Chamaegastrodia reiekensis:
Scientists from Mizoram University and Manipur University recently discovered a new and extremely rare orchid species Chamaegastrodia reiekensis — in the forests of Northeast India.
- Chamaegastrodia reiekensis is a new species of orchid.
- It is named after its type locality, Reiek, a scenic mountain destination in Mizoram known for its rich biodiversity.
- Belonging to the elusive genus Chamaegastrodia, this orchid is holomycotrophic—entirely lacking chlorophyll and leaves—and derives its nutrients exclusively from underground fungi.
- Incapable of photosynthesis, it relies wholly on symbiotic fungal associations for survival.
- With this addition, the global count of Chamaegastrodia species rises to eight.
- These mysterious orchids are sparsely distributed across parts of the Eastern Himalayas, South-Central China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Nepal, and Thailand.
- Notably, all Indian representatives of this genus have been recorded exclusively in Northeast India.
- reiekensis was found in moist, humus-rich soil near bamboo clumps at an elevation of 1,500 metres.
- Reiek forest where the orchid was located features a multi-layered canopy with tall emergent trees and dense understorey vegetation, offering niches for numerous unique plant species.
- With temperatures ranging between 20–28°C and annual rainfall between 200–250 cm, the forest supports tropical vegetation year-round.
- Flowering occurs from August to September, and fruiting from September to October.
- It has been provisionally listed as Critically Endangered (CR) under IUCN criteria.
- Its small size and camouflaged coloration make it extremely difficult to detect on the forest floor.
- The plant emerges only briefly during its flowering and fruiting periods — posing a major challenge for researchers.
