New ‘Cherry Blossom’ Plant Species Named After Odisha Scientist Dinabandhu Sahoo
The Cherry Blossom or “Sakura” is the national flower of Japan, which is also a source of inspiration for the Japanese people, and India became the 28th country in the world had earlier been included in the Sakura Map.
For Sahoo’s over eight years long determined efforts, the “Cherry Blossom” is now available in six of the eight northeastern states, excluding Assam and Tripura.
In November 2016, Dr Sahoo, a professor at the Department of Botany under the University of Delhi (DU) planned and organised India’s first “Cherry Blossom Festival” in Shillong which attracted lakhs of people and subsequently it became an international event for the past six years.
According to Dr Avitoli G. Zhimo, Assistant Director, Centre for Himalayan Studies in DU, scientists Biseshwori T and Jenifer M from Imphal (Manipur) based Institute of Bio resources and Sustainable Development (IBSD) found a new plant species of “Cherry Blossom”.As a mark of respect and for the outstanding contributions of Sahoo, they named the new plant species as ‘Prunus dinabandhuana’ (Family Rosaceae) in his first name.
