Are native epiphytic orchids influenced by edge effect? G. Sanassy, F. Hosanee Department of Biosciences, University of Maurius, Réduit, Maurius Keyword: orchids, epiphyc, edge factor Introducon Orchidaceae is the most species rich family of monocots in both Maurius and Réunion (Mascarene Islands), with over 160 species recorded so far, of which 93 have been recorded from Maurius (Roberts 2001) and 149 from Réunion (CBNM 2012). The rainforest has a diversity of endemic epiphyc orchids, and one of the most commonly found is Angraecum pecnatum. This species has a number of features that help to idenfy it from other sympatric epiphyc orchids including; its dark green colour, presence of a disnct stem, numerous leaves and absence of a bulb. In the forest, abioc factors play a major role on the relave abundance and distribuon of the sessile species of plant. These factors, including light, temperature, wind, humidity, soil pH, altude and shrub cover, affect plant distribuon in the forest(Matlack 1993). All these factors relate to only one major factor which is the edge factor; the forest edge refers to the transion area between a forest to an open area (Levin et al, 2009) and the abioc environmental condions occurring at the edge of a habitat patch differ from the condions prevailing at a distance from the edge in the same forest patch. The depth-of-edge influence, although it varies over me and with edge characteriscs, can extend four to six tree heights into the forest from a recent clear cut forest edge(Chen et al. 1999). Macchabe forest was chosen for this study since it has been weeded of invasive alien species and a track has been drawn at