Gastrodia lohitensis

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About Gastrodia lohitensis:

It is a leafless orchid species found in bamboo thickets around Tezu and it is named after Lohit district.
Features
- 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.
Threats: 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.

Q1: What is Habitat?

Habitat refers to the natural environment or surroundings in which a particular species of plant or animal lives and thrives. It provides the necessary resources and conditions for the species to meet their basic needs, such as food, water, shelter, and space for reproduction and raising offspring.

Source: New orchid species discovered in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit district