A unique orchid species, Gastrodia indica, was recently discovered in Fambonglho Wildlife Sanctuary, Sikkim, which never opens its flower.
- It is the first orchid from India that never opens its flower.
- The new species has been named after India, as it is the first cleistogamous species of the Gastrodia genus found in the country.
- Cleistogamy refers to the formation of flowers that do not open, in contrast to chasmogamous flowers that do.
- Holomycotrophic species like Gastrodia indica rely entirely on a fungal host for sustenance, lacking chlorophyll and drawing carbon from underground fungi.
- This self-pollinating species is a remarkable find, especially since only five completely cleistogamous species have been documented worldwide.
