New Ginger species with medicinal properties discovered in Andamans

A team of scientists from Botanical Survey of India (BSI) in January 2017 discovered a new species of Zingiber (commonly referred as ginger) from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

This new species was named as Zingiber pseudosquarrosum and belongs to genus Zingiber.

Highlights of the Zingiber pseudosquarrosum
• It is used for its medicinal values by the local Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) of the Andamans.
• The pseudo stem of this ginger is red in colour.
• Its flowers are lotus shaped and have a vermilion tinge and dehisced fruit.
• It has tuberous root and its inflorescence buds are urceolate in shape.
• Its morphological features make it different from other species belonging to the genus Zingiber.
• Like other species of Gingers, it is edible and can be propagated vegetatively.
• It possesses ethno-medicinal uses and the fresh extract of fleshy tuberous roots of this species can treat abdominal pain and anti-helminthic troubles.

There are over 140 species of genus Zingiber which is spread throughout tropical Asia, including China, Japan and tropical Australia. Out of these species, 20 are reported from India, which include seven from Andaman and Nicobar Islands itself.