Saturday, March 28, 2020

[Botany • 2019] A Taxonomic Revision of Globba subsect. Nudae (Zingiberaceae) including Three New Species: Globba aranyaniae, G. lithophila & G. macrochila


A. Globba aranyaniae Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov., B. G. expansa Wall. ex Horan., 
C. G. flagellaris K.Larsen., D. G. insectifera Ridl., 
E. G. lithophila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. and F. G. macrochila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov.


in Sangvirotjanapat, Denduangboriphant & Newman, 2019.
 Photographs: S. Sangvirotjanapat  facebook.com/SunisaSang5

Abstract
Globba subsect. Nudae K.Larsen is revised. Seven species are recognised and three names are lectotypified. A key to the species and descriptions are provided. Three new species are described and illustrated: Globba aranyaniae Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov.G. lithophila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov., and G. macrochila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. Four names based on types from Bangladesh, India and Myanmar remain doubtful. The morphological expression of andromonoecy in this group is described in detail. Provisional IUCN conservation assessments of all species are supplied.

Keywords: Andromonoecy; Globba; Nudae; taxonomic revision; Zingiberaceae

Fig. 2. Globba subsect. Nudae K.Larsen.
A. Globba aranyaniae Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. (S. Sangvirotjanapat 785 leg.). B. G. expansa Wall. ex Horan. (M.F. Newman 2561 leg.). C. G. flagellaris K.Larsen (M.F. Newman and JLS 2048 leg.).
D. G. insectifera Ridl. (S. Sangvirotjanapat s.n. leg.). E. G. lithophila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. (M.F. Newman 2576 leg.). F. G. macrochila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. (S. Sangvirotjanapat 795 leg.).

Photographs: S. Sangvirotjanapat.  facebook.com/SunisaSang5

Class Magnoliopsida Brongn.

Order Zingiberales Griseb.
Family Zingiberaceae Martinov

Genus Globba L.
Section Nudae K.Larsen
Subsection Nudae K.Larsen

General morphology: The main distinguishing characteristics of G. subsect. Nudae are the lax conical inflorescence and flowers with four anther appendages. These differentiate this subsection clearly from G. sect. Globba and G. sect. Sempervirens, which also have four anther appendages, but have dense inflorescences with colourful, persistent bracts.

Habitat The substrate and ecological surroundings are found to relate to plant size. Plants in G. subsect. Nudae are mostly middle-sized, about 50–100 cm tall. Occasionally G. expansa Wall. ex Horan., found in mixed evergreen montane forest, can grow to 1.5 m tall while G. lithophila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov., which grows on limestone, is a miniature plant, only 10 cm tall. The most variable species is G. insectifera Ridl., which is large or small depending on the conditions of the dry or the rainy season which determine the production of inflorescence shoots or leafy shoots.

Rhizome Small, globose, about 3–5 cm in diameter. In one growing season, 5–8 rhizomes can be produced in a moniliform arrangement. The root tubers are spindle-shaped or elongate and function in food storage during the dormant period.

Flower For reliable identification to species, the flower must be seen. Flower colour seems to be a variable character while, on the other hand, the yellow and orange tone of flowers in this subsection is clearly different and useful for classification in many cases. A red or brown spot on the labellum is quite common in other groups of Globba but, in G. subsect. Nudae, G. aranyaniae sp. nov. is unique in having a spot (Fig. 2A).


Globba aranyaniae Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: The main distinguishing character within G. subsect. Nudae is the red or brown spot on the labellum. Laotian and northern Thai populations resemble G. flagellaris and G. macrochila sp. nov. by their condensed cincinni, and orange-toned flowers with rather broad lateral staminodes (> 5 mm). Central and eastern Thai populations resemble G. expansa by their lax cincinni, orange-toned flowers, and ellipsoid fruits.

Etymology The epithet ‘aranyaniae’ derives from ‘Aranyani’ who is a princess in the myth relating to the name of the type locality, Pha Nang Khoy (‘Cave of the Lady who Waits’).

Distribution and habitat: Laos and Thailand, at 100–700 m a.s.l., on limestone in mixed evergreen forest or near streams.


Globba expansa Wall. ex Horan.
Prodromus Monographiae Scitaminearum Additis Nonnullis de Phytographia, de Monocotyleis et Orchideis: 19 (Horaninow 1862).

Synonyms: G. yeatsiana Craib, Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 1912: 400 (Craib 1912). – Type: THAILAND • Northern, Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park; 960 m a.s.l.; 12 Jun. 1910; A.F.G. Kerr 1214 leg.; K (lectotype, designated here), E E00097516 (isolectotype).
G. platystachya sensu Gagnepain, Flore Générale de l'Indo-Chine 6 (1): 33 (Gagnepain 1908), non Baker, The Flora of British India 6 (17): 206 (Baker 1890).

