15/09/2024
In a remarkable breakthrough in botany, researchers from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Bhopal have discovered three new species of ginger in the northeastern states of India.
These newly identified species, collectively referred to as the “dancing girls” ginger species due to their elegant, flower-like appearance resembling graceful ballerinas, were found during field explorations in Meghalaya and Mizoram.
The discovery was made by researchers Ritu Yadav and Vinita Gowda, whose findings add to the richness of the Globba genus, known for its ornamental appeal and delicate floral structures. The genus Globba belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, the fourth-largest ginger family, comprising approximately 136 species.
The first of the newly discovered species, Globba tyrnaensis, was located in Meghalaya’s famed Double Decker Living Root Bridge area. It was found growing in the understory habitats of forests at an elevation of around 731 meters. Researchers noted that bees frequently visit the flowers of this species, highlighting its ecological significance.
The second species, Globba janakiae, was named in honour of the renowned Indian botanist Dr E.K. Janaki Ammal, who was a trailblazer in the fields of genetics and plant breeding.
The third species, Globba yadaviana, was discovered along Reiek Tlang Road in Mizoram. This variety has been named after Rajesh Yadav, the late father of researcher Ritu Yadav. The population of this species is currently limited to 4-5 small groups along the road, with each cluster comprising around 30 individual plants.
