Potential Distribution of Bletilla striata (Orchidaceae) in China and Its Climate Characteristics

The potential distribution of Bletilla striata and its climate characteristics was predicted with MaxEnt model and ArcGIS. The data was based on the information of geographic distribution of the plant and its dominant climate factors. The results showed that the model built by dominant climate factors had an ideal forecasting effect, which was tested by the ROC curve (AUC > 09). The model revealed that the potential distribution areas were mainly in the south of the Qinling Mountains and Huai river. The major suitable provinces for the plant were mainly restricted to Yunnan, Hubei, Sichuan, Hunan and Jiangxi. A jackknife test in MaxEnt suggested that Min temperature of Apr(tmin4), Min temperature of Oct (tmin10), Temperature annual range (bio7) and Precipitation of Nov (prc11) were the most important climate variables affecting the potential distribution of the plant. The results can provide some theoretical basis for the resources protection, germplasm collections and reasonable development and utilization of wild Bletilla striata.