Guwahati: In the remote wilderness of Arunachal Pradesh, an orchid thought to be lost for nearly a century has been rediscovered, reigniting scientific interest in the floral biodiversity of Northeast India. Crepidium parryae, first collected in Mizoram in 1926, had remained unseen by botanists for decades—until now.
Originally described by scientists based on a single specimen collected from Mizoram almost a hundred years ago, Crepidium parryae seemingly disappeared from botanical records. Despite multiple field explorations in the region, no further sightings were reported, and experts feared the species might have gone extinct.
This orchid species was initially described as Malaxis parryae Tang & F.T. Wang from the Lushai Hills, which was then part of Assam but now lies in Mizoram. The specimen was collected by A.D. Parry in July 1926.
In August 2022, during a field trip to the Mishmi Hills in Arunachal Pradesh, Khyanjeet Gogoi of the Regional Orchid Germplasm Conservation & Propagation Centre (Assam Circle), Tinsukia, discovered a small population of an unidentified terrestrial orchid in a vegetative state. Gogoi shared this information with Pankaj Kumar, an adjunct professor at Miami Dade College, Florida, and both initially thought it to be a new species.
A plant was carefully cultivated and maintained under observation at the Regional Orchid Germplasm Conservation & Propagation Centre in Assam. By May 2024, it entered its flowering season. After two years of monitoring in both the wild and cultivation, alongside a thorough review of Indian and regional literature and consultations with herbarium specimens, researchers determined that the specimen was not a new species but a rediscovery of the Indian endemic orchid Crepidium parryae.
The long absence of Crepidium parryae puzzled botanists. Had it fallen victim to habitat destruction, or was it simply too rare to be found again? With no confirmed reports for generations, the orchid became one of India’s most elusive botanical mysteries.
The current collection from Arunachal Pradesh was found at an elevation of around 900–950 metres in a tropical evergreen forest, growing on the ground. However, the species was originally documented as an epiphyte on moss-covered trees at around 1500 metres.
“The species has not been observed in Mizoram for nearly 100 years and could probably be extinct in the state. The recent discovery in the Mishmi Hills of Arunachal Pradesh marks only the second recorded collection of this species. After two years of surveying, we found just ten mature individuals within an area of 20 square metres. The site is outside a protected area (Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary, Lower Dibang Valley). During a subsequent visit, we discovered that all the plants had been destroyed due to road widening. This provides evidence of the continuing decline in the area of occurrence, the number of mature individuals, and the quality of habitat,” says Pankaj Kumar, the corresponding author of the study.
Kumar, who is also an IUCN Red List Authority for Orchids of Asia, has assessed Crepidium parryae as Critically Endangered. “I hope that more individuals of this species are hiding in similar habitats in the region,” he adds.
During their research, the authors also identified other species—Crepidium assamicum and Crepidium meghalayense, both endemic to India—that share identical morphological characteristics with Crepidium purpureum (Lindl.) Szlach., leading to their synonymisation under Crepidium purpureum.
Arunachal Pradesh lies within the Eastern Himalaya global biodiversity hotspot, one of 36 such global megadiversity zones and among 200 globally important eco-regions. The state has India’s second-highest level of genetic diversity.
Despite covering only 2.5% of India’s geographical area, Arunachal Pradesh holds immense importance in terms of floral and faunal biodiversity as well as endemism. It is home to 85 species of terrestrial mammals, 650 species of birds, 5,192 species of angiosperms and 678 species of orchids.
Recognised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in 1995 as a major centre of plant diversity, the state represents Indo-Chinese, Indo-Malayan, Indo-Burmese and Indian subcontinental biodiversity.
The rediscovery of Crepidium parryae is more than just a scientific milestone; it highlights the fragile yet unexplored ecosystems of Northeast India. Arunachal Pradesh remains a stronghold for rare and undiscovered flora. However, increasing deforestation and climate change pose significant threats to these delicate habitats.
Scientists stress the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect Crepidium parryae and other botanical gems hidden in the region’s forests. Without proper ecological safeguards, the orchid may disappear once again—this time, perhaps forever.
Also Read: Tackling tradition? Women’s inclusion in Naga wrestling sparks mixed reaction