Guwahati: In a startling discovery that underscores the fragile state of India's floral biodiversity, botanists have identified a new orchid species in Arunachal Pradesh, of which only six flowering individuals are known to exist.
Named Phalaenopsis quadridentata, this tiny, epiphytic orchid was found clinging to the trunks of forest trees in the Lower Subansiri district during a March 2025 field expedition.
The discovery, now published in the botanical journal Phytotaxa, has drawn attention from conservationists and taxonomists worldwide due to the species' extreme rarity and its potential risk of extinction.
The newly discovered orchid species was named Phalaenopsis quadridentata based on a distinctive morphological feature: the presence of four tooth-like triangular appendages at the junction of its labellum (a specialised petal in orchids) and the column (the central reproductive structure of orchid flowers). "Quadridentata" means "four-toothed."
Madhusudhan Khanal, along with a dedicated team of researchers and scientists, discovered the new plant species following extensive field investigations in Arunachal Pradesh. The team expressed sincere gratitude to the National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS) for their crucial financial support, which made the research possible.
They also acknowledged the invaluable assistance provided by the local communities and the Arunachal Pradesh Forest Department, whose cooperation played a key role in facilitating the fieldwork and conservation.
"Finding a new species is always exciting, but finding one with such a limited population is a wake-up call," said Madhusudhan Khanal, lead author of the study and researcher at Sikkim University. "It tells us how little we still know about these remote ecosystems-and how urgently they need protection."
Despite its resemblance to two other moth orchids-Phalaenopsis mirabilis and Phalaenopsis putaoensis-the new species is distinctly different.
Phalaenopsis quadridentata bears up to four greenish flowers per inflorescence and features a shell-like labellum, or lip, with four unique triangular tooth-like appendages at its base. Its spur is conical and densely hairy inside-traits not observed together in any other known species.
Standing barely 5 cm tall, the orchid grows discreetly among mosses and ferns on tree trunks in evergreen forests dominated by Castanopsis and Ficus species.
With just six flowering individuals recorded from a single location and no fruiting bodies observed, the species meets the criteria for the Endangered category under IUCN guidelines.
The discovery site lies near a tribal village whose residents depend on the forest for firewood and other resources, raising concerns about habitat disturbance.
"The species' morphology is so unique that this discovery may lead to an overhauling of the infrageneric classification of moth orchids," said Dr. Pankaj Kumar, orchid expert and co-author.
India is home to 17 recorded species of Phalaenopsis, many of them found in biodiversity hotspots such as the Eastern Himalayas. Arunachal Pradesh, in particular, has proven to be a treasure trove of new orchid discoveries in recent years.
But researchers warn that the allure of these orchids, coveted in global horticulture, makes them targets for illegal collection.
The discovery of P. quadridentata adds to growing evidence that orchid conservation needs urgent attention, both in terms of field research and habitat protection.
"This tiny orchid may never make it to a garden or bouquet," said Khanal. "But it belongs where it evolved-in the wild-and that's where we must fight to keep it."