Escrever uma avaliação PREreview

Epiphytic orchids are the largest group of epiphytes and are important components of forest species diversity. Epiphytic orchids show host preferences. Their growth may be influenced by many factors, that could also affect their spatial distribution. In this study, the habitat community structure and epiphytic habits of epiphytic orchids, Phalaenopsis deliciosa (P. deliciosa) and Phalaenopsis hainanensis (P. hainanensis), distributed on Hainan Island were investigated. The results show that the vascular plants in the communities of P. deliciosa and P. hainanensis are mainly distributed in tropical Asia and pantropical areas. A total of 41 species of epiphytic hosts for P. deliciosa were found, and a total of 17 species of epiphytic hosts for P. hainanensis were found. Both P. deliciosa and P. hainanensis showed a high epiphytic preference for S. ilicifolius. The horizontal distribution of P. deliciosa and P. hainanensis showed small-scale aggregations. In the vertical distribution of the P. hainanensis, the individual plants are distributed below 5 m, and are mainly in the height region of 1–1.9 m; individual plants of P. hainanensis are distributed below 4 m and there is no significant difference in the number of distributions between the distribution intervals. Heights of 0–0.9 m and 2–2.9 m were the most abundant. In summary, the height distribution of the two Phalaenopsis species are both low, which might be because the main epiphyte-preferred tree species are shrubs and small trees, and their growth heights are low. The protection of the habitat plant community, especially the preferred epiphytic tree species or companion plants, should be strengthened to conserve the Phalaenopsis species.