[Botany • 2025] Kaempferia grandis (Zingiberaceae) • A New Species from southwestern Thailand

Kaempferia grandis Noppornch.

in Nopporncharoenkul et Limtaropas, 2025. 

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Kaempferia grandis Noppornch., a new species belonging to subgen. Kaempferia and endemic to Kanchanaburi Province, southwestern Thailand, is described and illustrated. It can be easily recognised by its 1–4 leafy shoots on each rhizome; the leafy shoots being adpressed to the substrate and consisting of a solitary leaf and inflorescence; broadly ovate to suborbicular leaf blade, which is the largest of any species in subgen. Kaempferia; and the inflorescence being enclosed by a leaf sheath and a bladeless sheath. Detailed photographs of plants and dissected flowers as well as information on phenology, distribution and habitat are provided, as well as an identification key to the species of Kaempferia subgen. Kaempferia in Thailand.

𝐾𝑎𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑓𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑎 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑠 Noppornch.

เปราะยักษ์เขียว

 Nattapon Nopporncharoenkul and Chanon Limtaropas. 2025. Kaempferia grandis (Zingiberaceae), A New Species from Thailand. Ann. Bot. Fennici. 62: 307–314. 

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[Botany • 2024] Kaempferia calcicola • Cytotaxonomy of Kaempferia subgenus Protanthium (Zingiberaceae) supports A New limestone Species endemic to Thailand

   Kaempferia calcicola Noppornch.

in Nopporncharoenkul, Sukseansri, Nopun, Meewasana, Jenjittikul, Chuenboonngarm, Viboonjun et Umpunjun, 2024. 

ดอกดินเขาหินปูน  ||   DOI: 10.3372/wi.54.54201

Abstract

Thailand is the biodiversity hotspot of genus Kaempferia (Zingiberaceae) and harbours 14 species belonging to K. subgenus Protanthium. To better understand the taxonomic circumscription and verify the taxonomic status, the present characterization of cytogenetic characters included all recognized and one undescribed species of K. subg. Protanthium from Thailand. Overall, 88 accessions of plant materials were analysed cytogenetically: 84 and 42 accessions were subjected to flow cytometry and karyology, respectively. Based on genome size and mitotic chromosome numbers, 74 accessions from all species investigated were putative diploid, whereas the others were putative polyploid: triploid (three accessions) and tetraploid (11 accessions). The cytogenetic evidence indicates that 2n = 2x = 22 is the diploid number and x = 11 is the base chromosome number for K. subg. Protanthium. The genome sizes among the diploid accessions ranged from 3.687 to 6.412 pg while high intraspecific variation in genome size was observed with up to 19.4%. Two species included accessions with different ploidy levels: K. rotunda L. (diploid, triploid and tetraploid) and K. takensis Boonma & Seansouk (diploid and tetraploid). The increase in genome size of tetraploid K. rotunda is nearly in correlation to the increase in ploidy level, whereas the triploid plants represent genome expansion with an approximately 11% larger than expected genome. Interestingly, tetraploid K. takensis displays genome downsizing of 15.3% compared to their diploids. The cytogenetic characteristics, together with morphology, unequivocally clarify the taxonomic status of a new species, named Kaempferia calcicola Noppornch. A revised identification key to species of K. subg. Protanthium is provided.

KEYWORDS: chromosome number, cytogenetics, Cytotaxonomy, genome size, Kaempferia, Kaempferia subg. Protanthium, Khon Kaen province, new species, polyploidy, species circumscription, taxonomy, Thailand, Zingiberaceae

Kaempferia calcicola.
  A: habitat with plants in flowering period; B: plant habit in flowering period; C: inflorescences and flowers in top view; D: habitat with plants in rainy season; E. plant habit in rainy season.

– All photographs taken at type locality: Thailand, Khon Kaen Province, Phu Pha Man District, A: 27 Apr 2023; B, C: 6 Apr 2024; D, E: 29 Aug 2023, by N. Nopporncharoenkul.

