Gastrodia keyiensis-ghost flower
Why in News?
Scientists have discovered a new, rare leafless orchid species named Gastrodia keyiensis (popularly called the 'Ghost Flower') in the Keyi Panyor district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Discovery & Habitat
- Location: Found at an elevation of around 1,000 metres in a remote gorge near the Keyi River in Keyi Panyor district, Arunachal Pradesh.
- Etymology: The species name keyiensis directly honours the Keyi River where it was located.
- Local Identity: In the local Nyishi dialect, it is called "Oram Opuh", which translates to "Ghost Flower".
- Environment: It thrives in dark, humid ecosystems, growing in deep shade on decaying leaf litter within bamboo groves.
Unique Biological Features
- No Leaves or Chlorophyll: Unlike typical plants, it completely lacks green leaves and chlorophyll, meaning it cannot perform photosynthesis.
- Holomycotrophic Nature: It survives entirely through holomycotrophy—a symbiotic relationship where it relies on soil fungi and decaying organic matter for its nutrients.
- Physical Appearance: The plant grows up to 35 cm in height and produces 1 to 3 flowers. The flowers are white to pale bluish with a distinctively thick, strongly curved yellow lip (labellum).
- "Ghostly" Behaviour: The plant spends the vast majority of its life cycle entirely concealed beneath the forest floor, emerging only briefly during its short flowering period.
Conservation Status
- Data Deficient (DD): Because it has only been documented in one location covering an estimated occupancy area of about four square kilometres, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria temporary places it under the Data Deficient category.
- Orchid Paradise: The addition of this species further strengthens Arunachal Pradesh's reputation as the "Orchid Paradise of India", which boasts around 600 documented orchid species.
