Thursday, November 4, 2021

[Botany • 2021] Taxonomic Notes on Pavetta L. (Rubiaceae) from Thailand and New Records for Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar


A. Pavetta petiolaris; B. P. sylvatica;
C. P. tomentosa; D. P. tomentosa var. glabrescens;
B. graciliflora; C. P. naucleiflora. 

in Chantaranothai, 2021. 
 Tropical Natural History. 21(1)

Abstract
A taxonomic revision of genus Pavetta in Thailand is presented, 14 species (15 taxa) are listed, namely P. aspera Craib, P. brevituba Craib, P. fruticosa Craib, P. graciliflora Wall. ex Ridl., P. humilis Hook.f., P. kedahica Bremek., P. napieri (Ridl.) Bremek., P. naucleiflora R.Br. ex G. Don, P. petiolaris Craib, Psalicina (Ridl.) Bremek., P. siamica Bremek., P. sylvatica Blume, P. tomentosa Roxb. ex Sm., Ptomentosa var. glabrescens (Kurz) Craib and P. wallichiana Steud. ex Craib, one of which, P. brevituba is endemic to Thailand. Lectotypes for Pavetta asperaP. aspera var. breviflos Craib, P. graciliflora var. latifolia Craib, P. indica L. var. polyantha Hook.f., P. laoticensis Bremek., P. naucleiflora R. Br. ex G. Don, P. petiolaris and P. pierrei Bremek. are designated. Pavetta finlaysoniana Wall. ex Bremek. and Plaoticensis Bremek., are reduced to synonymy under P. asperaPavetta birmanica Bremek., P. birmanica var. glabrescens Bremek., P. birmanica var. tomentosa Bremek. and P. gamblei Bremek., are reduced to P. fruitcosa and P. pusilliflora Bremek. is reduced to P. petiolarisPavetta formosa Bremek. is also reduced to P. wallichiana. One species new to Thailand, Pavetta napieri; one new to Myanmar, P. aspera; one to Cambodia, P. sylvatica and two to Laos, P. fruticosa and P. naucleiflora. A key to the species of Pavetta in Thailand is provided with distribution, ecology and vernacular names. Specimens examined and photographes of some species are also given.

Keywords: lectotype, Pavetteae, synonym, taxonomy


Pavetta L. (Rubiaceae-Pavetteae) is one of the large genera of the Rubiaceae, comprising ca 400 species with a pantropical distribution, which occur in Africa, through India, SE Asia and Australia. (Mabberley, 2008). The name Pavettais derived from ‘pawatta’ a Singhalese and Malayalee plant name (Wong, 1989). Most species are widespread along the margins of deciduous, mixed deciduous, dry evergreen and evergreen forests. The dark bacterial nodules on the leaves are the most distinguished characters of the genus. The plants in the Rubiaceae are familiar through cultivated ornamentals as Gardenia J.Ellis, Ixora L., Mussaenda Burm. ex L., Pentas Benth. and Tarenna Gaertn. but not Pavetta. ...

A. Pavetta fruticosaB. graciliflora, B1. flowers, B2. fruits; C. P. naucleiflora.

A. Pavetta petiolaris; B. P. sylvatica; C. P. tomentosa;
D. P. tomentosa var. glabrescens.


Pranom Chantaranothai. 2021. Taxonomic Notes on Pavetta L. (Rubiaceae) from Thailand and New Records for Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.  Tropical Natural History. 21(1); 146-166. 

Pavetta finlaysoniana Wall. ex Bremek. and Plaoticensis Bremek., are reduced to synonymy under P. aspera
Pavetta birmanica Bremek., P. birmanica var. glabrescens Bremek., P. birmanica var. tomentosa Bremek. and P. gamblei Bremek., are reduced to P. fruitcosa

 P. pusilliflora Bremek. is reduced to P. petiolaris.
 Pavetta formosa Bremek. is reduced to P. wallichiana

One species new to Thailand, Pavetta napieri
one new to Myanmar, P. aspera
one to Cambodia, P. sylvatica 
two to Laos, P. fruticosa and P. naucleiflora.