Manipur discovers one of India’s newest Iris (flower) species

Imphal, April 24 (EMN): Principal scientist, Dr Huidrom Birkumar of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)-North East institute of Science and Technology (NEIST), Imphal unit on Monday said the popular seasonal flower in Manipur which is annually offered during the Manipuri new year-Cheiraoba in April has turned out to be one of India’s newest Iris (flower) species.
The flower is known as Kombirei in local tongue. This mauve-blue flower, Iris Laevigata Fisch found in the marsh areas of Manipur, particularly in Lamphelpat and Yaralpat wetlands in the outskirts of Imphal town, has a flowering period of about 15 days in the first half of April every year.
“Earlier people used to name said flower wrongly as Iris Bakeri wall. But London based Royal Botanic Gardens (RBG), Kew confirmed the new species (as Iris Laevigata Fisch) only on April 19,” said Dr Birkumar, who is head of Manipur unit of CSIR-NEIST. “The plant has been grown in Japan for more than a thousand years and it was also reported in Russia and South East Asian region.”
Dr Birkumar who had been studying the flower since 2000 sent a report to RBG, Kew with relevant pictures following a media report that the flower which has rich sentimental associations with the Manipuris, was vanishing from the original habitat, to identify and name the flower on April 13. London based RBG, Kew is an international authority on botanical research and education which has a collections of over 40,000 species of plants.
The scientist who had written a book on economic botany besides publishing 35 research papers also informed that four species of Iris were reported in Manipur out of the country’s 17 species as per Botanical Survey of India reports. However this beautiful flower which has very close connection with the tradition of Manipuris since long ago, is facing a great threat due to lack of attention. Though the biology of the plant is yet to be studied thoroughly, experts felt that the plant would be among the critically endangered category.
Presence of whitish colour and heights are the major distinct character between Iris Laevigata Fisch (3.5 ft high) and Iris Singuinea (2 ft high) besides the leaves. Singuinea has no straight leaves unlike Laevigata.
Even though other species such as Iris Wattii, Iris Singuinea,Iris Kumaon reportedly grows in the state, this flower grows only at the wetlands of Lamphelpat and Loktak lake. Interestingly Iris Singuinea which is used as real Kombirei (Iris Laevigata Fisch) during annual Cheiraoba festival which falls in the second week of April every year, is cultivated in private nurseries considering the public demand and its similarities with the latter.