全 文 ：Journal of Systematics and Evolution 46 (1): 80–88 (2008) doi: 10.3724/SP.J.1002.2008.07003
(formerly Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica) http://www.plantsystematics.com
Two new species of Curcuma (Zingiberaceae) used as
cobra-bite antidotes
1Arunrat CHAVEERACH* 1Runglawan SUDMOON 2Tawatchai TANEE
1Piya MOKKAMUL 1Nison SATTAYASAI 3Jintana SATTAYASAI
1(Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand)
2(Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahasarakham University, Mahasarakham 44000, Thailand)
3 (Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand)
Abstract Two new species of Curcuma, C. sattayasaii A. Chaveerach & R. Sudmoon and C. zedoaroides A.
Chaveerach & T. Tanee with rhizomes traditionally used for many decades as cobra-bite antidotes are described
and illustrated. Curcuma sattayasaii is similar to C. longa L., but differs in rhizome horizontally branching on
ground; coma bracts pinkish-white or pinkish-pale green; corolla pale yellow with orange tip; labellum pale
orange with an orange central band; anther crest very short, broadly ovate, wider than long. Curcuma zedoaroides
is similar to C. zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe, but differs in rhizome branching pattern; the protruding secondary
rhizomes curved down; blades oblong to oblong-lanceolate; peduncle glabrous; fertile and coma bracts glabrous;
corolla lobes pale yellow to white, lateral lobe ovate, dorsal lobe broadly ovate. The new taxa have been found in
a village of Khon Kaen Province, Northeastern Thailand.
Key words Curcuma, Curcuma sattayasaii A. Chaveerach & R. Sudmoon, Curcuma zedoaroides A. Chaveer-
ach & T. Tanee, cobra-bite antidote, new species, Khon Kaen, Thailand.
The genus Curcuma was established in 1753 by
Linnaeus. Members of the genus are represented by 60
species, and consist of 34 species in Thailand (Larsen
& Saksuwan, 2006). In 1950, 9 species were reported
from the Malay Peninsula by Holttum for The Gar-
dens’ Bulletin of Singapore. In 1966, Sirirugsa re-
ported 23 species and 7 unknown from Thailand.
Twelve species were reported by Wu and Larsen
(2000) in Flora of China with key to species and
species descriptions. In 2006, Sabu listed 20 species
from South India in his book, Zingiberaceae and
Costaceae of South India.
Many species have economic value because of
their volatile oils, showy flowers and are used as
spices, medicines, dyes, foods, perfumes, tonics, and
as tropical ornamentals. For medicinal properties,
many species of Curcuma have been used world-wide
since ancient times to today (Sirirugsa, 1996; Padua et
al., 1999). In addition to helping cure some common
diseases, Curcuma species also show some medicinal
properties for the treatment of snake bites (Ratanaba-
nangkoon et al., 1993) and as anti-tumor (Baatout et
al., 2004). Since usefulness varies with plant species,
taking the right plant is very important. Some of the
Curcuma species are well characterized, but others are
difficult to distinguish. The overall appearance of
many species is very similar as they differ in small
morphological details (Sirirugsa, 1996; Padua et al.,
1999).
There are two Curcuma species found at Ban
Khok Sa-Nga (the village in which native peoples feed
king cobra and many kinds of snakes), Khon Kaen
province in northeastern Thailand. The native tradi-
tional healers have been using the rhizomes as co-
bra-bite antidotes for a long time. The chemical
compounds of the plants are very useful for modern
medicinal treatment. Therefore, scientific identifi-
cation of the plants is critical. Morphological charac-
ters of these two plants are similar to C. longa L. and
C. zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe, respectively. How-
ever, specimens studied, A. Chaveerach 609
(BK63812), P. F. von Siebold s.n. (LEIDEN), D.
Ullrich & A. T. Gwee GW11 (SING); A. Chaveerach
614 (BK63813), P. C. Yii & S. P. Runi S60630 (KEP),
S. P. Runi et al. S67409 (KEP), J. Rantai et al. S67359
(KEP) show that there are some morphological dif-
ferences. The results of this research support that they
are different species. Botanical illustrations and
descriptions of them are given.
As mentioned by Sirirugsa (1996) and Padua et
al. (1999), the overall appearance of many species is
very similar as they differ in small morphological
details, DNA fingerprinting can be used to support the
morphological data. It is obtained from a number of
PCR-based DNA markers which have been widely
———————————
Received: 16 January 2007 Accepted: 28 March 2007
* Author for correspondence. Tel.: 66-4334-2908 ext. 209; Fax: 66-4336-
4169; E-mail: .
CHAVEERACH et al.: Two new species of Curcuma used as cobra-bite antidotes

