Studies on Zingiberaceae Lindley of N.E. India: I. On the re-discovery of Rhynchanthus longiflorus Hook.f.

The North - eastern region of India has maximum diversity of Zingiberaceae in having 19 genera and about 90 species from among 22 genera and 180 species known from India. The present communication on the genus Rhynchanthus Hook f., is the outcome of our critical taxonomic studies initiated recently on this family. This genus is known in India by only its type species (viz. R. longiflorus Hook. f.) from the Mizoram after Fischer's report (1932) and is based on our collection after more than six decades, which represents to be the first one for Indian herbaria. The genus is characterised by a boat-shaped stamen, obsolete or minute labellum and absence of lateral staminodes. The study further reveals the interesting characters of the genus and its close affinity with Hedychieae rather than with the Alpinieae to which it is generally assigned. It is described here with illustration.