UPSC Prelims 2026 Q36: Foxtail Orchid (Rhynchostylis retusa) — Explained
Consider the following statements about Rhynchostylis retusa (Foxtail orchid):
1. It is an epiphytic orchid.
2. The species is endemic to North-east India.
3. It is the State flower of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 1 and 3
- 2 and 3
- 3 only
Answer: (b) 1 and 3
Statement-wise explanation
- 1: correct — Rhynchostylis retusa is an epiphyte. It grows on the trunks and branches of trees in open forests and forest edges, at about 300–1,500 m. The host tree only holds it up. The orchid takes in moisture from the air through its thick aerial roots and makes its own food, so it is not a parasite.
- 2: incorrect — The species is not endemic to North-east India. It grows naturally across South and South-east Asia, including Bhutan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, southern China, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. Within India it is also found well outside the North-east, for example in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh. Sri Lanka's Uva Province uses it as its provincial flower.
- 3: correct — The Foxtail orchid is the State flower of Arunachal Pradesh. It is also the State flower of Assam, where it is called 'Kopou phool'. In Assam, Bihu dancers wear it in their hair during Bohag (Rongali) Bihu, and it stands for love and joy.
How to eliminate
Statement 2 uses 'endemic', which is a strong word. A showy orchid used as a symbol by two states and sold in the horticulture trade is unlikely to be confined to one region. Once you doubt statement 2, the option containing it drops out. Basic knowledge settles statement 1: most tropical orchids of North-east India are epiphytes growing on trees. Accepting statement 1 leaves only the options that include it. You then have to choose between '1 only' and '1 and 3', and that needs one fact: Kopou phool, the flower Bihu dancers wear, is the Foxtail orchid and is Assam's State flower. Arunachal Pradesh also has it as its State flower. Remember the pair 'Kopou phool = Rhynchostylis retusa = Assam + Arunachal'.
Know more
Epiphytes are not parasites. An epiphyte grows on another plant only for support and light. It takes its water and minerals from rain, mist, humid air and debris collected on bark. Most orchids of humid tropical forests are epiphytes. They have aerial roots wrapped in a spongy layer called velamen, which soaks up moisture. A parasite is different: dodder (Cuscuta), for example, sends haustoria into its host and draws food from it.
Endemic vs native. A species is native wherever it occurs naturally. It is endemic only if it occurs naturally in one region and nowhere else. The Foxtail orchid is native to India but spread across much of tropical Asia, so it is not endemic to India.
Orchids and the North-east. India's orchid diversity is highest in the Eastern Himalaya and the North-east, and Arunachal Pradesh alone has several hundred species. Their market value makes wild orchids a target for illegal collection. Many orchids are listed in CITES Appendix II, which controls international trade in them.
North-eastern state flowers (frequently asked):
| State | State flower | Orchid? |
|---|---|---|
| Arunachal Pradesh | Foxtail orchid (Rhynchostylis retusa) | Yes |
| Assam | Kopou phool (Rhynchostylis retusa) | Yes |
| Sikkim | Noble dendrobium (Dendrobium nobile) | Yes |
| Meghalaya | Lady's slipper orchid (Paphiopedilum insigne) | Yes |
| Mizoram | Red Vanda (Renanthera imschootiana) | Yes |
| Manipur | Shirui lily (Lilium mackliniae) | No |
| Nagaland | Rhododendron (Rhododendron arboreum) | No |
The Shirui lily grows only on the Shirui hills of Ukhrul district in Manipur, so it is a true endemic. Compare it with the Foxtail orchid when an exam statement uses the word 'endemic'.
NCERT Concepts to Revise
- Endemic species: Statement 2 depends on what 'endemic' means: a species found naturally only in one region, so its range beyond North-east India decides it.
- Biodiversity hotspot: North-east India is part of the Indo-Burma hotspot, which is rich in orchids. That helps explain why a widespread species can still look like a regional endemic.