81
used to investigate population genetics, including
random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), simple
sequence repeat (SSR), inter-simple sequence repeat
(ISSR), and amplified fragment length polymorphism
(AFLP) techniques. Each of these methods has many
advantages and limitations. ISSR markers are ex-
tremely variable and have proven to be sensitive
enough to differentiate cultivars and natural popula-
tions (Wolfe et al., 1998). DNA markers provide a
powerful tool for the understanding of genetic evolu-
tion and the breeding of crops, especially for identifi-
cation of cultivars and species (Prevost & Wilkinson,
1999) and phylogenetic evolution (Blair et al., 1999).
ISSR markers which use SSR primers to amplify the
genomic sequence between two simple sequence
repeats (ISSRs or microsatellite) have generated many
polymorphic DNA markers in several agricultural
crops (Prevost & Wilkinson, 1999).
The similarity of genetics (S) can be used to
measure the relatedness of samples (Nybom & Hall,
1991; Welsh et al., 1991). The method of depicting
the results of a phenetic analysis is by way of a
branching diagram called a dendrogram produced by
cluster analysis which is a method for grouping of
operational taxonomic units (OTUs), for instance,
morphological characters and DNA banding patterns.
The result is a branching diagram that connects all of
the OTUs and OTUs cluster at levels corresponding to
their degree of similarity. By selecting an appropriate
range of S to represent a given level in the taxonomic
hierarchy, the taxonomist may then recognize species,
genera, etc. Plant groups for which all OTUs have
similarities between 85%–100% might be recognized
as part of the same species, while a 65% criterion
might be used for genera. However, the ultimate
interpretation of the dendrogram is dependent upon
the taxonomist’s knowledge of the operational taxo-
nomic units (Rost et al., 1984).
In this research we used molecular data as OTUs
for dendrogram construction. The obtained similarity
coefficient values, together with containing cobra-bite
antidotes, can be used to support morphological data
for plant identification.
1 Material and methods
1.1 Plant materials
Two individuals of each studied plant, Curcuma
longa, C. cf. longa (C. sattayasaii A. Chaveerach &
R. Sudmoon, local name: Waan Phaya Ngu Tuaphu),
C. zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe, C. cf. zedoaria (C.
zedoaroides A. Chaveerach & T. Tanee, local name:
Waan Phaya Ngu Tuamia), and C. aeruginosa Roxb.
as outgroup in the analysis were taken from areas and
neighboring villages about 30–40 km from the first for
DNA extraction.
1.2 DNA extraction
Total genomic DNA was extracted using a modi-
fied CTAB procedure (Porebski et al., 1997). The
approximate DNA concentration was determined
using a spectrophotometer (UV-160A, Shimadzu).
1.3 PCR with ISSR primers
Amplification was carried out in a 25 µL reaction
consisting of reaction buffer, 2 mmol/L of MgCl2, 0.2
mmol/L each of dNTPs, 0.5 µmol/L of primer, 1.25
units of DNA polymerase (Invitrogen), and 5 ng of
DNA template. The 16 out of 36 ISSR primers that
succeed in amplifying clear bands are as follows:
(AG)7AA, (AG)7AAC, (AG)7AAG, (AG)8T, (AG)8C,
(GA)6CC, (GA)6GG, (CA)6AC, (CA)6GT, (CA)6AG,
(CA)9A, (GT)6CC, CCCC(GT)6, (CAC)3GC, (GAG)3
GC, (GACA)4.
The reaction mixture was incubated at 94 ˚C for
3 min and the amplification was performed with the
following thermal cycles: 35 cycles of denaturation at
94 ˚C for 1 min, annealing at annealing temperature of
each primer ((AG)7AA at 52 ˚C, (AG)7AAC at 55 ˚C,
(AG)7AAG at 55 ˚C, (AG)8T at 55 ˚C, (AG)8C at 58
˚C, (GA)6CC at 52 ˚C, (GA)6GG at 52 ˚C, (CA)6AC at
49 ˚C, (CA)6GT at 49 ˚C, (CA)6AG at 49 ˚C, (CA)9A
at 58 ˚C, (GT)6CC at 52 ˚C, CCCC(GT)6 at 60 ˚C,
(CAC)3GC at 45 ˚C, (GAG)3GC at 45 ˚C, (GACA)4 at
55 ˚C) for 2 min, extension at 72 ˚C for 2 min, and a
final extension for 7 min at 72 ˚C. All amplification
reactions were repeated at least two times using a PCR
machine (Gene Amp PCR system 9700, Applied
Biosystems). Amplified products were detected by
agarose gel electrophoresis in TAE buffer (0.4 mol/L
Tris, 0.114% acetic acid, 1 mmol/L EDTA pH 8.0)
and visualized by ethidium bromide staining.
1.4 Data analysis
Data points are the presence (1)/absence (0) of
each distinct band across all samples for the same
primer. These 0/1 data are then subjected to the DNA
Fingerprinting II (Bio Rad) Pearson correlation pro-
gram for dendrogram construction for cluster analysis.
2 Results and discussion
2.1 Molecular analysis
Molecular analysis was performed to obtain more
evidence to characterize the plants as different taxo-
nomic units. PCR using ISSR primers was selected
since it shows good results in identification of many
Journal of Systematics and Evolution Vol. 46 No. 1 2008 82
plants (Wolfe & Liston, 1998; Yamagishi et al.,
2002).
The 16 ISSR primers generated a total of 947
bands with sizes ranging from 200 to 2000 base pairs.
In all ten individuals studied, there are species-specific
profiles (Fig. 1). Banding markers of all individuals
studied were obtained, including the outgroup species
Curcuma aeruginosa (Fig. 2). The dendrogram (Fig.
3) indicates that there are actually five species within
the ten studied individuals. Similarity values (Table 1)
of C. longa and C. sattayasaii range from 58.9% to
66.2%, whereas those of C. zedoaria and C. zedoar-
oides range from 55.1% to 61.4%.
In this research, C. aeruginosa was included
since it is in the same genus but shows different
morphological characters from the two pairs of plants.
All known samples of Curcuma species are separated
from each other with the S values less than 75%

















