrial orchid, was documented for the first time in Telangana from Kavadigundla village, Aswaraopet Range, Bhadradri Kothagudem District. Previously, this species was known from Northeast India, the Eastern Himalayas, Odisha, Maharashtra, and adjoining Andhra Pradesh. The discovery extends the distributional range of the species and enriches the floristic diversity profile of Telangana. The orchid was located on a moist, shaded forest floor close to an encroached habitat, highlighting its ecological vulnerability. The finding emphasizes the importance of habitat protection under CAMPA Biodiversity Conservation components and aligns with the objectives of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021–2030). We recommend protection of the ~200 m² orchid patch through fencing and awareness measures as a model for integrating rare species conservation (in-situ conservation) into landscape-level restoration programs.

Keywords:Peristylus constrictus, Orchidaceae, Ecosystem restoration, Biodiversity conservation

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