Zingiber jagannathii S.C. Sahu & S. Priyadarshini sp. nov. (Figs. 2, 3 & 4)

Diagnosis: — Z. jagannathii superficially resembles Zingiber murlenica Ramesh Kumar, Sushil Kumar Singh, Sachin Sharma & Pramote Triboun (2015: 84) and Zingiber natmataungense S. S. Zhou & R. Li (2020:137), but differs in having long ligule, 6.5–7 cm, oblong-lanceolate lamina, white bracts that gradually becomes green, corolla lobes white with pink tinged, labellum white with purple—blue spots throughout and small epigynous glands, ca. 4 mm (Table 1).

Type:- INDIA, Odisha: Similipal Biosphere Reserve (SBR), Kulipala 21 o 43’36.78” N & 86 o 26’09.79” E- 758 m, 7 th July 2024, S. C. Sahu & S. Priyadarshini CAL 0000266969 (holotype CAL!, isotypes CAL! & RRLB!).

Perennial, rhizomatous herb; rhizome subterranean, white to pale-brown inside, fibrous, 10–13 × 5–6cm, branched, roots many, without tubers, thick fleshy roots 15–20 cm long. Leafy shoot 1.5–1.8 m tall, 4–4.5 cm thick, erect, cylindrical, basal sheaths green, puberulous, dense hairs towards base, 15–18 leaves per plant. Leaves 52–60 × 10–11 cm, oblong-lanceolate, sessile, base pulvinous, entire, acuminate, green, puberulous both abaxial and adaxial surface, more hairs on midrib than lamina. Ligule 6.5–7 × 2–2.5 cm, membranous, three lobed, white when dry. Inflorescence 14–16 × 6–7 cm, peduncle 3–3.2 × 2–2.2 cm, embedded in ground, covered by bracts, 4.5–4.7 × 2–2.2 cm, oblongobovate, white, smallest lower sheath of peduncle c. 1 × 0.6 cm, each bract bearing a single flower; bracteole 4–4.2 × 2–2.1 cm, elliptic-oblong, three lobed, white with green at tip; 1–2 inflorescences arises from a single plant; spike 4.3–4.5 × 2–2.1 cm, white. Flowers c.6 × 3.4 cm long, white tinged with pink. Calyx c. 2.5 × 0.8 cm, tubular, three lobed, white, hairy. Corolla linear-oblong, three lobed, central corolla lobe slightly longer than lateral corolla lobes, c.2.5 × 1 cm, hairy, lateral corolla lobes (2), c.2 × 0.8 cm, corolla tube sheathed with hairs. Labellum 2.2–2.5 × 1 cm, obovate, deeply three lobed, white with purple-blue spots throughout, hairy; lateral staminodes 1.6 × 0.8 cm, obovate, connate to the labellum, white with purple-blue spots throughout, hairy. Epigynous glands (2), 4–4.2 mm long, white, glabrous. Stamen 2.5–2.7 cm. Anther1.4–1.5 × 0.2–0.3 cm, anther crest extends forming a beak, beak 1.1 × 0.2 cm, white; anther theca 0.2 cm long; filament short, 1–2 mm long. Style long, 2.8–3 cm, filiform, hairy. Stigma reaching halfway the anther crest, 0.8 mm long, white, mouth hairy, 2–3 mm. Ovary 4.8–5 × 3.8–4 mm, trilocular with axile placentation, brown, villous. Fruit 3–4 × 1.2–1.5 cm, angular, greenish white. Pollen 35–36 × 76–77 mm, smooth, ellipsoidal.

Phenology:— Flowers from July–August. Fruiting from August–October

Distribution:— This new species is currently known only from the type locality. There were about 8–10 individuals of the species growing in a single location. The species associates with Zingiber rubens Roxburgh (1810: 348), Curculigo orchioides Gaertner (1788: 63), Oplismenus hirtellus (Linnaeus) Palisot de Beauvois (1812: 54, 170), Gomphostemma parviflorum Wallich ex Bentham (1830: 12), Curcuma aromatica Sablisbury (1807: 96).

Ecology:— Found growing at an elevation of 758 m. in semi evergreen forest. As this new taxon has only been found in one location extending less than 1 sq. km. with about 8–10 individuals, further explorations will be required to gather more information on the distribution, ecology and conservation status.

Etymology:— The specific epithet “jagannathii ” honours Lord Jagannath, the Supreme God of Odisha, since it was collected on the day of Car Festival on 07.07.2024.