Photo Courtesy: nenow
Itanagar: Botanists identified a new, elusive orchid species in the remote river gorges of Arunachal Pradesh’s Keyi Panyor district. The plant, named Gastrodia keyiensis, remains hidden beneath the forest floor for years. It avoids the sun. The orchid functions as a holomycotroph, relying on soil fungi for nutrients instead of photosynthesis.
A team including Madhusudhan Khanal, Dipankar Borah, Shuvadip Sarkar, Neelam Gap, Santosh Kumar Rai, and Devendra Kumar published the findings in the journal Phytotaxa. They represent institutions including the G.B. Pant National Institute of Himalayan Environment, Sikkim University, Kaliabor College, the Botanical Survey of India, and the All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union. Local Nyishi people call it Oram Opuh, meaning Ghost Flower. It is a perfect name for a species that is difficult to spot.
Researchers located five flowering specimens in bamboo groves along the Keyi River at an elevation of 1,000 metres. The plants reach up to 35 cm in height. They feature white to pale bluish flowers with a distinct, yellow, strongly curved apical part of the labellum. Scientists distinguish this species from its relative, Gastrodia putaoensis, by the presence of six to seven prominent longitudinal ridges on the labellum.
The species currently has a Data Deficient status. Its known area of occupancy covers 4 sq km. The authors noted that “its true population size and distribution cannot yet be established because Gastrodia species are notoriously difficult to detect, with short flowering periods, cryptic appearances and long periods spent underground.” The team demands further field surveys and long-term monitoring to secure the future of this unique discovery.
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