Researchers in Manipur have discovered a new flowering plant species in Kakching district and have named the new plant species Curcuma kakchingense, in honour of the place where it was found.
- Curcuma kakchingense belongs to the angiospermic family Zingiberaceae that includes Curcuma, Gingers and Cardamom.
- The species has close resemblance to Curcuma phrayawan, a species reported from Thailand and also Curcuma longa also known as yaingang in local tongue but is distinguished by having lemon-yellow rhizomes with a very bitter taste.
- It was found dwelling along the bank of the Sekmai River of Kakching district.
- Its conservation status remains Data Deficient under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List category.
- Until the report of Curcuma kakchingense discovery, there were only 93 recorded Curcuma names as accepted species worldwide, of these 67 are from Thailand.
