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| Nymphanthus belliflorus P. Sukkharom, Chantar. & Pornp., in Sukkharom, Chantaranothai et Pornpongrungrueng, 2026. ว่านธรณีสารเล็ก || DOI: doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20559 |
Abstract
Nymphanthus belliflorus, a newly described species from the northeastern part of Thailand, is the most similar to N. chantaranothaii, N. glaucescens and N. huamotensis in having staminate flowers with four sepals bearing long-fimbriate margins and the pistillate flowers composed of 5–6 sepals with long-fimbriate margins. However, it is distinguished by its swollen stem base, young branchlets that are glabrous, disc glands of staminate flowers that are obdeltoid and yellow-reddish in color, long pedicel of pistillate flowers (3.2–4.8 cm long) and fruits (3.5–5.5 cm long). The description, distribution, ecological information and provisional conservation status are provided.
Keywords: Eriococcus, Morphology, Phyllantheae, Phyllanthus, Taxonomy, Section Nymphanthus
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| Nymphanthus belliflorus P. Sukkharom, Chantar. & Pornp., sp. nov. (A) Habit. (B) Leaf (adaxial side). (C) Leaf (abaxial side). (D) Stipule. (E) Staminate flower. (F) Pistillate flower. (G) Mature capsule. drawn by Piya Sukkharom. |
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| Nymphanthus belliflorus. (A) Habit. (B) Staminate flowers. (C) Pistillate flower. (D) Mature capsule. (E) Swollen stem base. (A) & (E) photos by Piya Sukkharom, (B–D) photos by Silakan Khunnok. |
Nymphanthus belliflorus P. Sukkharom, Chantar. & Pornp., sp. nov.
Diagnosis. Nymphanthus belliflorus is distinguished from other species of Nymphanthus by a combination of swollen stem base, long-fimbriate sepal margins in both staminate and pistillate flowers, obdeltoid, yellow to reddish disc glands in staminate flowers, and long pedicels in pistillate flowers and fruits (3.2–4.8 cm long and 3.5–5.5 cm long, respectively).
Etymology. The specific epithet refers to the beautiful flowers of this species.
Vernacular name. Wan thorani san lek (proposed here).
Distribution. Khon Kaen and Sakon Nakhon Provinces in the northeast of Thailand.
Ecology. Nymphanthus belliflorus grows on sandy soil with organic matter found in the ecotone between mixed deciduous and dry dipterocarp forest, at 240–285 m elevation.
Piya Sukkharom, Pranom Chantaranothai and Pimwadee Pornpongrungrueng. 2026. Nymphanthus belliflorus (Phyllanthaceae), A New Species from Thailand. PeerJ. 14:e20559. DOI: doi.org/10.7717/peerj.20559 [January 21, 2026]