Kaempferia calcicola Noppornch., sp. nov.  

Diagnosis — Kaempferia calcicola Noppornch. is similar to K. takensis Boonma & Seansouk in overall habit, inflorescence and floral plane, but differs by anther crest obreniform, broadly ovate, obovate to obdeltoid (vs anther crest oblong to ovate in K. takensis) with irregular undulate to crenate apex (vs bilobed to irregularly tridentate apex, usually with 2–3 small teeth between lobes in K. takensis) and labellum with an incision c. 3/5 of its length (vs labellum with an incision more than 2/3 of its length in K. takensis). It is also similar to K. lopburiensis Picheans. in inflorescence, floral plane and flower colour, but differs by prominent pseudostem upright above ground (vs pseudostem short and completely embedded in soil in K. lopburiensis), leaf blades elliptic, elliptic-oblong to lanceolate-oblong and longer petiole 3–18(–30) cm long (vs leaf blades suborbicular to ovate, adpressed on ground and subsessile petiole in K. lopburiensis).

Floral morphology of Kaempferia subg. Protanthium in Thailand
 A: K. albiflora (NNSB-546); B: K. aurora (NNSB-713); C: K. caespitosa (NNSB-733); D: K. calcicola (NNSB-903);
E: K. graminifolia (NNSB-686); F: K. grandifolia (NNSB-519); G: K. jenjittikuliae (NNSB-760); H: K. lopburiensis (NNSB-541);
I: K. noctiflora var. noctiflora (NNSB-554); J: K. noctiflora var. thepthepae (NNSB-928); K: K. rotunda (NNSB-534); L: K. simaoensis (NNSB-676);
M: K. sipraiana (NNSB-656); N: K. subglobosa (NNSB-749); O: K. takensis (NNSB-697); P: K. udonensis (NNSB-508).

 All photographs by N. Nopporncharoenkul.

Nattapon Nopporncharoenkul, Wiphada Sukseansri, Possathorn Nopun, Jiraporn Meewasana, Thaya Jenjittikul, Ngarmnij Chuenboonngarm, Unchera Viboonjun and Puangpaka Umpunjun. 2024. Cytotaxonomy of Kaempferia subg. Protanthium (Zingiberaceae) supports A New limestone Species endemic to Thailand. Willdenowia. 54(2); 149-121. DOI: 10.3372/wi.54.54201

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[Botany • 2024] Kaempferia noctiflora var. thepthepae (Zingiberaceae) • A New Taxon from Thailand

 Kaempferia noctiflora var. thepthepae Noppornch. & Somnoo,

in Nopporncharoenkul, Jenjittikul, Somnoo, Meewasana et Tanming, 2024.

DOI: 10.5735/085.061.0112 

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Taxonomic study of Kaempferia subgen. Protanthium (Zingiberaceae) is difficult due to a high degree of intraspecific morphological variation in several species and the implied morphological overlap among the currently recognized species. Herein, we clarify the taxonomic circumscription of K. noctiflora, a rare species endemic to Chiang Mai Province (N Thailand), by describing Kaempferia noctiflora var. thepthepae Noppornch. & Somnoo, var. nova. It differs from K. noctiflora var. noctiflora especially by the labellum colouration and flowering time. The diagnostic characters of this novel variety are discussed and compared with those of morphologically similar taxa. Images of the plants, habit and dissected flowers, and information on the phenology, distribution and ecology are provided. Kaempferia noctiflora var. noctiflora and var. thepthepae are considered Vulnerable and Endangered, respectively.

