New Orchid Species Coelogyne tripurensis Discovered in Tripura’s Jampui Hills

A significant discovery has been made in Tripura’s Jampui Hills with the identification of a new orchid species named Coelogyne tripurensis. This species was found by researchers Arjun Adit and Pankaj Kumar, whose study was recently published in Phytotaxa, a journal specializing in botanical taxonomy.

Coelogyne tripurensis was discovered in the moist broadleaf forests of the Jampui Hills, located in Tripura’s North District, about 200 kilometers from Agartala and at an altitude of 3,000 feet. The region, bordering Mizoram, is part of the Indo-Myanmar Biodiversity Hotspot and is known for its unique and diverse plant species.

The research highlights the significance of this find, as the orchid shows notable differences from closely related species within the Coelogyne genus. This genus, consisting of around 600 species, is native to the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and the Southwest Pacific Islands. It is popular among horticulturists for its ornamental beauty and easy cultivation.

The section of Coelogyne to which the new species belongs, Fuliginosae, is characterized by unique features such as showy flowers, a distinctive labellum, and keels. However, these orchids exhibit a high degree of phenotypic plasticity, making it challenging to distinguish between closely related species. The researchers created an identification key to clarify the differences between species in this section.

Fieldwork for this discovery was conducted between 2017 and 2022 as part of an orchid bio-inventory survey in Tripura. The researchers gathered photographs, morphometric data, and geo-coordinates of the species. Due to its threatened status and limited population, only one specimen was collected, preserved, and deposited at the Delhi University Herbarium.

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