Current Affairs - Environment - Discussion

Arunachal Pradesh is the state where scientists discovered the rare, non-photosynthetic orchid species Gastrodia keyiensis in Keyi Panyor district. The species was formally named after the Keyi River and is locally known as Oram Opuh, meaning Ghost Flower, in the Nyishi dialect. It is a holomycotrophic plant that lacks leaves and chlorophyll and depends entirely on soil fungi for nutrients. The orchid grows up to 35 cm and was found at an altitude of about 1,000 metres. Arunachal Pradesh is also known as the Orchid Paradise of India and is home to around 600 documented orchid species.