In pics: new helmet orchids found in SW Yunnan

Two wild helmet orchids have been discovered in southwest Yunnan's Tengchong City, according to the Kunming Institute of Botany under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. 

Researchers with the institute found wild plant species of Corybas himalaicus and Corybas during their investigation trip to Gaoligong Mountain. Corybas is a herb of a few centimeters with only one leaf and a single flower. The species is listed as endangered. 

As the two sites are not part of a reserve, the Corybas are facing human interference from local residents. The researchers suggested setting up micro-reserves and studying artificial breeding to expand the populations.

"China has six Corybas species, three of which have been found in Tengchong,” said Sun Weibang, a botanist at the Kunming institute, adding all the orchids are of value in scientific research. 

Source: Xinhua; trans-editing by Wang Shixue