Consider the following statements about Rhynchostylis retusa (Foxtail orchid):
- It is an epiphytic orchid.
- The species is endemic to North-east India.
- It is the State flower of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Correct answer: B
Explanation
Rhynchostylis retusa, the Foxtail orchid (Kopou phul in Assamese), is an epiphytic orchid that grows on tree trunks, so statement 1 is correct. It is NOT endemic to North-east India — it is widely distributed across South and Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines and southern China — making statement 2 wrong. Multiple authoritative sources (Wikipedia, Indian Tree Pix, regional government notifications) confirm Rhynchostylis retusa is the State flower of BOTH Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, validating statement 3. Hence statements 1 and 3 are correct.