Papua New Guidea Orchids

Blooming beauties
COMPILED BY ROHINI RAMAKRISHNAN

Scientists from the conservation non-profit WWF discovered at least eight other new species of orchid, in the tropical rain forests of Papua New Guinea. The researchers made the discoveries while surveying previously unexplored forests in the Kikori region on the southern coast of New Guinea's principal island.

Over the course of three expeditions, the scientists collected some 300 orchid species, eight of which have been confirmed as new to science, with 20 more still awaiting verification as new varieties. Even before the find, Papua New Guinea claimed more known orchid species than any other country in the world.

"The island of New Guinea is an incredible gold mine of orchids," said Wayne Harris, a WWF researcher and botanist with Australia's Queensland Herbarium. "There are over 3,000 known species found here with countless varieties undoubtedly yet to be discovered."