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Hetaeria

Hetaeria Blume

An Indo-Malesian genus of some 20 species of ground orchids, Hetaeria is presented in India by 5 species. Only one species is known to occur in Kerala.

1. Hetaeria ovalifolia (Wight) Benth. ex J.D.Hook.,Fl. Brit. Ind. 6:115, 1890; Fischer in Gamble 1928;1458; Abraham & Vatsala 1981:199

Goodyera Ovalifolia Wight, Ic. Pl. Ind. Or. 5(1):16.t.1730. 1851.

Rhamphidia ovalifolia (Wight) Lindl., J. Linn. Soc.1:181. 1857 (excl. habitat) (See pl.Xa).

Wight described this species after a collection from Courtallum in Tamil Nadu.

Occurrence : Trivandrum and Idukki districts.

Distribution : Regional Endemic* (Kerala, Tamil Nadu).

*Ormerod believes this species conspecific with the widespread H.oblongifolia Bl. into which he also plans to include the Sri Lankan H. gardneri.