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 Out of the estimated 3800 species of
flowering plants of Kerala the tiger reserve has 1966 species
which is the highest record from a protected area of the
state. The Angiosperms include 1441 species of Dicots and 525
species of Monocots. The Dicots are represented by 613 genera
spread over 128 families, while the Monocots are distributed
under 210 genera belonging to 23 families. In all, the
Angiosperms represent 823 genera under 151 families. Poaceae
(Gramineae) with 168 species under 76 genera is the largest
family of the tiger reserve. Impatiens with 28 species forms
the largest genera of the reserve.
Orchids
Orchidaceae is the third
largest family among the Angiosperms of the reserve. It is
represented by 145 species under 60 genera that include 53
endemics.
Oberonia with 17 species is the largest genera.
The presence of 145 species of orchids out of the reported 216
species from Kerala is the highest number from a district in
the state.
The reserve is the only known home for the
ground orchid, Habenaria periyarensis.
Among the rare and
endangered species are, Vanda thwaitesii (a Sri Lankan
species) Taeniophyllum scaberulum (a species formerly
considered as possibly extinct), Pecteilis gigantea and
Bulbophyllum macraei.
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