Gastrodia lohitensis : New Leaf Of Orchid Species
A team of Indian botanists has identified a new leafless orchid species, Gastrodia lohitensis, in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit district.
- Gastrodia lohitensis is a leafless orchid species found in bamboo thickets around Tezu and it is named after Lohit district.
- The orchid presents unique adaptations, thriving without sunlight by extracting nutrients from fungi in decomposing leaf litter.
- It grows 50-110 cm tall, the orchid’s defining features include a pair of linear calli and ridges on its flower lip, setting it apart from closely related species in Southeast Asia.
- It flourishes only in dense, shaded bamboo canopies, underlining its limited ecological niche.
- With just a small range in the district, Gastrodia lohitensis faces pressures from local land use, including bamboo harvesting and agriculture.
- Conservationists stress that the survival of this rare orchid depends on protecting its fragile habitat in Arunachal Pradesh’s biodiverse landscape.
