Zingiber Pseudosquarrosum: Environment for UPSC Exams
Zingiber Pseudosquarrosum: Environment for UPSC Exams
Zingiber Pseudosquarrosum
- Scientists of the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) have found a new
species of Zingiber (commonly referred as Ginger) from the Andaman and
Nicobar Islands.
- The species Zingiber pseudosquarrosum, new to science, belonging to
genus Zingiber, was already used by the local Particularly Vulnerable Tribal
Groups ( PVTGs) of the Andamans for its medicinal values.
- The fresh extract of fleshy tuberous roots is used to treat abdominal
pain and anti-helminthic troubles by Nicobarese and certain other tribal
communities.
- Like other species of Gingers, this new species is edible and can be
propagated vegetatively from the rhizome.
- Species belonging to genera Zingiber are monocotyledonous flowering
plants whose rhizomes are widely used as a spice or a traditional medicine.
- There are 141 species of genus Zingiber are distributed throughout
tropical Asia, including China, Japan and tropical Australia. Of these, 20
are reported from India, which include seven from Andaman and Nicobar
Islands.
- Most of the species of these Gingers are endemic to India.