Chamaegastrodia reiekensis

Chamaegastrodia reiekensis Latest News

Scientists from Mizoram University and Manipur University recently discovered a new and extremely rare orchid species — Chamaegastrodia reiekensis — in the forests of Northeast India.

About Chamaegastrodia reiekensis

• It 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.
• C. 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.

Source: EM

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