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| Typhonium gonos K.Z.Hein & Saensouk, in Hein, P. Saensouk, Rakarcha, Warseno et S. Saensouk, 2026. |
Abstract
Typhonium gonos K.Z.Hein & Saensouk is described and illustrated as a species new to science, restricted to Permian limestone in Phrae Province, Northern Thailand, and compared with its probable closest congener, T. sinhabaedyae Hett. & A.Galloway from Tak Province. In addition, T. pusillum Sookch., V.D.Nguyen & Hett. is newly synonymized under T. gagnepainii J.Murata & Sookch.
Keyword: Aroideae, heterotypic synonym, Indochina, Northern Thailand, permian limestone, plant taxonomy
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| Typhonium gonos sp. nov. A. Flowering individuals in habitat. B. Plants in habitat showing leaf blade variation within a population. Photos by T. Uttarapong. |
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| Typhonium gonos sp. nov. A. Excavated flowering plant. B. Leaf blade showing abaxial surface. C. Side view of anthomorph at pistillate anthesis. D. Front view of anthomorph at pistillate anthesis. E. Side view of anthomorph at pistillate anthesis (nearside spathe artificially removed to expose the spadix). Scale bars: A–B.=3 cm, C–E.=5 mm. Photos by T. Sangchun and K.Z. Hein. |
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| Detail of the spadices, each showing pistillate zone, sterile interstice, staminate zone and base of appendix (the near side of the spathe artificially removed). A. Typhonium gonos sp. nov. B. T. sinhabaedyae. Scale bars: A-B = 5 mm. Photos by T. Sangchun and K.Z. Hein. |
Typhonium gonos K.Z.Hein & Saensouk, sp. nov.
Type: THAILAND. Northern: Phrae Province, Long
District, Ta Pha Mok Subdistrict, elev. ca. 260 m, 11 May
2026, T. Uttarapong 001 (holotype: ! [spirit
collection]; isotype: VMSU! [spirit collection]).
Diagnosis: Typhonium gonos most closely resembles
T. sinhabaedyae Hett. & A.Galloway (Fig. 3B) in its
anthomorph, but differs in having a sterile interstice
bearing distantly arranged staminodes only in the middle
portion, with the lower and upper portions naked (vs.
tightly arranged staminodes restricted to the lower part of
the sterile interstice immediately above the pistillate zone
in T. sinhabaedyae), and a stigma narrower than the ovary
narrower than the ovary (vs. wider than the ovary in T.
sinhabaedyae).
Etymology: The specific epithet gonos is derived from the Greek γόνος (gonos), meaning seed, semen, or seminal fluid, in allusion to the odour reminiscent of seminal fluid emitted by the anthomorph during pistillate anthesis, and is used as a noun in apposition.
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| Details of the spadices of Typhonium gagnepainii showing variation in the shape of the staminodes (A.–C. All specimens originally collected from the same locality). Scale bars: A-C = 5 mm. Photos by K.Z. Hein. |
Khant Zaw Hein, Piyaporn Saensouk, Sarayut Rakarcha, Tri Warseno and Surapon Saensouk. 2026. Studies on Typhonium (Araceae — Areae) of Thailand VII: A New Species and a new synonym. Taiwania. 71(4); 643-648. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2026.71.643 [12 August 2026]