Fig. 1. ISSR fingerprints of all studied plants with primer (AG)8C,
showing species-specific profile.
















Fig. 2. ISSR markers (arrows) of ten studied individuals generated
from primer (GAG)3GC.


Fig. 3. Dendrogram constructed from 16-ISSR primers (Finger-
printing II, Bio Rad), illustrating the possible relationship of studied
plants. Numerical on each branch is a cophenetic correlation value.

(Table 1, Fig. 3). The results indicate suitability of the
PCR procedure. Moreover, C. longa and C. satta-
yasaii, as well as C. zedoaria and C. zedoaroides, are
well separated by the dendrogram. Therefore, C.
sattayasaii and C. zedoaroides are assigned to the
genus Curcuma but are considered different species,
although they look almost alike.
2.2 Pharmacological properties
The pharmacological properties of the species are
also different. Curcuma sattayasaii and C. zedoar-
oides have anti-cobra venom activity whereas C.
longa and C. zedoaria do not or show very low activ-
ity (data not shown), so villagers can not use them as
cobra-bite antidotes. Although the mentioned charac-
ters and activity may vary due to environmental
factors, season and soil type, the differences were still
observed in plants taken from the same place at the
same period of time. The anti-venom properties of
these plants will be reported in an upcoming publica-
tion.
3 Taxonomic treatment
1. Curcuma sattayasaii A. Chaveerach & R. Sud-
moon (Vernacular name: Waan Phaya Ngu Tuaphu),
sp. nov. Fig. 4; Fig. 6: A, B
Species nova haec est similis C. longae L., a qua
rhizomate ramos rectos in terra emittente, bracteis
veternis subroseo-albis vel viridi-roseis claris, foliis
flavis claris cum cuspidibus flavo-luteis, labello
luteolo, ejus fascia media lutea, antherae crista curta
late ovata latiore quam longiore differt.
Thailand. Khon Kaen: Nam Phong district, Ban
Khok Sa-Nga (the King Cobra village), alt. 200 m, A.
Chaveerach 609 (BK63812), 2001-07-20 (holotype,
BK; isotype, BKF).
Terrestrial rhizomatous herb. Rhizome branched,
CHAVEERACH et al.: Two new species of Curcuma used as cobra-bite antidotes

