A checklist of the
Orchids of Nepal
The Orchidaceae family, known locally as Sunakhari or Sungava, represents one of the most diverse and evolutionarily advanced groups of flowering plants in the world. Globally, this family is immense, boasting approximately 729 genera and 29,587 species, making up nearly 10% of all seed-bearing plants. Nepal’s unique topographical variation—ranging from tropical lowlands to alpine heights—serves as a sanctuary for this diversity. Despite its small geographic size, Nepal hosts 95 genera and 440 species, including at least 18 species that are found nowhere else on Earth.
