Globba tyrnaensis and Globba janakiae

About Globba tyrnaensis and Globba janakiae:

• These delicate plants, often referred to as "dancing girls”, named for the way their flower structures appear to move in the wind, belong to the genus Globba, a group of ornamental plants in the ginger family (Zingiberaceae).
• Globba species are native to tropical regions such as Southeast Asia, India and the Eastern Himalayas, and are known for their intricate, colorful flowers.
• The first species, Globba tyrnaensis, was found in the famed Double Decker Living Root Bridge area of Tyrna village in the East Khasi Hills district, Meghalaya, at an elevation of 731 meters.
  • A smaller population was also identified near Thangkharang Park in Cherrapunji. 
  • It is distinguished by its short inflorescence, orange flowers and large anthers. 
  • It also produces bulbils that aid in propagation.
  • It thrives in the moist, shaded forest understory.
  • Its flowers attract bees, contributing to the local ecosystem.
  • The species has been informally classified as “Endangered”, according to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• Globba janakiae was also discovered in the Tyrna village area, though it has an even smaller population, with fewer than 10 mature individuals recorded. 
  • It stands out due to its shorter inflorescence and the absence of inflorescence bracts.
  • Its flowers are orange, and the species has distinctive heart-shaped labellum structures with small horn-like appendages.
  • Named in honor of EK Janaki Ammal, a pioneering Indian botanist known for her advocacy of native plants and opposition to deforestation, Globba janakiae has been assessed as “Critically Endangered”.