83
Table 1 The percentage of similarity values of each studied pair
Curcuma longa 1 100
C. longa 2 94.4 100
C. sattayasaii 1 58.9 62.1 100
C. sattayasaii 2 63.9 66.2 77.9 100
C. zedoaria 1 64.9 66.0 61.9 46.6 100
C. zedoaria 2 73.1 74.0 57.6 47.4 88.2 100
C. zedoaroides 1 57.4 60.6 56.3 58.8 61.6 55.1 100
C. zedoaroides 2 58.7 62.4 59.4 62.3 59.9 61.4 89.4 100
C. aeruginosa 1 73.4 74.0 40.5 50.7 59.1 62.9 62.5 62.5 100
C. aeruginosa 2 66.7 67.3 37.7 50.8 50.0 54.0 56.8 56.1 91.3 100


main rhizome conical, 8.0–10.0 cm long and 1.5–2.5
cm in diameter, secondary rhizome cylinder, 1.0–1.5
cm in diameter, horizontal, externally brownish-
yellow, internally deep orange-yellow, fragrant. Root
fibrous. Pseudostem up to 70–100 cm tall. Leaves
annual, 5–6, leaf sheaths 30–50 cm long, green,
glabrous. Petiole slender, 15.0–35.0 cm long. Ligule
very short, 2–3 mm long, membranous, apex emargi-
nate. Leaf blades oblong to oblong-lanceolate, both
sides glabrous, 30–45×7–13 cm, base cuneate, apex
acute to acuminate. Inflorescences terminal, 16–17 cm
long, peduncles 30–31 cm long, glabrous. Bracts
imbricate; fertile bracts 12–17, broadly ovate, 4.0–5.0
×3.2–3.5 cm, saccate, pale green to pale yellow with
greenish tip, apex acute, basal adnated ca. 1/3 of the
length, both sides glabrous, 2–3 flowered per bract,
coma bracts 4–7, elliptic, 5.8–7.0×3.0–3.5 cm, pink-
ish-white or pinkish-pale green, base saccate, basal
adnated ca. 1/5 of the length. Bracteoles elliptic,
2.5–3.0×1.8–2.2 cm, white, glabrous. Calyx tubular,
membranous, pubescent, 0.6–0.8×0.2–0.3 cm, apex
irregularly trilobed, lobe apex rounded, slit down on
one side ca. 3 mm long. Corolla tube 2.0–2.3 cm long,
pale yellow to white, 3-lobed; dorsal lobe broadly
ovate, 1.7–2.0×1.5–1.7 cm, pale yellow to white,
saccate, apex hooded and mucronate 2–3 mm long,
glabrous, lateral lobe ovate, 1.7–2.2×1.0–1.2 cm, apex
round, pale yellow to white, glabrous. Labellum
obovate, light orange with a median orange band from
the base to apex, 2.2–2.5×1.8–2.0 cm, apex slightly
trilobed with distal part of median lobe bilobed.
Lateral staminodes oblong, 0.8–0.9×0.5–0.6 cm, light
orange, apex round. Stamen 1, filament flat, ca. 1.0
cm long, base adnated to lateral staminodes. Anther
versatile, 4–5×2–3 mm, 2 long spurs basal, dorsally
pubescent. Anther crest very short, broadly ovate,
wider than long, 3.0×1.5–2 mm, white, glabrous.
Ovary inferior, pubescent, 3-locular, axillary placenta-
tion. Style 1, filiform, ca. 3 cm long beyond the ovary,
stigma cup-shaped, 4-lobed, ostiole ciliated. Epigy-
nous glands 2, narrowly oblong, 4 mm long, light
yellow. Fruit not found. Flowering from July to
September.
Curcuma sattayasaii is similar to C. longa, but
differs in the following characters: rhizome horizon-
tally branching on ground; coma bracts pinkish-white
or pinkish-pale green; corolla pale yellow with orange
tip; labellum pale orange with an orange central band;
anther crest very short, broadly ovate, wider than long.
Distribution: This species has been cultivated on
open areas of home gardens with moist clay soil and
under the shade of trees at an altitude of 200 m at Ban
Khok Sa Nga and a few neighboring villages, Nam
Phong district, Khon Kaen Province in northeastern
Thailand.
Notes: Curcuma sattayasaii is similar to C. longa
in the following characters: rhizome branched, inter-
nal yellow; leaf blades green, oblong or elliptic;
inflorescences terminal, labellum with central band,
obovate. The vernacular name of this new species is
“Waan Phaya Ngu Tuaphu” according to the tradi-
tional healers. Several members of the Zingiberaceae
and those of Amaryllidaceae, Liliaceae, Araceae,
Orchidaceae and Iridaceae, form an ethnobotanically
important plant group known in Thai as “waan”. This
term refers to the underground storage roots or stem.
The word “Phaya Ngu” in Thai means “king cobra”,
while the word “Tuaphu” means “male”, so in this
case it means “male king cobra ginger”. The specific
epithet of this new species is named following the
family name of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nison Sattayasai and
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jintana Sattayasai who have previ-
ously studied its active ingredient including quality,
quantity, activity for anti-venom property and struc-
ture. From their observation and hypothesis, these two
new species are different species from the two most
similar species, C. longa and C. zedoaria. This is the
beginning of our molecular research and analyses
supporting the morphology of these plants.
Journal of Systematics and Evolution Vol. 46 No. 1 2008 84