 

  

Nattapon Nopporncharoenkul, Thaya Jenjittikul, Thunchanok Somnoo, Jiraporn Meewasana, Wattana Tanming. 2024. Kaempferia noctiflora var. thepthepae (Zingiberaceae), A New Taxon from Thailand.  Ann. Bot. Fennici. 61: 79–92. DOI: 10.5735/085.061.0112

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 “เปราะนพรัตน์” (K. noctiflora var. thepthepae Noppornch. & Somnoo) พืชเฉพาะถิ่นของไทยพันธุ์ใหม่ของโลก อยู่ในวงศ์ขิงข่า สกุลเปราะหอม สกุลย่อยดอกดิน (Protanthium) มีสถานะทางอนุกรมวิธานเป็น พันธุ์ (variety) ของเปราะชนิด “เปราะราตรี, เปราะใบม่วง” (Kaempferia noctiflora Noppornch. & Jenjitt.) พบเฉพาะ อ.ดอยสะเก็ด และ อ.สันกำแพง จ.เชียงใหม่ เท่านั้น ผลงานการค้นพบได้ถูกตีพิมพ์ลงวารสาร Annales Botanici Fennici ฉบับที่ 61 เมื่อวันที่ 7 มี.ค. 2567

เปราะราตรี จัดจำแนกย่อยเป็น 2 พันธุ์ (variety) ตามช่วงเวลาการบานและสีของกลีบปากที่แตกต่างกัน

เปราะราตรี - Kaempferia noctiflora var. noctiflora 

เปราะนพรัตน์ - K. noctiflora  var. thepthepae Noppornch. & Somnoo. 

รายงานการค้นพบโดย ทีมนักวิจัยจากองค์การพิพิธภัณฑ์วิทยาศาสตร์แห่งชาติ - NSM นำโดย ดร.ณัฐพล นพพรเจริญกุล นักวิชาการกองวิชาการพฤกษศาสตร์ สำนักวิชาการพิพิธภัณฑ์ธรรมชาติวิทยา NSM และ ผศ.ดร.ทยา เจนจิตติกุล ภาควิชาพฤกษศาสตร์ คณะวิทยาศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล น.ส.ธัญชนก สมหนู นักศึกษาระดับปริญญาโท ภาควิชาชีววิทยา คณะวิทยาศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยขอนแก่น น.ส.จิราภรณ์ มีวาสนา นักวิชาการป่าไม้ชำนาญการพิเศษ สำนักบริหารพื้นที่อนุรักษ์ที่ 16 กรมอุทยานแห่งชาติ สัตว์ป่าและพันธุ์พืช และดร.วัฒนา ตันมิ่ง สวนพฤกษศาสตร์สมเด็จพระนางเจ้าสิริกิติ์ 

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[Botany • 2024] Kaempferia subglobosa • Taxonomic Revision of some taxa in Kaempferia subgenus Protanthium (Zingiberaceae) revealing A New Species from Thailand and two new synonyms

Kaempferia subglobosa Noppornch. & Jenjitt.,  

in Nopporncharoenkul et Jenjittikul, 2024. 

ดอกดินไข่ปลา  ||  DOI: 10.3767/blumea.2024.69.01.03

Abstract 

Kaempferia subglobosa (Zingiberaceae) is described and illustrated as a new species of Kaempferia subg. Protanthium from Tak Province, northern Thailand. It can easily be distinguished from all other species of subg. Protanthium by having branched storage roots with numerous, tiny, lateral and terminal subglobose to ovoid tubers. The diagnostic characters of this taxon are discussed and compared with those of the morphologically most similar species K. rotunda. Detailed photographs of plants and dissected flowers, and information on phenology, distribution and ecology, are provided. Interestingly, a red dwarf honeybee, Apis florea, is likely a pollinator. The IUCN conservation status of Vulnerable is assigned for K. subglobosa. In addition, the names K. uttaraditensis and K. kamthornii are synonymized with K. albiflora and K. takensis, respectively. As a result of this taxonomic revision, the Flora of Thailand currently harbours 14 species of the subgenus of which 9 strictly endemic. Two alternative updated identification keys for Kaempferia subg. Protanthium are also presented.

