Jakarta, March 28, 2025 – The Europe Today: Researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) have identified a new species of leafless root orchid, Chiloschista tjiasmantoi Metusala, endemic to Sumatra. The newly discovered orchid belongs to the genus Chiloschista (Orchidaceae) and marks the first recorded presence of this genus on the island.
Destario Metusala, a researcher at BRIN’s Biosystematics and Bioevolution Research Center, revealed in a statement on Thursday that several Chiloschista orchids were found growing epiphytically on trees in semi-open plantations adjacent to forests. Their bark-like camouflage, combined with small but vibrant yellow flowers, made them particularly difficult to detect.
The distinct floral morphology of C. tjiasmantoi differentiates it from other Chiloschista species, particularly C. javanica and C. sweelimii. Metusala explained that the orchid’s name honors environmental philanthropist Wewin Tjiasmanto for his dedication to flora conservation in Indonesia, particularly in Aceh.
The species has been classified as endangered under the IUCN Red List criteria due to its limited distribution and population, as well as threats posed by plantation expansion and climate change. “Expanding protected areas in Aceh is crucial to preserving various endangered plant species, especially those unique to the province,” Metusala emphasized.
C. tjiasmantoi flower buds measure 1.0–1.2 cm in width, displaying a yellow base with orange or reddish spots. Each elongated inflorescence can produce up to 30 flowers that bloom simultaneously. The species thrives at altitudes between 700–1,000 meters above sea level, attaching itself to mature tree trunks in semi-open, windy, and humid habitats. Its flowering season spans from mid-July to early November and late December.
A key characteristic of C. tjiasmantoi is its drastic evolutionary adaptation—the absence of leaf organs. Essential physiological processes, such as photosynthesis, are carried out primarily by its roots, making it a unique subject for further biological research.
The genus Chiloschista, first described in 1832, currently includes 30 species found across South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia. In Indonesia, these orchids are commonly known as “root orchids” due to their resemblance to a cluster of greenish roots. Before this discovery, only four species of root orchids had been identified in the country, limited to Java, the Lesser Sunda Islands, Sulawesi, and the Maluku Islands.
The findings have been published in the journal PhytoKeys under the research title “A new species of genus Chiloschista (Aeridinae, Vandeae, Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae) from Sumatra Island, Indonesia”, authored by Destario Metusala (2025).