Fig. 4. Curcuma sattayasaii A. Chaveerach & R. Sudmoon. A, rhizome with lower part of pseudostem; B, an inflorescence developed on pseu-
dostem; C, upper part of an inflorescence; D, fertile bract; E, coma bract; F, bracteole; G, side view of a flower; H, front view of a flower with calyx
tube and ovary; I, calyx tube with ovary; J, long section of a flower; K, dorsal lobe; L, lateral lobe; M, upper part of a dorsal lobe (side view); N,
upper part of a lateral lobe (side view); O, labellum; P, anther basal with 2 long spurs, stigma and style (front view); Q, anther basal with 2 long spurs,
anther crest, stigma and style (side view); R, stigma; S, ovary with epigenous glands. Drawing by Piya Mokkamul.
CHAVEERACH et al.: Two new species of Curcuma used as cobra-bite antidotes

85


Fig. 5. Curcuma zedoaroides A. Chaveerach & T. Tanee. A, rhizome with an inflorescence; B, upper part of an inflorescence; C, fertile bract; D,
coma bract; E, bracteole; F, side view of a flower with calyx tube and ovary; G, front view of a flower; H, calyx tube with ovary; I, dorsal lobe; J,
lateral lobe; K, upper part of a dorsal lobe (side view); L, upper part of a lateral lobe (side view); M, lateral staminodes; N, labellum; O, front view of
an anther basal with 2 long spurs, stigma and style; P, side view of an anther; Q, stigma; R, ovary with epigenous glands. Drawing by Piya Mokka-
mul.
Journal of Systematics and Evolution Vol. 46 No. 1 2008 86




































Fig. 6. A, B. Curcuma sattayasaii A. Chaveerach & R. Sudmoon. A, An inflorescence developed on pseudostem. B, Rhizomes. C, D, C.
zedoaroides A. Chaveerach & T. Tanee. C, Inflorescences; D, Rhizomes. Photographs by Tawatchai Tanee.


2. Curcuma zedoaroides A. Chaveerach & T. Tanee
(Vernacular name: Waan Phaya Ngu Tuamia), sp.
nov. Fig. 5; Fig. 6: C, D
Species nova haec est similis C. zedoariae
(Christm.) Roscoe, a qua rhizomatibus secundariis e
rhizomatis primarii gemmis axillaribus nascentibus
supra ea secundaria positis vel ex eis leviter remotis
ad terram curvatis, foliorum laminis oblongis vel
oblongo-lanceolatis, pedunculo glabro, bracteis
fertilibus utrinque glabris, bractais comae glabris,
corollae lobis luteolis vel albis, eis lateralibus ovatis,
eis dorsalibus late ovatis distinguitur.
Thailand. Khon Kaen: Nam Phong district, Ban
Khok Sa-Nga (the King Cobra village), alt. 200 m, A.
Chaveerach 614 (BK63813), 2001-07-20 (holotype,
BK; isotype, BKF).
Terrestrial rhizomatous herb, perennial. Pseu-
dostems up to 70–100 cm tall, roots fibrous, some
expanded to ovoid or conical tubers at the apex.
Rhizomes branched; primary rhizome erect, broadly
conical, 10.0–12.0×3.0–5.0 cm, secondary rhizome
cylinder, 8.0–10.0×2.5–3.0 cm, developed from
axillary bud on primary rhizome, growing down-
wards, external pale greenish and silver glance, inter-
nal pale yellow in dry season and pale green to yellow
in rainy season, fragrant. Leaves annual, 5–7, leaf
CHAVEERACH et al.: Two new species of Curcuma used as cobra-bite antidotes

