Kinnaur: A rare and elusive orchid, Epipogium aphyllum, popularly known as the Ghost Orchid, has been recorded again from the Rakchham-Chitkul Wildlife Sanctuary in Kinnaur district after several decades. The discovery is being seen as an important addition to the botanical records and natural heritage of Himachal Pradesh.
The orchid was documented in the Rakchham area during routine field monitoring by Santosh Thakur, Block Forest Officer, Alpna Negi, Van Mitra, and the Sangla Wildlife team. The team located and photographed only four individual plants, highlighting the rarity of the species.
The Ghost Orchid is a leafless and chlorophyll-free orchid that depends on specialised fungi associated with forest ecosystems for its nutrition. It remains underground for much of its life and emerges only under favourable conditions, with its flowering period generally lasting for around 10–12 days. Its unpredictable appearance and disappearance have earned it the name “Ghost Orchid.”
Historical botanical records indicate that the species was reported from Fagu in Shimla district by Henry Collett in 1921. Subsequent collections were made in Himachal Pradesh in 1959 and reportedly during the 1980s. However, contemporary authenticated records of the species have remained extremely limited.
Renowned taxonomist and former PCCF HoFF, Himachal Pradesh, Dr. Gurinderjit Singh Goraya, described the finding as a significant botanical discovery, noting that the Ghost Orchid is among the rarest orchids found in the state. He congratulated the Rakchham Wildlife team, particularly Santosh Thakur and Alpna Negi, for the discovery.
Botanical experts Dr. Bhagwati Prasad Sharma and Dr. Ashutosh Sharma said the record from Sangla Valley would contribute to understanding the species’ ecology, distribution and phytogeography in the Western Himalaya. The species is known to occur in parts of the Himalayan region at elevations of around 2,800–3,200 metres.
Preeti Bhandari, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests, Shimla Wildlife (South), congratulated the field team and stressed the importance of continued biodiversity monitoring and protection of fragile Himalayan ecosystems. Ashok Negi, IFS, DCF Wildlife, Sarahan, and Dr. Amit Kumar, IAS, Deputy Commissioner, Kinnaur, also congratulated the team on the significant finding.
The discovery of only four plants underlines the need for careful conservation of the species and its habitat. The rediscovery is also a reminder of the rich and still largely unexplored botanical diversity of Himachal Pradesh.
