In News:

Researchers have discovered a new orchid species, Gastrochiluspechei, in Vijoynagar, Arunachal Pradesh, one of India’s remotest administrative circles bordering Myanmar. Until now, this orchid was known to bloom only in Myanmar, highlighting the floristic link between Arunachal Pradesh and Southeast Asia.

Key Features of Gastrochiluspechei

• Genus: Belongs to the Gastrochilus genus, first recorded in 1825, comprising 77 species spread across tropical, subtropical, and temperate Asia.
• Identification: Distinguished by short axillary inflorescence, brightly coloured flowers, a distinct epichile on the hypochile, and two porate, globose pollinia on a slender stipe.
• Habitat: Thrives in moist, evergreen rainforests, growing on small trees near riverbanks.
• Flowering Season: Blooms between September and October.

Floristic Significance

• With this finding, India now records 23 species of the Gastrochilus genus, of which 15 are from Arunachal Pradesh.
• The discovery reinforces Arunachal Pradesh’s title as the “Orchid State of India,” which harbours about 60% of the country’s orchid diversity.
• It also provides scientific evidence of the biogeographical continuity between Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar, where the species was earlier recorded in Kachin’s Putao County.

Broader Context

Orchids are not only indicators of ecological richness but also hold significance for conservation, floriculture, and sustainable livelihoods. The discovery of Gastrochiluspechei adds to India’s botanical wealth and underscores the need to preserve fragile Himalayan ecosystems where such rare species thrive.