Two new species of Ginger discovered in India

Two new species of Ginger discovered in India

Question: In which of the following state is the two new species of Ginger discovered recently?
(a) Tamil Nadu
(b) Karnataka
(c) Nagaland
(d) Mizoram
Answer: (c)
Related facts:

  • Botanical Survey of India (BSI) scientists has led to a discovery of two new species of Zingiber, commonly referred to as ginger, in the state of Nagaland.
  • Zingiber perenense & Zingiber dimapurense, the new found ginger species has been discovered from the Peren and Dimapur district of the State.

Major highlights:

  • Zingiber dimapurense is taller in size, with leafy shoots measuring 90-120 cm high and that of Zingiber perenense reach up to 70 cm in height.
  • The lip of the flower (modified corolla) of Zingiber dimapurense is white-coloured with dense dark- purplish red blotches.
  • The pollen is a creamy-white and ovato-ellipsoidal, whereas the fruit is an oblong 4.5 cm-5.5 cm long capsule.
  • The lip of the flower is white with purplish-red streaks throughout in Zingiber perenense, and the pollen is ellipsoidal.
  • The type specimens of Zingiber perenense were collected in September 2017 and of Zingiber dimapurense was collected in October 2016.
  • The genus Zingiber has 141 species and distributed throughout Asia, Australia and the South Pacific.
  • More than 20 species have been discovered in northeastern India. Previous discoveries of Zingiber include Hedychium chingmeianum from the Tuensang district of Nagaland, Caulokaempferia dinabandhuensis from the Ukhrul district in Manipur in 2017 etc.
  • Gingers also have medicinal values. The rhizome of Zingiber officinale (common ginger) is used extensively as a spice in food across Asia, along with for its medicinal value.

Links:
https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/two-new-species-of-ginger-discovered-from-nagaland/article29385926.ece