First record of the mycoheterotrophic orchid ＂Gastrodia fontinalis＂ (Orchidaceae) from Takeshima Island, the Ryukyu Islands, Japan

Abstract

We found ＂Gastrodia fontinalis＂ T. P. Lin in a bamboo forest from Takeshima Island, which is the northernmost island of the Ryukyu Islands in Japan. This species is apparently rare and was previously considered to be an endemic Taiwanese species. Because there are a few minor differences between the original description and our specimens collected in Takeshima Island, here we report Gastrodia fontinalis from Takeshima Island as the first record outside of Taiwan, with a description of the specimens from Takeshima Island.