Botanical Tributes: New Plant Species Named After Assam Music Icon Zubeen Garg

BONGAIGAON — Known as much for his deep love of nature and passionate voice for environmental conservation as his timeless music, the late Assamese cultural icon Zubeen Garg has received another lasting tribute from the scientific community.

In a heartfelt gesture to honor the legendary singer-composer—who tragically passed away in an accidental drowning near Singapore’s Lazarus Island—botanists at the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) in Shillong have named a newly identified ginger lily species after him.

Hedychium zubeengargianum: A Fragrant Honor

The newly recognized species, officially named Hedychium zubeengargianum, is a fragrant, creamy-white flower.

  • First Discovered: The plant was originally spotted back in 2018 within the institute's botanical garden in Shillong.

  • Research Team: The discovery team was led by Dr. D.N. Roy at BSI Shillong.

  • Local Connection: The study's lead author, Dilip Kumar Roy, hails directly from Assam’s Bongaigaon district, collaborating alongside Meghalaya-based researchers Rikertre Lytan and Nripemo Odyuo.

  • Official Recognition: Following years of rigorous research confirming it as a distinct new species, the scientific breakthrough was formally published in Taxonomy Phytotaxonomy, the official journal of the Association for Plant Taxonomy.

"This discovery pays tribute to Zubeen Garg’s massive cultural legacy and his tireless advocacy for tree conservation and green causes across the Northeast." — Dr. D.N. Roy, Lead Botanist

Continuing a Green Legacy

This isn't the first time the scientific community has immortalized Garg's memory through nature. Earlier in 2026, researchers honored the late legend with another botanical namesake:

  • Species: Osbeckia zubeengargiana (a unique flowering plant)

  • Location: Discovered in the grasslands of Manas National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Assam.

  • Researchers: Identified by Barnali Das and Namita Nath from Gauhati University, alongside Prashob Pulpra of NSS College.

  • Publication: Formally documented on March 13, 2026, in the international journal Phytotaxa.

From the grasslands of Manas to the gardens of Shillong, these discoveries ensure that the music legend’s lifelong passion for nature continues to bloom.