New Species of Ginger discovered in Mindanao

Filipino scientists discovered a new plant species in Mindanao. The new species of Ginger is facing extinction due to human activities such as road expansion and land conversion, where some are found growing in areas that are not protected. Etlingera lacerate Naïve (Alpinieae, Zingiberaceae), a new ginger species discovered by M.K. Naive et. al is closely related to Etlingera philippinensis through observation in some characteristics their differences can easily be distinguished such as having a smaller habit, broadly ovate ligule with sub-truncate apex, 2-3 mm long petiole, oblanceolate leaf lamina with long attenuate apex and narrowly obovate labellum with lacerate margin. 

The study also reported this Ginger Species is endemic to Mindanao Island, "this species is known solely from its type locality in Zamboanga del Norte, located in Western Mindanao, and in Surigao del Norte and Surigao del Sur in Eastern Mindanao, and rhizomes of ginger are edible to consume according to the locals."

In Western Mindanao, it thrives in secondary lowland forest under deeply shaded conditions with moist soil, sympatrically growing with other Zingiberales species, typically between elevations of 900-950 meters above sea level. In Eastern Mindanao, we observed its growth alongside other Zingiberaceae species in a secondary dipterocarp forest characterized by shaded conditions at an elevation of 728 m asl.-Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity

With this discovery, the total of known Etlingera species in the Philippines rises to 18, with 12 of them being endemic to the archipelago.

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