Centipede orchid grows on the cliff of Langshan Mountain. [Photo provided to en.nantong.gov.cn]

A rare and endangered orchid species has been discovered on Langshan Mountain in Nantong, marking the fourth documented location for the plant in Jiangsu province, according to researchers from Nanjing University.

The finding, made by a biodiversity survey team from the university's Academy of Environmental Planning and Design, identifies the plant as Cleisostoma scolopendrifolium, commonly known as the centipede orchid.

The species enjoys strict legal protections. It is listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which prohibits cross-border collection and commercial trade. In China, it is included in Jiangsu's first provincial roster of key protected wild plants.

Unlike the ornamental orchids found in most households, the centipede orchid has a low, creeping growth habit, with two rows of short, club-shaped leaves that branch out like insect legs, a trait that gives the plant its common name.

Nantong-based wildlife specialist Ju Weidong said the stable wild population observed by the research team suggests the species is not merely holding on but expanding. He added that the orchid's fragile aerial roots and stems are extremely slow to recover from damage, with regeneration cycles often stretching several years.

The discovery comes after years of ecological restoration efforts along the Yangtze River in Nantong, including the closure and remediation of polluting factories, vegetation rehabilitation and restoration of soil, air, and water quality.

Researchers say the orchid's presence reflects the area's clean air, adequate moisture, and well-preserved plant communities — all conditions the species needs to thrive.