Updated checklist of orchids of Himachal Pradesh (Northwest Himalaya) and the adjoining plains

Himachal Pradesh is an Indian state located in northwestern part of the Himalaya, a global biodiversity hotspot. An up-to-date checklist of orchids is provided for this state, along with the plains of five states/ Union territories (Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand), surrounding it from northwest to southeast. The study area lies between 29°34´–33°12´ N latitude and 75°06´–79°04´ E longitude, and experiences vast altitudinal variation (250–7000 m a.s.l.). A total of