UPSC Prelims 2026Question 36Environment

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 ?

Options

(a)1 only
(b)1 and 3
(c)2 and 3
(d)3 only

Correct answer: b

Decision rule

'Endemic' means found nowhere else: a species spread across tropical Asia is native, not endemic, however strongly one region claims it culturally.

Explanation

Correct Answer

(b) 1 and 3

Explanation of the Correct Answer

Statement 1: It is an epiphytic orchid.

Correct.

Rhynchostylis retusa, commonly known as the Foxtail orchid, is an epiphytic orchid.
Epiphytic plants grow on other plants, usually tree trunks or branches, for physical support.
They are not parasitic; they obtain moisture and nutrients from the air, rain and organic debris around them.
Botanical literature describes Rhynchostylis retusa as an epiphytic orchid distributed across India and several countries of tropical Asia. (BSMPS Books)

Statement 2: The species is endemic to North-east India.

Incorrect.

The species is not endemic to North-east India.
It is found in North-east India, but its distribution is much wider.
It occurs in India, Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, China, Myanmar, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Indo-China. (BSMPS Books)
Therefore, it is better described as native to India and tropical Asia, not as endemic to North-east India. (eFlora of India)

Statement 3: It is the State flower of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

Correct.

Rhynchostylis retusa is recognized as the State Flower of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
In Assam, it is popularly known as Kopou Phul and has cultural importance, especially during Bihu.
eFlora of India also records Rhynchostylis retusa as the State Flower of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. (eFlora of India)

Therefore, statements 1 and 3 are correct.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option	Verdict	Explanation
(a) 1 only	Incorrect	Statement 1 is correct, but statement 3 is also correct because Foxtail orchid is the State flower of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
(b) 1 and 3	Correct	It is an epiphytic orchid and the State flower of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
(c) 2 and 3	Incorrect	Statement 3 is correct, but statement 2 is incorrect because the species is not endemic to North-east India.
(d) 3 only	Incorrect	Statement 3 is correct, but statement 1 is also correct.

Relevant Supplementary Information

Rhynchostylis retusa: Key Facts

Parameter	Details
Common name	Foxtail orchid
Scientific name	Rhynchostylis retusa
Family	Orchidaceae
Growth habit	Epiphytic orchid
Indian cultural name	Kopou Phul in Assam
Endemic to North-east India?	No
Distribution	India and tropical Asia
State flower	Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
Flowering character	Pendant raceme with many small flowers
Cultural association	Bihu festival in Assam

Epiphyte vs Parasite

Basis	Epiphyte	Parasite
Meaning	Grows on another plant for support	Lives on or inside another organism and derives nutrition from it
Nutrient source	Air, rainwater, organic debris	Host organism
Effect on host	Usually does not harm the host directly	Often harms the host
Example	Orchids, some ferns, mosses	Cuscuta, mistletoe
Foxtail orchid	Epiphyte	Not a parasite

Endemic vs Native vs Widespread Species

Term	Meaning	Application to Foxtail Orchid
Endemic	Found naturally only in a particular region	Not applicable to North-east India
Native	Naturally occurring in a region but may also occur elsewhere	Applicable to India and tropical Asia
Widespread	Found across many regions or countries	Applicable, as it occurs across South and Southeast Asia

Key Takeaways from the Tables

Point	Explanation
Foxtail orchid is epiphytic	It grows on tree trunks or branches for support.
It is not endemic to North-east India	It is found across India and tropical Asia.
It is the State flower of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh	This makes statement 3 correct.
Epiphyte does not mean parasite	Epiphytes use another plant for support, not nutrition.
Endemic is a strict term	A species found in a region is not necessarily endemic to that region.

Point	Explanation
Foxtail orchid = Rhynchostylis retusa	This is the scientific name to remember.
It is an epiphyte	It grows on trees for support but does not parasitize them.
It is not endemic to North-east India	Its range extends beyond India into South and Southeast Asia.
State flower of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh	This is a frequently tested fact.
Kopou Phul has cultural value	It is associated with Assamese identity and Bihu.
Endemic is a strict term	Presence in a region does not mean restricted to that region.

Context and Current Relevance

Foxtail orchid is culturally significant in Assam as Kopou Phul, closely associated with Bihu.
North-east India is one of India’s richest orchid regions, but not every orchid found there is endemic to the region.
The question tests the distinction between distribution, endemism, and state-symbol status.

