Studies explain the pigments, genetics and conservation concerns behind Meghalaya’s Himalayan cherry

As Meghalaya’s famed Cherry Blossom Festival lights up the hills with clouds of pink, two scientific studies are offering the most comprehensive understanding yet of what makes these Himalayan cherry trees bloom, how they evolved in Northeast India, and why they urgently need protection.

At the heart of Shillong’s November spectacle is Prunus cerasoides — the Himalayan cherry — a species found across the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, celebrated for its unusual winter bloom and distinctive pink flowers. Though widely photographed and adored, the tree’s biology has remained surprisingly underexplored.

Prunus L . is a genus in Rosaceae comprising of trees and shrubs such as almond, aprico

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