Distribution and habitat: Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, 174–1350 m a.s.l., growing in mixed evergreen forest along the trail under semi shade. Usually found as dense clump.


Globba flagellaris K.Larsen
Nordic Journal of Botany. 17: 119 (Larsen 1997).

Distribution and habitat: Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, and Nan provinces, Thailand, 450–1100 m a.s.l. It grows in dense populations in rather moist areas, often near streams.


Globba insectifera Ridl.
Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 49: 42 (Ridley 1908). 

Synonyms: G. kerrii Craib, Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 1912: 398 (Craib 1912). – Type: THAILAND • Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park; 1200 m a.s.l.; 24 Jul. 1910; A.F.G. Kerr 1278 leg; E (lectotype, designated here), BM (isolectotype), E E00097477 (isolectotype), K (isolectotype, 2 sheets). 
G. nuda K.Larsen, Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh 31: 235 (Larsen 1972). – Type: THAILAND • Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep-Pui National Park; 850 m a.s.l.; 13 Apr. 1958; K. Larsen, B. Hansen and T.J. Sørensen 2678 leg.; AAU (holotype), C (isotype), BKF (isotype).

Distribution and habitat: Myanmar and Thailand, 240–1500 m a.s.l. Common in dipterocarp or grass forest in open areas. The plants grow over large areas but not covering the ground densely


Globba lancangensis Y.Y.Qian
 Acta Botanica Austro Sinica 9: 51 (Qian 1994).

Distribution and habitat: China (Yunnan), 1080–1350 m a.s.l.


Globba lithophila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. 

Diagnosis Similar to G. flagellaris and G. macrochila sp. nov. in its condensed cincinni and bright orange flowers, but differing from them by its clearly visible lateral corolla lobes, oblong and patent lateral staminodes, smaller size and ecological requirements, being found only in pockets of soil in cracks in limestone. 

Etymology: From the Greeklithos (stone) andphila(loving), reflecting its limestone habitat.

Distribution and habitat: Thailand, 450–800 m a.s.l., only found in small pockets of soil in or very near limestone.

Conservation status: Least Concern. Globba lithophila sp. nov. has a small AOO of 28 km2 and EOO of 2600 km2 , suggesting a status of Endangered but it grows in Lum Nam Pai Wildlife Sanctuary as well as ex situ in Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden so it is of Least Concern. It is a lithophyte which makes it sensitive to environmental factors so good management of protected areas is important to keep it in its natural habitat.

Notes: Globba lithophila sp. nov. has been compared closely to G. flagellaris, with which it is sympatric in north Thailand. Both species were cultivated in the same place at the Zingiberaceae nursery of Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden under controlled conditions. After two years of growth, the vegetative parts of the plants were larger than those of wild plants, while the floral parts and ratios of sizes remained the same. We conclude that these are two separate species and that G. lithophila sp. nov. is not merely a part of the variation of G. flagellaris.


Globba macrochila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. 

Diagnosis: Similar to G. flagellaris in its bright orange flowers, but differing by its much longer labellum, 19– 20 mm long (vs short labellum, 10–12 mm long) and growing in dry areas (vs moist areas). 

Etymology: Greek, ‘macros’ (large) and ‘-chila’ (-lipped), referring to its long labellum.

Distribution and habitat: Myanmar and Thailand, 100–350 m a.s.l., in rather dry forest.

Conservation status: Least Concern. Although this species has a small AOO of 32 km2 , the populations in Kanchanaburi province, where this species is commonest, are found in several protected areas. It is also grown in Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden.

 Notes Usually found in somewhat dry areas, such as bamboo forest. The labellum is remarkable, being longer than the lateral staminodes. It always covers the lateral corolla lobes. Plants were cultivated under more humid test conditions in Bangkok to find out the stability of the morphological characters. After growing for one season, the environmental factors affected only vegetative structures, i.e., leafy stem size, inflorescence size but did not influence the ratios of the floral parts.


Doubtful species of Globba subsect. Nudae

Globba pauciflora King ex Baker
Flora of British India 6: 205 (Baker 1890).

Globba rahmanii Yusuf
Journal of Economic and Taxonomic Botany 28: 88 (Yusuf 2004).

Globba subscaposa Collett & Hemsl.
Journal of the Linnean Society. Botany 28: 135 (Collett & Hemsley 1890).


 Sunisa Sangvirotjanapat, Jessada Denduangboriphant and Mark F. Newman. 2019. A Taxonomic Revision of Globba subsect. Nudae (Zingiberaceae).  European Journal of Taxonomy. 503; 1–37. DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2019.503