Students in Sal, Goa, India, have discovered a rare bee orchid, Cottonia peduncularis, on a sacred mango tree. The orchid's flower mimics a female bee to attract male bees for pollination. This discovery highlights the area's rich biodiversity.
Native to the Eastern and Western Ghats of India and Sri Lanka, this epiphyte thrives in seasonally dry tropical biomes. The finding, made by students documenting the biodiversity of Sal with wildlifer Suraj Malik of Vivekanand Environment Awareness Brigade, underscores the importance of preserving local ecosystems.
The orchid was found on a sacred mango tree in Ghavanalyan, protected by locals as the abode of the holy spirit, Ghavanaleshwar. The presence of Cottonia peduncularis in Sal, an agricultural village, indicates the region's ecological significance. The species was previously recorded in the Dudhsagar waterfall forest.