Journal of Tropical Biology and Conservation 18: 131–147, 2021 ISSN 1823-3902 E-ISSN 2550-1909 Received 01 April 2021 Reviewed 13 September 2021 Accepted 08 October 2021 Published 15 October 2021 A Species Checklist of Wild Orchids in Selected Sites in Kadamaian, Kota Belud, Sabah Edward Entalai Besi 1 , Dome Nikong 2 , Muhamad Ikhwanuddin Mat Esa 1 , Ahmad Asnawi Mus 3 , Heira Vanessa Nelson 3 , Nurul Najwa Mohamad 3 , Roslin Ombokou 5 , Nor Azizun Rusdi 3 , Devina David 4 , Zaleha Abdul Aziz 5 , Rusea Go 1* 1 Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia 2 No.5, Bangunan PMINT, Kg Sungai Tong, 21500 Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia 3 Unit for Orchid Studies, Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia 4 Faculty of Sustainable Agriculture, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 93509, Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia 5 Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia *Corresponding author: rusea@upm.edu.my Abstract A brief orchid diversity study was conducted from 14 th to 19 th October 2019 in Kadamaian, located northwest of Kinabalu area, through a scientific geographic expedition. A convenience sampling method was employed with only the flowering individuals collected and preserved as herbarium specimens. A total of 58 species and 32 genera were identified during the field visits to the Mount Nopungguk, Melangkap Noriou, Ulu Sungai Melawa, and basecamp site. The finding comprises of 43 epiphytes, 13 terrestrials, and two mycoheterotrophs. Appendicula congesta, Bulbophyllum disjunctum, Dendrobium kiauense, and Goodyera rostellata are species endemic to Borneo found during the expedition along with Crepidium multiflorum, a hyper-endemic species to Kinabalu area. Several rare species which narrowly distributed to primary forest habitat were discovered, including jewel orchids; Cystorchis variegata var. variegata and Anoectochilus geniculatus, and two mycoheterotrophs; Aphyllorchis pallida and Lecanorchis multiflora var. multiflora. Keywords: Borneo, Kinabalu area, Orchidaceae Introduction Kadamaian is a township or mukim, situated immediately to the northwest of Kinabalu Park in the west coast of Sabah. It is located within the Kota Belud district, and 88.3km from Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah. The name ‘Kadamaian’ is taken from river found within the area vicinity; Kadamaian river. The highest peak in Kadamaian is Mount Nopungguk, with a height of 1,430m above sea level. Falls within the Kinabalu Park, a World Heritage Site, Research Article