rare-orchid-species-discovered-in-arunachal-only-6-found-in-wild

In a remarkable contribution to India’s botanical wealth, a new orchid species has been discovered in the forests of Arunachal Pradesh’s Lower Subansiri district. The rare epiphytic orchid was found during a field survey in March 2025 by scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI), led by noted orchidologist Krishna Chowlu.

 

The orchid, yet to be formally named in scientific literature, was observed growing on moss-covered tree trunks at a specific elevation in a remote forested patch. According to initial reports, only six flowering specimens were located during the expedition, raising conservation concerns among the scientific community.

 

“This discovery once again underlines the biological richness of Arunachal Pradesh and the Eastern Himalayas. However, the extremely limited number of individuals calls for urgent measures to protect this fragile habitat,” a BSI official said.

 

Arunachal Pradesh remains a crucial reservoir of biodiversity, with each discovery highlighting the region’s unparalleled ecological significance. The recent identification of a new plant species from Dibang Valley by Dr. Vikas Kumar and his team at CSIR-Institute of Himalayan… pic.twitter.com/kNtTFXQgvu

— Chowna Mein (@ChownaMeinBJP) June 17, 2025

A rare plant species — #Cremanthodium kalaiselviae — has been discovered in Arunachal’s Dibang Valley by CSIR-IHBT, led by Dr. Vikas Kumar. This discovery not only showcases Arunachal’s rich biodiversity but also underscores the urgent need to protect & conserve these ecosystems! pic.twitter.com/KpEsVpfPYw

— CMO Arunachal (@ArunachalCMO) June 18, 2025

 

The orchid species thrives in a very narrow climatic and ecological niche, making it especially vulnerable to climate change and human encroachment. Chowlu, who has previously been recognised for her extensive work on India’s orchid biodiversity, emphasised the urgent need to conduct further surveys to ascertain the species' full distribution range and population health.

Also read: Rapid survey reveals 70 rare orchid species in Kaziranga

 

“There is no evidence of fruiting yet. That’s a concern for natural propagation. We need immediate habitat protection measures,” Chowlu said.

 

The discovery brings global attention back to Arunachal Pradesh, a recognised hotspot for orchid diversity. India is home to around 1,300 species of orchids, of which more than 500 are found in Arunachal alone.

 

Experts fear that habitat destruction due to deforestation, infrastructure development, and changing rainfall patterns may further threaten such delicate species. Environmental organisations have urged both state and central authorities to integrate this finding into ongoing biodiversity conservation programmes.

 

With this discovery, the Botanical Survey of India aims to collaborate with local forest departments and international conservation groups to develop in-situ conservation strategies. Meanwhile, DNA barcoding and morphological studies are underway to classify and formally describe the orchid.

 

The BSI has appealed to local communities to refrain from disturbing the habitat and report any similar sightings to forest officials.