Shillong:
Researchers from Manipur have spotted a new plant species of ‘Cherry Blossom.’
As a mark of respect to scientist Dr Dinabandhu Sahoo for his outstanding contributions, the researchers have named the new plant species as “Prunus dinabandhuana”
The “Cherry Blossom” is now available in six of the eight northeastern states, excluding Assam and Tripura.
In November 2016, Dr Sahoo, a professor at the Department of Botany at the University of Delhi (DU) planned and organised India’s first “Cherry Blossom Festival” in Shillong which attracted lakhs of people and subsequently, it became an international event for the past six years.
According to Dr Avitoli G. Zhimo, Assistant Director, Centre for Himalayan Studies in DU, scientists, the plants grow up to 25-30 meters in dense mixed evergreen forest and unlike the Japanese Cherry Blossom which blooms from March-April, this new species bloom in November, Zhimo said.
In 2014, Sahoo, currently a Director of the Centre for Himalayan Studies and Director, Cluster Innovation Centre and Senior Professor of Department of Botany of DU, while visiting Shillong spotted a Cherry Blossom tree in full bloom in the city.
He then thought of launching a “Cherry Blossom Festival” in India.
Due to his sustained efforts, the first Manipur Cherry Blossom festival was held in 2017 at Mao, the border town of Manipur and Nagaland.