Table: Rhynchostylis retusa / Foxtail Orchid — Key Facts

Parameter	Details
Scientific name	Rhynchostylis retusa
Common name	Foxtail orchid
Local name in Assam	Kopou Phul
Family	Orchidaceae
Plant habit	Epiphytic orchid
Nature of epiphyte	Grows on trees for support, not as a parasite
Endemic to North-east India?	No
Distribution	India, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and other parts of tropical Asia
State flower	Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
Cultural significance	Associated with Bihu festival in Assam
Flowering structure	Long, pendant raceme resembling a fox’s tail
Habitat	Humid forests, tree trunks and branches

Table: Important Orchids and Their Associated States / Regions

Orchid / Flower	Scientific Name	State / Region Association	Important Point
Foxtail orchid / Kopou Phul	Rhynchostylis retusa	Assam and Arunachal Pradesh	State flower of both states
Noble orchid	Dendrobium nobile	Sikkim	State flower of Sikkim
Lady’s Slipper Orchid	Paphiopedilum spp.	North-east India and Himalayan region	Important ornamental and conservation-sensitive orchid group
Blue Vanda	Vanda coerulea	North-east India	Important rare and ornamental orchid
Red Vanda	Renanthera imschootiana	North-east India	Rare orchid species
Kuth / Saussurea	Saussurea costus	Himalayan region	Not an orchid, but important Himalayan medicinal plant often confused in flora questions

Table: State Flowers Often Asked in Exams

State / UT	State Flower	Scientific Name / Important Note
Assam	Foxtail orchid / Kopou Phul	Rhynchostylis retusa
Arunachal Pradesh	Foxtail orchid	Rhynchostylis retusa
Sikkim	Noble orchid	Dendrobium nobile
Nagaland	Rhododendron	Important Himalayan flowering plant
Meghalaya	Lady’s Slipper Orchid	Orchid-rich region
Mizoram	Red Vanda	Rare orchid
Manipur	Siroi Lily	Endemic to Shirui / Siroi hill region
Tripura	Nageshwar	Also called Nag Kesar in some contexts
Uttarakhand	Brahma Kamal	High-altitude Himalayan flower
Himachal Pradesh	Pink Rhododendron	Himalayan temperate flower
Jammu and Kashmir	Lotus	Wetland-associated flower
Kerala	Golden Shower / Kanikonna	Associated with Vishu festival
Tamil Nadu	Glory Lily	Climbers; medicinal and toxic plant
Karnataka	Lotus	Sacred and aquatic plant
Odisha	Ashoka	Associated with Indian cultural and religious traditions

Table: Epiphyte vs Parasite vs Endemic Species

Term	Meaning	Example	Relevance to Foxtail Orchid
Epiphyte	Plant that grows on another plant for support	Orchids, mosses, ferns	Foxtail orchid is an epiphyte
Parasite	Plant that derives nutrition from a host plant	Cuscuta, mistletoe	Foxtail orchid is not a parasite
Endemic species	Found naturally only in a particular region	Siroi Lily in Manipur’s Shirui hills	Foxtail orchid is not endemic to North-east India
Native species	Naturally found in a region but may also occur elsewhere	Foxtail orchid in India and tropical Asia	Foxtail orchid is native to India but not restricted to India
Widespread species	Found across several regions or countries	Foxtail orchid across South and Southeast Asia	Correct description for Foxtail orchid

Table: Similar Prelims-Trap Facts on Flora

Statement / Theme	Correct Understanding	Common Trap
Foxtail orchid is epiphytic	Correct	Mistaking epiphytes for parasites
Foxtail orchid is endemic to North-east India	Incorrect	It is present in North-east India but also found in other countries
Foxtail orchid is State flower of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh	Correct	Assuming one species cannot be State flower of two states
Siroi Lily	Endemic to Manipur’s Shirui / Siroi hill region	Confusing it with orchids of the North-east
Noble orchid	State flower of Sikkim	Confusing it with Foxtail orchid
Brahma Kamal	High-altitude Himalayan flower	Confusing it with lotus due to the word “Kamal”
Rhododendron	Common Himalayan flowering plant	Treating it as only one species, though it has many species
Orchid diversity	Very high in North-east India	Assuming all North-east orchids are endemic

Open this in the study app →

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 ?