MODELLING POTENTIAL DISTRIBUTION OF VANDA TESSELLATA (ROXB.) HOOK. EX G.DON IN INDIA

VANDA TESSELLATA (Roxb.)Hook.ex G.Don (Orchidaceae), commonly known as grey orchid, is a sun loving epiphytic plant mostly found in moist to dry deciduous forests and is distributed in different parts of India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, and China (Kowsalya et al., 2017;Mundugaru et al., 2020).It grows mostly on specific host plants such as Diospyros melanoxylon, Madhuca longifolia, Mangifera indica, Shorea robusta etc.It possesses several pharmacological properties such as anti-inflammatory, anti-convulsant, anti-diarrhoea, anti-oxidant, antimicrobial, wound healing, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activity (Nayak et al., 2021;Padhee et al., 2024).Due to its medicinal properties, it is used by traditional healers to treat many ailments (Swain et al., 2019).Different parts of the plant are used to treat pain, inflammation, arthritis, sciatica, liver disease, bronchitis, hiccough, and fever.In Unani system, the plant juice is used for treating toothaches, bronchitis, boils and as a tonic for brain and liver (Uddin et al., 2015).Konda Reddis of Khammam district in India use the roots and leaves of V. tessellata against rheumatic pains by applying these externally daily once for 5-6 days (Friesen and Friesen, 2012).In Rajasthan, V. tessellata is used by local tribals for treating ailments in cattle (Sharma, 2003).Apart from medicinal uses, it also has a vital role in ecological aspects.Many insects, bees, and spiders depend on this particular orchid for shelter and food purposes.