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| Zingiber nitens M.F.Newman |
ABSTRACT
Zingiber nitens M.F.Newman from Lao P.D.R. is described and illustrated.
Keywords. IUCN conservation assessment, Lao P.D.R., new species, Zingiber
Zingiber nitens M.F.Newman, sp. nov. Belongs to Zingiber section Dymczewiczia (Horan.) Benth. because the inflorescences are produced terminally on the leafy shoots; similar to Zingiber capitatum Roxb. in its slender habit with narrow leaves and terminal inflorescences but differs from it by its glabrous, glossy, dark green bracts which remain green even at fruiting (not green bracts which turn red at fruiting, and are sparsely to densely villose at the margins).
TYPE: Originally a living collection from Lao P.D.R., Bolikhamxai prov., Khamkeut district, Ban Thongpe, Nakai-Nam Theun NPA, Lao-Vietnam Border Protected Area, primary evergreen forest along river, 1 August 2011, Lamxay, V., Lanorsavanh, S., Souvannakoummai, K. & Somphone VL2188, grown on as cultivated material at RBGE acc. no. 20111043A, vouchered and selected as type as Newman, M.F. 2647 (holotype E, incl. spirit).
Distribution & ecology. Zingiber nitens is only known from the type locality, where it grows in primary evergreen forest along a river at c. 570 m altitude.
Etymology. The epithet “nitens”, Latin for shining, refers to the shiny bracts of the inflorescence.
M.F. Newman. 2015. A New Species of Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) from Lao P.D.R. Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore. 67(1); 123–127. DOI: 10.3850/S2382581215000137