Rediscovery and Distribution update of Robiquetia rosea (Lindl.) Seidenf. (Orchidaceae) from the Western Ghats, India, after Five Decades

Abstract— Robiquetia rosea (Lindl.) Seidenf. is a rare epiphytic orchid species with scattered distribution across tropical Asia and limited confirmed records from India. Historical documentation suggests that the species had not been reported from the Western Ghats for several decades, with the last known occurrences dating to approximately 1972. The present study reports a recent field record from Kerala, India, representing the first confirmed occurrence from the region after nearly five decades. The plant was observed in the wild, conserved ex situ, and subsequently flowered under monitored conditions, allowing taxonomic confirmation. This record contributes to updated distribution knowledge and has been communicated to global botanical databases.