Rare Orchid Species Blooms in India After 118-Year Hiatus

BAREILLY: A rare orchid species — Eulophia obtusa — also known as ground orchid has been rediscovered in India after forest officials and wildlife experts on a routine inspection in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve chanced upon the white flower with bright pink hues.
In India, the species — listed as “critically endangered” in the IUCN Red List of endangered species — was last recorded in Pilibhit in 1902, according to documented records in Kew Herbarium in England. The species was originally described from Uttarakhand in the 19th century. It was collected by botanists from Gangetic plains but there have been no sightings in the past 100 years. In 2008, the plant species was sighted in Bangladesh for the first time.
Field director Sanjay Pathak, part of the team that made the discovery in Dudhwa, told TOI, “We spotted the unusual flower on June 30 and took several pictures. We noted down the coordinates of the area. Later, we contacted Mohammed Sharif Hossain Sourav, a renowned botanist from Bangladesh who is currently pursuing his research work in Germany. He confirmed what we had thought all along — the flower was indeed Eulophia obtusa.”
Pathak said studies may be initiated to learn more about the plant. The species was found at two different spots in the Dudhwa forest range, sparking hope that it may be growing in other locations too.
Dr Mudit Gupta, state coordinator WWF-India, added, “We will likely conduct a detailed survey of its habitat in the reserve in coordination with the forest department.”
A detailed survey would allow scientists and authorities to take steps towards conservation. A 2017 study published in Kew Bulletin, a peer-reviewed journal published by Springer, which had Mohammed Sharif as its first author had reported that Eulophia obtusa was under serious threat due to habitat loss and reduction in the number of mature individuals in Bangladesh.

Source: ToI

Image Courtesy: The Rufford Foundation