Wednesday, November 13, 2019

[Botany • 2019] Amomum spathilabium (Zingiberaceae: Alpinieae) • A New Species from northern Thailand


Amomum spathilabium W.Kaewsri

in Kaewsri & Kanjanawattanawong, 2019. 


ABSTRACT
Amomum spathilabium, a new species from Nan Province in northern Thailand, is described and illustrated. It is closely related to A. subcapitatum but differs in the labellum shape, anther crest shape and longer ligule. Details on distribution, ecology, etymology, and a preliminary conservation assessment are provided.

KEYWORDS: Amomum subcapitatum, Doi Phukha, native plant, spathulate labellum, taxonomy

Figure 1. Amomum spathilabium W.Kaewsri:
A–B. Habit; C. Detail of ligules; D. Leaves; E. Inflorescences; F. Stamen; G. Detail of flower including a calyx, pistil and corolla (from left):  H. Detail of labellum (from left): front and back views; I. Infructescence with mature fruits. 

Amomum spathilabium W.Kaewsri, sp. nov. 
Type: Thailand, northern: Nan, Doi Phu Kha, ..., 20 June 2010, Kaewsri-254 (holotype BKF!; isotypes BK!). 

Similar to Amomum subcapitatum Y.M.Xia by its winged fruits and and leaf blade, but differs in its ligule being longer, bilobed, 5–7 cm long, papery, apex dry at maturity, glabrous; and the glabrous petiole, 7–17 cm long; a comparison of the characters of these two species is given in Table 1.


Etymology.— The specific epithet of this new species refers to its main distinguishing character, the spathulate labellum shape.

Distribution.— Endemic to Thailand

Ecology.— Growing in montane evergreen forest, on the slope of mountain, in light gaps, 1,326 m above sea level.


Wittaya Kaewsri and Supanath Kanjanawattanawong. 2019. Amomum spathilabium (Zingiberaceae: Alpinieae), A New Species from northern Thailand.  Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany). 47(2); 193-195. DOI: 10.20531/tfb.2019.47.2.11