Keywords: Kaempferia albiflora; Kaempferia rotunda; Kaempferia subglobosa; Kaempferia takensis; Zingiberaceae; endemic species; northern Thailand; taxonomic revision

Kaempferia subglobosa Noppornch. & Jenjitt.
a. Habit of vegetative part (a1: detail of ligules); b. rhizome and inflorescence; c. flower in front view; d. flower in side views; e. calyx; f. floral tube with ovary and stamen in front and side view; g. dorsal corolla lobe; h. lateral corolla lobes; i. lateral staminodes; j. labellum; k. detail of stamens and anther crests in front and side view; l. pistil; m. detail of stigma with upper part of style in front and side view; n. ovary with epigynous glands and lower part of style; o. fruit; p. seeds (all: Nattapon Nopporncharoenkul NNSB-749, QBG).

— Drawing by Sunitsorn Pimpasalee.

Kaempferia subglobosa Noppornch. & Jenjitt.
a. Inflorescence and rhizome; b. habit; c. detail of ligules; d. rhizome with fascicled storage roots and numerous subglobose tubers; e. flower in front and side view; f. calyx (inset: detail of calyx apex); g. floral tube with ovary and stamen in front and side view; h. flower dissection (dc. dorsal corolla lobe; l. labellum; lc. lateral corolla lobe; ls. lateral staminode); i. detail of stamens and anther crests in front and side view; j. detail of pistil (from left to right: pistil; stigma and style in front and side view; ovary with epigynous glands); k. fruit; l. seeds (all: Nattapon Nopporncharoenkul NNSB-749, QBG).

— Photos by N. Nopporncharoenkul.

Kaempferia subglobosa Noppornch. & Jenjitt. at the type locality.
a. Habit of the plants in flowering period (19 May 2023); b. habit of the plants in rainy season (11 Sept. 2019);
c. flowers; d. flower with suspected pollinator red dwarf honeybee (Apis florea Fabricius, 1787); e. infructescence with dehisced capsules.

(a, c–e: Nattapon Nopporncharoenkul NNSB-916, b: Nattapon Nopporncharoenkul NNSB-749; all QBG)

— Photos by N. Nopporncharoenkul

Kaempferia subglobosa Noppornch. & Jenjitt., sp. nov. 

(subg. Protanthium) 

Similar to Kaempferia rotunda L. in overall habit, inflorescences and flower colour, but differs in having the branched storage roots with numerous, tiny, lateral and terminal subglobose to ovoid tubers (vs storage roots not branched, consisting of a single, large, terminal fusiform, ellipsoid to ovoid tuber), ligules 7–14 mm long, opaque (vs ligules 1–3(–5) mm long, translucent), labellum narrowly obovate with an incision around 1/3 of its length (vs labellum obdeltoid to broadly obovate with an incision around 1/2 of its length), and the anther crest bifid apex with apices aristate, incision serrate to undulate, incision base angular (vs anther crest bilobed apex with apices acute, incision entire, usually with 2–3 small teeth between incision base).

 Etymology. The specific epithet ‘subglobosa’ refers to the unique characteristic of the species, the branched storage roots with numerous, tiny subglobose tubers absent in all known taxa belonging to Kaempferia subg. Protanthium. 

  

 Nattapon Nopporncharoenkul and Thaya Jenjittikul. 2024. Taxonomic Revision of some taxa in Kaempferia subgenus Protanthium (Zingiberaceae) revealing A New Species from Thailand and two new synonyms.   Blumea - Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants.  DOI: 10.3767/blumea.2024.69.01.03

[Botany • 2021] Kaempferia jenjittikuliae (Kaempferia Subg. Protanthium: Zingiberaceae) • A New, Endangered Species Endemic to Thailand

ดอกดินทยา  ||  Kaempferia jenjittikuliae Noppornch.,

in Nopporncharoenkul, Somnoo, Tanming & Maknoi, 2021.

  journals.rbge.org.uk/EJB 

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ABSTRACT

Kaempferia jenjittikuliae, a new species of Kaempferia subg. Protanthium (Zingiberaceae) from Central–Northeastern Thailand, is described and illustrated. The diagnostic characters of this novel taxon are discussed and compared with those of the morphologically similar species Kaempferia lopburiensis, K. rotunda and K. udonensis. Detailed photographs of plants and dissected flowers, and information on phenology, distribution and ecology, are provided. A preliminary IUCN conservation assessment of Critically Endangered (CR) is assigned.

