Discovery of new plant species : Centre sets record straight
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 11 2013:
Reacting to a news report published on some newspapers, Centre for Orchid Gene Conservation of Eastern Himalayan Region (COGCEHR) has claimed that two new plant species namely, Dendrobium tamenglongense and Ione kipgenii were not discovered by a single person but by a team of COGCEHR Scientists.
According to a press release issued by COGCEHR Director Dr AN Rao, the centre was established by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India under the host institute namely, Foundation for Environment and Economic Development Services (FEEDS), Hengbung.
Ione kipgenii was discovered by Prof SP Vij, Dr RK Kishor and Dr Krishna Chowlu.
The discovery was published in the international scientific journal, Kew Bulletin 2012, Vol 67, pages 517-519 and it was reported by The Indian Express on August 3, 2011, the press release said.
It added that Dendrobium tamenglongense was discovered by Prof SP Vij, Dr RK Kishor, Dr Y Nanda, Bishwajit Sharma and T Jennifer.
It was published in online journal, Nordic Journal of Botany 2013 .
The press release further claimed that CSIR and Manipur University were not involved in the discovery of the two species.
COGCEHR is located at Hengbung in Senapati district.