Thursday, October 14, 2021

[Botany • 2021] Alpinia laosensis (Zingiberaceae), the Correct Name for A Species previously misidentified as A. conchigera


Alpinia laosensis Gagnep.

in Ye, Nguyen, ... et Chen, 2021.
ຂ່າແດງ || DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.508.2.2 

Abstract
Alpinia laosensis was previously placed in synonymy under A. conchigera. However, a critical examination of herbarium specimens (including type material) and living plants of A. laosensis and A. conchigera reveals that they are two separate species. Alpinia laosensis can be distinguished from A. conchigera by the shape of its fruits, shape and size of leaves and colour of labellum. We therefore reinstate A. laosensis as an independent species. A detailed description of A. laosensis together with a distribution map of both species are provided.

Keywords: Reinstatement, gingers, misidentification, Monocots


Alpinia laosensis: (A) Inflorescence, (B) Flowers and
A. conchigera: (C) Inflorescence, (D) Flowers.
Photos A & B by Ye Xing-Er; based on Y.H. Tong & X.E. Ye 186, 
Photos C & D by Khang Sinh Nguyen; based on J. Regalado et al. 1979.


Alpinia laosensis Gagnepain (1906: 133)

Vernacular names: Chinese name “老挝山姜” (romanised by “lao wo shan jiang”);
Lao name “ຂ່າແດງ” (Kha Deang).



Alpinia conchigera Griff.


Xing-Er Ye, Khang Sinh Nguyen, Keooudone Souvannakhoummane, Quoc Binh Nguyen and Juan Chen. 2021. Alpinia laosensis, the Correct Name for A Species previously misidentified as A. conchigera. Phytotaxa. 508(2); 129–141. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.508.2.2