Keywords: Anther crest, Critically Endangered, floral morphology, Kaempferia lopburiensis, Kaempferia rotunda, new species, Phetchabun Province

Kaempferia jenjittikuliae Noppornch., sp. nov.
A, Habit (vegetative part); B, rhizome and inflorescence; C, flower (front view); D, flower (front and side views); E, calyx and detail of apex; F, dorsal corolla lobe; G, lateral corolla lobe; H, lateral staminode; I, labellum; J, detail of stamen (front and side views) and four apices of anther crest, showing variation in shape; K, detail of stigma with upper part of style (front and side views); L, ovary with epigynous glands and lower part of style (front and side views); M, fruit; N, seed with laciniate aril.

Drawn from the holotype, accession N. Nopporncharoenkul NNSB-760 (QBG), by N. Nopporncharoenkul.

Kaempferia jenjittikuliae Noppornch., sp. nov.
A and B, Plants in habitat (type locality, Chon Daen District, Phetchabun Province, Thailand); C–E, flowers with various shapes of anther crest (accession 20130454, QBG-living collections).

Photographs taken by N. Nopporncharoenkul and T. Somnoo.

Kaempferia jenjittikuliae Noppornch., sp. nov.
A, Inflorescence and rhizome; B, habit (inset: detail of ligule and base of midrib [left] and detail of leaf sheath [right]); C, flower (front and side views); D, calyx and floral tube with ovary and stamen (front and side views); E, flower dissection (dc, dorsal corolla lobe; l, labellum; lc, lateral corolla lobe; ls, lateral staminode); F, detail of anther and anther crest (front and side views); G, detail of pistil (from left to right: pistil, stigma and style [front and side views], and ovary with epigynous glands); H, fruit and seeds with a fleshy semi-translucent white, laciniate aril.

 Photographs of the holotype, accession N. Nopporncharoenkul NNSB-760 (QBG), taken by N. Nopporncharoenkul.

Kaempferia jenjittikuliae Noppornch., sp. nov. 

Similar to Kaempferia lopburiensis Picheans. and K. udonensis Picheans. & Phokham in its habit and leafy shoot, but differs by its upright to slightly arcuate lateral staminodes, deflexed distal half of the labellum, flat labellum base, and incision around half the length of the labellum (compared with horizontal staminodes and labellum, involute labellum base enclosing the anther, and incision more than two-thirds the length of the labellum in K. lopburiensis and K. udonensis). It is also similar to Kaempferia rotunda L. in its floral shape, but differs in its broadly ovate to suborbicular leaves adpressed to the ground and ovate, broadly elliptic to obdeltoid anther crest with irregular trilobed to tetralobed apex (compared with lanceolate-oblong to elliptic, upright leaves and oblong to ovate anther crest with bifid to bilobed apex, usually with 1–3 small teeth between the lobes in K. rotunda). 

– Type: Thailand, Phetchabun Province, Chon Daen District, .., 270 m elevation, 19 v 2020, N. Nopporncharoenkul NNSB-760 (holotype QBG!, including flowers preserved in spirit as part of a single specimen; isotype BK!, including flowers preserved in spirit, BKF!, E!, SING!). 

A–C, Kaempferia lopburiensis (accession N. Nopporncharoenkul NNSB-541, type locality, Amphoe Mueang, Lopburi Province): A, flower (front view); B, flower (side view); C, habit.
D–F, Kaempferia udonensis (accession N. Nopporncharoenkul NNSB-508, Sai Yok, Kanchanaburi Province): D, flower (front view); E, flower (side view); F, habit.
G–I, Kaempferia rotunda (accession N. NopporncharoenkulNNSB-660, Wang Thong, Phitsanulok Province): G, flower (front view); H, flower (side view); I, habit.

