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| Globba corniculata Y.Ritu & V.Gowda, G. paschimbengalensis Y.Ritu & V.Gowda, G. polymorpha Y.Ritu & V.Gowda, in Yadav et Gowda, 2024. |
Abstract
We describe six new species in the genus Globba L.: Globba corniculata sp. nov., Globba paschimbengalensis sp. nov., Globba polymorpha sp. nov., Globba tyrnaensis sp. nov., Globba janakiae sp. nov., and Globba yadaviana sp. nov. collected from the Indian part of the Eastern Himalayas (West Bengal) and Northeast India. We provide a detailed morphological description of all six species along with photographic plates, distribution maps, and tentative conservation assessments. We also provide a dichotomous identification key for all the Indian Globba species and discuss the newly described species in relation to those that are morphologically similar to them. Finally, we highlight the taxonomic collection challenges in the ecologically sensitive Eastern Himalayas and Northeast regions of India.
Key words: Dancing girls, Ginger, Meghalaya, Mizoram, taxonomy, West Bengal
Globba corniculata Y.Ritu & V.Gowda, sp. nov.
Etymology: The species epithet ‘corniculata’ refers to the presence of horn-shaped structure at the base of labellum.
Globba paschimbengalensis Y.Ritu & V.Gowda, sp. nov.
Etymology: The species epithet refers to the Indian state of West Bengal, where this species was found.
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| Globba polymorpha sp. nov. A habit B rhizome C ligule D inflorescence E flower (front view) F flower (side view) G dissected flower, br (bracteole), cl (corolla lobes), an (anther), ls (lateral staminodes), la (labellum), sty (style and stigma) H fruit. Photographs A, D and E by Rhuthuparna SB, rest by Y. Ritu. |
Globba polymorpha Y.Ritu & V.Gowda, sp. nov.
Etymology: The species epithet refers to the floral color variation due to bracteole color variations among individuals within the same population, which can be seen in Fig. 7A (top left and bottom left).
Globba tyrnaensis Y.Ritu & V.Gowda, sp. nov.
Etymology: The species epithet refers to the type locality for this species, which is at the Tyrna village, Cherrapunji, Meghalaya.
Globba janakiae Y.Ritu & V.Gowda, sp. nov.
Etymology: The species is named in honor of Dr. E. K. Janaki Ammal. She was a pioneering Indian woman botanist who challenged the norms of caste, gender and race. She was critical about deforestation carried out to make way for development projects and advocated preservation of native plants.
Globba yadaviana Y.Ritu & V.Gowda, sp. nov.
Etymology: This species epithet is in the memory of the late Mr. Rajesh Yadav, who was the father of the first author and was instrumental in the author’s progress in science and education.
Ritu Yadav and Vinita Gowda. 2024. Six New Species of Globba L. (Zingiberales, Zingiberaceae) from the Eastern Himalayas and Northeast India. PhytoKeys. 246: 197-228. DOI: doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.246.118751
