Zeuxine affinis (Lindl.) Benth. ex Hook.f. (Orchidaceae: Goodyerinae) was recorded in October 2025 from semi-evergreen forests of Mookambika Wildlife Sanctuary, Udupi District, Karnataka, at 800–850 m elevation. This constitutes the first confirmed record of the species from Karnataka, extending its distribution to the central Western Ghats. Identification was based on detailed vegetative and floral morphology, supported by scanning electron microscopic analysis of seed micromorphology, which provided diagnostic characters distinguishing it from other Zeuxine species reported from the state. A small population of 24 individuals was observed in a protected forest patch subjected to localized grazing and invasive species pressure, highlighting the need for monitoring and conservation.
