Archive · 3 Sep 2025
Rare Orchid Discovery in Arunachal Adds to India's Flora
Imagine a beautiful yellow flower with white petals and purple spots, called Gastrochilus pechei.
Scientists found this flower in a rainforest in India, which is a first!
It's a special type of orchid that was only seen before in Myanmar.
The flower loves to grow in wet, green forests near rivers, high up in the mountains.
This discovery is important because it adds to the different types of flowers we know in India, and it reminds us to protect the special places where these flowers live.
The local government is happy about this new find and wants to keep the forests safe.
Researchers discovered the Gastrochilus pechei orchid in Arunachal Pradesh.
The orchid was previously documented only in Myanmar.
The orchid has yellow sepals and a white labellum with purple spots.
It grows in evergreen rainforests near river banks.
This discovery adds to India's floral diversity.
- Who
- Researchers from SEED, Changlang
- What
- Discovered the orchid Gastrochilus pechei in Arunachal Pradesh for the first time in India
- When
- During a recent field survey
- Where
- Vijoynagar, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh
- Why
- To enrich India’s floral diversity and highlight ecological linkages with Myanmar
- Orchid Name
- Gastrochilus pechei
- Location of Discovery
- Vijoynagar, Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh
- Previous Location
- Myanmar’s Kachin state
- Habitat
- Moisture-rich, evergreen rainforests
- Elevation
- Around 1,200 metres
- Blooming Season
- September to October
- Orchid Species in India
- 23
- Arunachal Orchid Species
- 16