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| Zingiber baumii Chatan & Promprom, in Promprom, Munglue aet Chatan, 2024. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.70449 |
ABSTRACT
Zingiber baumii Chatan & Promprom, a new species from the Zingiberaceae family, is described from Sakon Nakhon Province in northeastern Thailand. This species was identified during field expeditions conducted between 2018 and 2024 in Phu Pha Yol National Park. The morphological characteristics of Z. baumii, such as red or pinkish-red leaf sheaths, leaf blades (1.5−) 2.0–3.0 cm wide, pink petioles, and bright yellow corolla with a red patch, distinguish it from closely related species such as Z. isanense Triboun & K. Larsen. Zingiber baumii grows in slightly shaded dry dipterocarp forests at elevations of 300–380 m. The preliminary conservation assessment indicates that this species should be classified as Endangered (EN) according to IUCN criteria due to its limited distribution and small population size. Detailed morphological comparisons with related species are provided, along with illustrations and habitat descriptions.
Keywords: conservation assessment, dry dipterocarp forest, Endangered species, flowering plant, northeastern Thailand, plant diversity
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| Zingiber baumii Chatan & Promprom (A) habit and habitat; (B) pseudostem and a group of inflorescences in natural habit; (C) inflorescence pulled from the ground; (D) one inflorescence (zoom out) and bracts, corolla, and staminodes. Photographed by Wilawan Promprom. |
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| Zingiber baumii Chatan & Promprom (A) Habit, rhizome, pseudostem, leaves, and inflorescences; (B) bract; (C) bracteole; (D) floret; (E) ovary and calyx; (F) dorsal lobe of corolla; (G) lateral lobes of corolla; (H) labellum and side lobes; (I) anther; (J) ovary and stylode. Drawn by Wannachai Chatan from the type specimen (W. Chatan 2879). |
Zingiber baumii Chatan & Promprom, sp. nov.
Diagnosis: Based on its morphology, Zingiber baumii is most similar to Z. isanense Triboun & K. Larsen as described in Triboun, Larsen, and Chantaranothai (2014), but it has distinct morphological differences from Z. isanense as follows: Z. baumii has a rhizome without a malodorous (bug-like) smell when crushed, larger leafy shoots (4.5–5.2 mm in diameter), leaf sheaths that are always red or pinkish-red in the lower part and purplish-red or blackish-red in the upper part, lanceolate leaf blades with (1.5−) 2.0–3.0 cm wide that are sparsely hairy on the abaxial surface, narrowly ovoid or ellipsoid spikes, bracts that are pale pink to moderately pink with purplish-red to black-red at the upper part, and have an acute or acuminate apex. Additionally, Z. baumii features a labellum that is always bright yellow with red patches, a corolla that is always bright yellow, and all staminodes are also bright yellow. The flowering period occurs in the middle of the rainy season, from July to August.
Etymology: The specific epithet of Zingiber baumii refers to Dr. Bernard R. Baum, coadvisor of WP during PhD studies, from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Eastern Cereal and Oilseed Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He is an expert in both classical and advanced plant taxonomy. He has dedicated his entire life to the field of plant taxonomy.
Wilawan Promprom, Phukphon Munglue and Wannachai Chatan. 2024. Zingiber baumii Chatan & Promprom: A New Species of Zingiberaceae from Thailand. Ecology and Evolution. 14(10); e70449. DOI: doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70449
