Researchers Discover Three New Varieties of Ginger

In an exciting development in botany, scientists have recently identified three new species of ginger with a striking resemblance to ballerinas. The discovery was made during field explorations in Mizoram and Meghalaya.

Key Points

Three New Varieties of Ginger Identified: Researchers from IISER Bhopal, Ritu Yadav and Vinita Gowda, discovered three distinct ginger species in Eastern India in 2022.
The plants belong to the Globba genus, known for its ornamental beauty. Additional species were also identified in West Bengal.
Globba: The Globba genus is the fourth-largest in the ginger family, with approximately 136 species.
These newly identified varieties are known for their delicate floral structures and unique names, including “dancing girls,” “weeping goldsmith,” “snowball,” “Singapore gold,” “white dragon,” and “ruby queen.”
Globba tyrnaensis: The first species, Globba tyrnaensis, was found in Meghalaya’s Double Decker Living Root Bridge area.
Globba janakiae: The second species, Globba janakiae, also found in Meghalaya, is named after Dr. E.K. Janaki Ammal, a pioneering Indian botanist who overcame societal barriers to make significant contributions to the field.
A Personal Tribute: The third species, Globba yadaviana, was discovered in Mizoram and is named in memory of Ritu Yadav’s late father, Rajesh Yadav, acknowledging his role in her scientific journey.