https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.dncjsxm7g

Simanta Taid, Sorokhaibam Sureshkumar Singh* and Padma Raj Gajurel

Department of Forestry, North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology, Nirjuli, Arunachal Pradesh, India

*Department of Botany, School of Life Sciences, Manipur University, Canchipur, Imphal, Manipur, India

Description of the data

The completer morphological characters of the two new banana species(Musa bracteata and Musa siangensis) along with the existing species (i.e., Musa arunachalansis) are provided. Both qualitative and quantitative characters of the two species including the habit, leaves, pseudo-stems, inflorescence, flowers, bracts, fruits, seed, etc are provided in the Excel sheet.

These two species can be identified from their distinct morphological characters. The description of these species and their morphological relationship is given below

1.Musa siangensis Taid, S.S. Singh & Gajurel

This new species was found to grow in the Siang district in the Eastern part of the Indian Himalayan state of Arunachal Pradesh. Recorded with a few individuals growing in the peripheral zone of the forest.

This species can be characterized by some distinct morphological characters. The characters are - mature plant height up to 2.5 m; leaf habit erect, horizontal Inflorescence. The inflorescence bears externally pink-purple and internally reddish-pink bracts. Normally 2 to 3 bracts are lifted at a time during its fruit production and elongation. The stalk of the inflorescence known as the peduncle is purple-violet without hairs on the surface. It bears with 4 – 6 hands in a bunch where each hand shows 6 – 10 fruits in a single row. Fruits peel green with purple pigmentation. Normally the fruits never show self-peeling at maturity as seen in some wild bananas.

As with other bananas, the leaves are used for various purposes by the communities. The fruits are however not eaten regularly. The fruits bear numerous seeds.

 2.Musa bracteata S.S. Singh, Gajurel & Taid

This new species has been located in the Geram and Ompuli villages of Toru Circle and between Potin village and Hawa Camp of Papum Pare district of Arunachal Pradesh. Recorded with a few individuals growing on hill slopes with moist and shady conditions in the tropical evergreen forests.

There are a few distinct morphological characteristics that define this species. The characteristics are - mature plant height up to 3.6 m; leaf habit erect; and horizontal inflorescence. The inflorescence bears externally and internally coral pink bracts. During its fruit production, 2 to 3 bracts are lifted at a time and the bracts are persistent on the rachis. The stalk of the inflorescence known as the peduncle is green without hairs on the surface. Fruit bunch bears 7 – 9 fruit hands and 5 – 8 fruits per hand in a single row. The fruit peel is smooth with purple pigmentation. At fully ripe, the fruits don’t show self-peeling.

The species is locally known as “Kopho”. The leaves of this banana are used for various purposes. The floral buds used are vegetables. The fruits are avoided to eat due to various seeds.

Morphologically these two species show a relationship with the other species like Musa arunachalensis, M. zaifui, M. markkui and M. mannii as their horizontal inflorescence. However, these two new species are closely similar to Musa arunachalensis. A comparison of the morphological characters of these two new species with Musa arunachalensis is given in the supplementary file, which indicates their distinct variations.

As a conservation measure, the plants are now grown in the Nursery of the Forestry Department, NERIST, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh. 

The photographs of these two new species are enclosed in the figure.

The discovery of these two new species has increased the number of banana species to 21 and it is expected that some more such new species may be added in the future. As the state is very rich in the diversity of banana species, all conservation efforts must be initiated to save such valuable plants. Many of the species having limited populations are under pressure of threats due to various developmental activities.