Solanum pandeyi

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Recently, a scientist from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovered a new species of wild brinjal, named Solanum pandeyi, from the Middle Andaman Island in the Andaman and Nicobar archipelago.

About Solanum pandeyi

Solanum pandeyi is a newly identified species of wild brinjal belonging to the genus Solanum.

It was discovered in the evergreen forests of Middle Andaman, where it grows naturally along forest edges and open areas. Locally, it is known as the wild orange eggplant.

The species closely resembles Solanum lasiocarpum and belongs to the Leptostemonum clade of the Solanum genus, a group that includes several spiny species of brinjal and related plants.

Uses of Solanum pandeyi

The plant has long been used by the Great Andamanese, an indigenous Negrito tribe, for both food and traditional medicine. The roots and seeds are used to treat tooth infections, while the ripe fruits are combined with jaggery, chilli, garlic, ginger, and salt to prepare a sweet-and-sour sauce, which is popular among the Ranchi and Bengali settler communities living on the islands.

Significance of the Discovery

The discovery of Solanum pandeyi enriches India's plant biodiversity and highlights the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as an important centre of endemism and species diversity. It also underscores the importance of taxonomic research, biodiversity conservation, and the documentation of traditional indigenous knowledge for the sustainable use of biological resources.

About the Botanical Survey of India (BSI)

The Botanical Survey of India (BSI) is India's apex taxonomic and floristic research institution functioning under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). It was established on 13 February 1890 to survey and document the country's plant diversity.

The primary objective of the BSI is to provide the scientific foundation for plant identification, taxonomy, conservation, documentation, and sustainable utilisation of India's rich floral wealth.