A tour has been planned to explore ground orchid species and new orchid species at Mount Popa, and two seedlings which are believed to be new species have been discovered at present, according to Maha Giri, a community-based geotourism service group.
Ground orchid seedlings have been found at present and the exploring tour is scheduled to start in coming August or September when the plants will blossom.
“We’ve just found a few young plants. They will blossom from August to November. At that time, we will invite experts and go to explore in groups. We will find new records. For now, we have found two young plants believed to be new species. If we can find further, new species will be recorded for this country,” said Ko Tin Ko Min from Maha Giri.
Ground orchids can live on the earth, eat fertile soil and blossom just three to four. Unlike orchids thriving on tree, there are just a few species of ground orchid which flower mass in branch.
The group operates Mount Popa trekking service and Mount Popa langur conservation as well as geotourism expansion. It also works on conservation of Popa flying gecko and Popa bent-toed gecko which are listed in endangered species. Packaged tours are being planned to sell before the end of July as a plan to launch first-ever geotourism industry in Myanmar. — MT/ZS/ED
