Cherry Blossom New Species 'Prunus Dinabandhuana' Found In Manipur, Named After Odia Scientist

IMPHAL: In a recent discovery, a team of scientists from Manipur found a new plant species of Cherry Blossom in the northeastern state of Manipur.

The scientist named the new species as 'Prunus Dinabandhuana' after renowned Odia scientist Dr Dinabandhoo Sahoo.

The species belongs to the family of Rosaceae and blooms during the month of November, unlike the Japanese cherry blossom that blooms in between March and April.

This recently discovered plant species in Manipur grows in a dense mixed evergreen forest up to a height of 25 to 30 metres as informed by experts.

The findings of the new discovery of species were published in an international scientific journals 'Annales Botanici Fennici' from Helsinki the capital city of Finland.

Scientists Jenifer M and Biseshwori T from IBSD (Institute of Bioresources and Sustainable Development) discovered the new species of Cherry Blossom as stated by Dr Avitoli G. Zhimo, Assistant Director at the Centre for Himalayan Studies, DU.

Earlier 7 years ago in November 2016, the first cherry blossom festival of India was organized in Meghalaya's Shillong by Dr Sahoo who is a professor at the Botany Department at Delhi University.

In the year 2014 Dr Sahoo visited Shillong for some work and by that time he saw cherry blossoms blooming across the city which led him to launch a Cherry Blossom festival in India.

India's first cherry blossom festival in 2016 was a great success as it has attracted lakhs of visitors and gradually turned into a global event organized annually since the last 6 years.

Later in 2017, the Cherry blossom festival was held in Manipur at Mao which witnessed the participation of thousands of people and the presence of ministers.

Notably, India has become the 28th country in the globe to be part of the plantation of Cherry blossom which is a common species in East Asian countries like Korea, China and mainly Japan.

It may be mentioned that the Cherry Blossom also called 'Sakura' is the national flower of Japan and it is also regarded as the source of inspiration for the Japanese people.

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