Delicate "Ladies' Tresses" Orchid Spun from Glass Discovered in Japan

New Species of Spiranthes Orchid, Spiranthes hachijoensis, Found Near Hachijo Island in Tokyo Prefecture Sheds Light on Orchid Family Diversity

https://nepalbiswas.blogspot.com/2023/03/delicate-ladies-tresses-orchid-spun.html

A new species of orchid has been discovered in Japan, named Spiranthes hachijoensis, which is unlike any other previously known. The delicate and fragile pink-and-white blooms of the newly discovered flower appear as if they are spun from glass. The researchers, led by Kenji Suetsugu, a professor at Kobe University's Division of Biodiversity, Ecology, and Speciation, discovered the orchid while surveying the mainland of Japan over a decade ago. The orchid was found near Hachijo Island in Tokyo prefecture and has led to a better understanding of the diversity of the orchid family.

Spiranthes orchids have a central stem, around which grow an ascending spiral of tiny, bell-shaped flowers that can be white, pink, purple, or yellow. There are about 50 species of Spiranthes found in Eurasia, Australia, and the Americas, typically in temperate or tropical regions. Before the discovery of S. hachijoensis, only three species of Spiranthes orchids were found in Japan: S. australis, S. sinensis, and S. hongkongensis.

During the survey of the mainland of Japan over a decade ago, Suetsugu found some flowers presumed to be S. australis but with smooth stems, which led to further investigation. From 2012 to 2022, Suetsugu and his colleagues searched for hairless orchids and analyzed the plants' physical features, genetics, and means of reproduction. The colors of S. hachijoensis blooms varied "from purple-pink to white," with petals measuring about 0.1 to 0.2 inches (3 to 4 millimeters) long, researchers reported.

S. hachijoensis had smaller flowers with wider bases and straighter central petals than other Spiranthes species, and it lacked a structure for self-pollination. Morphologically, it was a close match to S. hongkongensis and S. nivea, but minute physical differences and genetic analysis confirmed it was unique. The discovery of S. hachijoensis is significant because identifying new plant species in Japan is an uncommon event, with the nation's flora extensively documented and studied.

Suetsugu believes this discovery will spark interest in the flower, which is much rarer than S. australis. He added that "this discovery of new species concealed in common locales underscores the necessity of persistent exploration, even in seemingly unremarkable settings! It also highlights the ongoing need for taxonomic and genetic research to accurately assess species diversity."

Orchids have closely interwoven connections within many ecosystems, as well as different aspects of science and culture. The fragility and beauty of the newfound "ladies' tresses" highlight the vulnerability of orchids in general. While there are about 28,000 known orchid species worldwide, habitat loss has endangered many of them. It is essential to take action to safeguard them, and the emotional response that these flowers evoke in people hopefully encourages and inspires them to do so.

The discovery of the new species of Spiranthes orchid in Japan is a testament to the importance of persistent exploration, even in seemingly ordinary settings. Researchers in Japan found the orchid species Spiranthes hachijoensis growing in parks, gardens, and even planters on balconies in Tokyo prefecture near Hachijo Island. Its pink-and-white blooms are so delicate and fragile that they look like they were spun from glass.

In addition to the Tokyo population, the study authors found S. hachijoensis elsewhere in the Kanto District and in Kyushu, Shikoku, and Chubu districts. The colors of S. hachijoensis blooms varied "from

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