Photographs taken by N. Nopporncharoenkul.

Etymology. The specific epithet, jenjittikuliae, is designated in honour of Dr Thaya Jenjittikul, a ginger specialist at the Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, who has been working on Thai Zingiberaceae, especially the genus Kaempferia, for over 20 years.

Vernacular name. We propose the Thai name dok din Thaya - ดอกดินทยา (dok din = flower that occurs on the ground, Thaya = the first name of Dr Thaya Jenjittikul).

Distribution. Kaempferia jenjittikuliae is strictly endemic to the limestone area of Chon Daen District, Phetchabun Province, Central–Northeastern Thailand.

Ecology. It grows in fine loam soil with rocks under semi-shaded mixed deciduous forest with bamboo, close to the foothills at 250–270 m a.s.l.

Currently, 13 species are recognised in Kaempferia subg. Protanthium, namely K. rotunda L. (Linnaeus, 1753); K. simaoensis Y.Y.Qian (Qian, 1995; Nopporncharoenkul et al., 2016); K. grandifolia Saensouk & Jenjitt. (Saensouk & Jenjittikul, 2001); K. lopburiensis Picheans. (Picheansoonthon, 2010); K. udonensis Picheans. & Phokham, K. xiengkhouangensis Picheans. & Phokham (Phokham et al., 2013); K noctiflora Noppornch. & Jenjitt. (Nopporncharoenkul & Jenjittikul, 2017); K. graminifolia Noppornch. & Jenjitt. (Nopporncharoenkul & Jenjittikul, 2018); K. albiflora Jenjitt. & Ruchis. (Jenjittikul & Ruchisansakun, 2020); K. aurora Noppornch. & Jenjitt.; K. caespitosa Noppornch. & Jenjitt. (Nopporncharoenkul et al., 2020); K. kamolwaniae Picheans., Meechonk. & Wongsuwan (Wongsuwan et al., 2020); and K. takensis Boonma & Saensouk (Boonma et al., 2020). One of these, Kaempferia xiengkhouangensis, is a species endemic to Laos; the other taxa have been found in Thailand (Sirirugsa, 1992; Larsen & Larsen, 2006; Phokham et al., 2013; Boonma et al., 2020; Nopporncharoenkul et al., 2020).

      

N. Nopporncharoenkul, T. Somnoo, W. Tanming and C. Maknoi. 2021. Kaempferia jenjittikuliae (Kaempferia Subg. Protanthium: Zingiberaceae), A New, Endangered Species Endemic to Thailand. Edinburgh Journal of Botany. 78; 1-13. journals.rbge.org.uk/EJB/article/view/350

DOI: 10.24823/EJB.2021.350 

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ดอกดินทิพยเนตร (K. rotunda L.) ดอกดินปากเหลือง (K. simaoensis Y.Y.Qian)

ตูบหมูบใบใหญ่ (K. grandifolia Saensouk & Jenjitt.) เปราะลพบุรี (K. lopburiensis Picheans.)

เปราะหูช้าง (K. udonensis Picheans. & Phokham) เปราะราตรี (K. noctiflora Noppornch. & Jenjitt.)

ดอกดินใบข้าว (K. graminifolia Noppornch. & Jenjitt.) ดอกดินอรุณรุ่ง (K. aurora Noppornch. & Jenjitt.)

ดอกดินผาสุก (K. caespitosa Noppornch. & Jenjitt.) ดอกดินกลมวรรณ (K. kamolwaniae Picheans., Meechonk. & Wongsuwan)

เปราะแมงมุม (K. albiflora Jenjitt. & Ruchis.) และ เปราะยักษ์ (Kaempferia sp.)