September 21, 2026 12:46 PM
Rare leafless ‘ghost flower’ orchid discovered in Arunachal Pradesh
Scientists have discovered a rare leafless orchid species, Gastrodia keyiensis, in a remote gorge along the Keyi River in Arunachal Pradesh’s Keyi Panyor district, officials said on Monday. The elusive orchid, which has neither leaves nor chlorophyll and depends on soil fungi for nutrients, was found at an altitude of around 1,000 metres, with only five flowering individuals recorded during the botanical survey, they said. The new species has been formally described in the international taxo...