Keragaman Vanda spp.(orchidaceae) di Kepulauan Sunda Kecil - Indonesia

Indonesia is the diversity center of Vanda genus in the world with about 20 species which distributed across Sumatra to Papua and 90% of them are endemic species with limited population. This study aimed to describe the flowers morphological characteristics, arranging identification key, to map its distribution in the Lesser Sunda Islands, documenting the flower phenotype, and mention any potential threats to survival in its habitat. The Lesser Sunda Islands, are defined as a group of small islands situated between Java Island and Banda Islands, which is combined from four provinces: Bali, Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB), Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) and the Moluccas (the southeast). There are seven species of Vanda has ever recorded from these Islands, and four of which are endemic species. They are, Vanda lombokensis J.J.Sm, Vanda x boumaniae J.J.Sm, Vanda insignis Blume, Vanda limbata Blume, Vanda tricolor var. purpurea, Vanda punctata Ridl, and Vanda tricolor var. suavis. It was not much taxonomic information about Vanda species from this region. Two species have been recently rediscovery after disappeared more than 70 years, they are V. x boumaniae and V.tricolor var. purpurea. While two other species, V. lombokensis and V. punctataare two species that still have not rediscovered since it was described for the first time. The existence of forest degradation and uncontrolled orchids exploitation in the wild will increase the population threat. The morphological descriptions, photographs, and notes of the species are given here. A key identification for Vanda from Lesser Sunda Islands is also provided.