87
sheaths 25–40 cm long, green, glabrous. Ligules very
short, 2–3 mm long, apex shallowly bilobed. Petioles
slender, 8.0–12.0 cm long or more. Leaf blades ob-
long to oblong-lanceolate, 70–100×15–18 cm, upper
surface glabrous, green with a reddish-purple patch
along the midrib, lower surface hairy. Inflorescences
developed on sides of primary rhizomes, erect,
15.0–18.0 cm long; peduncles 25.0–28.0 cm long,
basal with 4–5 sheaths, elliptic, 3.5–6.5×2.0–2.3 cm,
apex emarginated and mucro ca 1 mm long beyond
the tip, green, both sides glabrous. Bracts imbricate,
fertile bracts15–18, broadly ovate, 4.2–5.0×3.2–3.5
cm, saccate, green, both sides glabrous, base connated
ca. 1/3 of the length, apex round or acute with purple
margin, 3–8 flowered per bract, coma bract 4–7,
ovate-oblong, 5.8–7.0×3.2–3.5 cm, base connated ca.
1/5 of the length, apex obtuse, dark pink, both sides
glabrous; bracteoles elliptic-ovate, ca. 1.0 cm long,
apex rounded, membranous, white, both sides gla-
brous. Calyx tubular, 0.5–0.7×0.2–0.3 cm, membra-
nous, pubescent, apex irregularly trilobed, lobe apex
rounded, split down on one side 1.0–2.0 mm. Corolla
tube 2.0–2.3 cm long, pale yellow to white, 3-lobed,
pale yellow to white; dorsal lobe broadly ovate,
1.7–2.0×1.5–1.7 cm, saccate, apex hooded and
mucronate 0.2–0.3 cm long, outer side sparsely pu-
bescent, inner side glabrous, lateral lobes ovate,
1.8–2.1×1.0–1.2 cm, both sides glabrous, apex
rounded; labellum obovate, 2.0–2.2×1.6–1.8 cm, pale
yellow with a dark yellow band at the middle along
the base to apex, apex slightly trilobed. Lateral stami-
nodes oblong, 1.0–1.2×0.5–0.6 cm, apex rounded,
pale yellow. Stamen 1, filament flat, 0.8–1.0 cm long,
base adnated to lateral staminodes, anther versatile,
0.4–0.5×0.2–0.3 cm, 2 long spurs basal, dorsally
pubescent. Ovary inferior, ca. 0.2 cm long, 3-locular,
axillary placentation, pubescent. Style 1, filiform,
0.5–0.7 cm long. Stigma cup-shaped, slightly 4-lobed,
ostiole ciliated; epigenous glands 2, 4 mm long,
narrowly oblong, light yellow, apex acute. Fruit not
found. Flowering from March to May.
Curcuma zedoaroides is similar to C. zedoaria,
but differs in the following characters: Rhizome
branching pattern with secondary rhizomes developed
from axillary bud on primary rhizome in series and the
other ones developed on above or slightly deviate
from the previously old ones; the protruding secon-
dary rhizomes curved down; blades oblong to ob-
long-lanceolate; peduncle glabrous; fertile bracts
glabrous on both sides; coma bracts glabrous; corolla
lobes pale yellow to white, lateral lobe ovate, dorsal
lobe broadly ovate.
Distribution: This species has been found culti-
vated in open areas of home gardens with moist clay
soil and under the shade of trees at an altitude of 200
m, in home gardens of Ban Khok Sa Nga and a few
neighboring villages, Nam Phong district, Khon Kaen
province in Northeastern Thailand.
Note: This species is similar to C. zedoaria in the
following characters: fibrous root ends enlarged ca. 1
cm in diameter; rhizome erect, branched, external pale
yellow, silver glance, internal pale yellow; leaf blades
dark green with dark purplish along mid nerve, upper
surface glabrous, lower surface glabrous or hairy;
inflorescence developed on rhizome often appearing
before the leaves, calyx irregularly-trilobed, corolla,
staminode and labellum yellow, labellum with dark
yellow band. “Waan Phaya Ngu Tuamia” means
“female king cobra ginger” in Thai folk taxonomy
because “Tuamia” means “female”. The specific
epithet of the last one is named for its close relation to
C. zedoaria.
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