全 文 ：植 物 分 类 学 报 45 (3): 403–404(2007) doi:10.1360/aps050052
Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica http://www.plantsystematics.com
———————————
Received: 2 July 2005 Accepted: 15 August 2005
Taxonomic changes regarding three species of Zingiber
(Zingiberaceae) from Thailand
1Pramote TRIBOUN 1Pranom CHANTARANOTHAI 2Kai LARSEN
1(Applied Taxonomic Research Center, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University,
Khon Kaen, Thailand 40002)
2(The Herbarium, University of Aarhus, Building 137, Universitetsparken, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark)
Abstract Zingiber teres S. Q. Tong & Y. M. Xia and Z. xishuangbannaense S. Q. Tong are
reduced to be synonyms of Z. smilesianum Craib and Z. thorelii Gagnep., respectively. Z.
cochinchinense Gagnep. is changed to be a subspecies of Z. zerumbet (L.) Sm.
Key words new synonym, Thailand, Zingiberaceae, Zingiber, Zingiber cochinchinense,
Zingiber smilesianum, Zingiber teres, Zingiber thorelii, Zingiber xishuangbannaense, Zingiber
zerumbet, new statement.
Since the genus Zingiber was proposed by Miller (1731), more than 200 specific names
have been proposed. However most of these are superfluous, homonyms and synonyms of
earlier names. During the continuous work of the authors on the genus for the Flora of
Thailand, specimens from neighbouring countries have been examined. In this connection we
have found that variation ranges of several species are wider than what was known earlier. It
has therefore been necessary to redifine some previously known taxa.
Zingiber teres S. Q. Tong & Y. M. Xia and Z. xishuangbannaense S. Q. Tong are species
described as endemic to southern China (Tong & Xia, 1987). The former was found to be
common on high elevation in hill evergreen forests in northern and northeastern Thailand,
whereas the latter shows a wide variation in many characters such as height, colour and size
of the spike and flowers. Both species have spread from China into many regions of Thailand
except the south. Our studies have shown overlapping characters between Z. smilesianum
Craib and Z. teres and between Z. thorelii Gagnep. and Z. xishuangbannaense (Gagnepain,
1907; Craib, 1912). Therefore we propose the following nomenclatural changes.
1. Zingiber smilesianum Craib in Bull. Misc. Inform. 10: 403. 1912. Type: Thailand. Chiang
Mai, Doi Sootep (Sutep), Kerr 1311 a (lectotype, K!; isolectotypes, BM!, E!).
Z. teres S. Q. Tong & Y. M. Xia in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 25: 468. 1987, syn. nov. Type:
China. Yunnan: Monglian, S. Q. Tong & Y. M. Xia 42403 (holotype, YNTBI; isotype, KUN!).
2. Zingiber thorelii Gagnep. in Bull. Soc. Bot. France 54: 169. 1907. Type: Mekong, Thorel
2363 (lectotype, P!).
Z. xishuangbannaense S. Q. Tong, S. Q. Tong & Y. M. Xia in Acta Phytotax. Sin. 25:
461. 1987, syn. nov. Type: China. Yunnan: Mengla, S. Q. Tong 24808 (holotype, YNTBI;
isotype, KUN!).
The vegetative characters of Zingiber cochinchinense Gagnep. are very similar to those
of Z. zerumbet (L.) Sm. and, indeed, herbarium specimens are quite difficult to distinguish.
The former is a small plant, 0.4–0.9 m high while the latter is somewhat larger in size, 0.5–1.7
m high, with blades broadly lanceolate to obovate in shape and ligules entire. Moreover, they
differ in many morphological characters of the reproductive parts. For example, the spike of
Z. cochinchinense is dominantly ovate to fusiform in shape with short and slender scape while
that of Z. zerumbet is ovate, conical or ovoid-oblong with a long and vigorous scape.
Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica Vol. 45 404
However, the floral structures of both species are essentially identical. The flower size of Z.
cochinchinense is always smaller than that of Z. zerumbet. The inside of the labellum of the
former species has brown tiny patches while that of the latter species is pure cream in colour
without dot or patches.
In Thailand, Zingiber zerumbet is a common species, which has been found throughout
the country in dry evergreen forests at the sea level to seasonal evergreen forests in high
mountains up to ca. 1200 m of elevation. Z. cochinchinense, on the other hand, is found only
in dry evergreen forests in northeastern parts of the country. We accordingly propose that Z.
cochinchinense be reduced to a subspecies under Z. zerumbet.
In his description of Z. cochinchinense, Gagnepain referred to two syntypes, Thorel s.n.
from Laos at Stung-treng (Stoeng Treng now in Cambodia) and Harmand 863 from
Cochinchine at Poulo Condor (now in Vietnam). The former was chosen as a lectotype as the
specimen is better preserved than the latter.
Zingiber zerumbet (L.) Sm. ssp. cochinchinense (Gagnep.) Triboun & Larsen, stat. nov.
——Z. cochinchinense Gagnep., Bull. Soc. Bot. France 54: 167. 1907. Type: Cambodia.
Stoeng Treng, Thorel s.n. (P No. 00289146, lectotype, P!)
Acknowledgements This study was supported by the Royal Golden Jubilee Ph.D. Program
from Thailand. The first author would like to express his sincere thanks to the curators and
staff of AAU, BK, BKF, BM, C, E, K, KUN, and P for providing valuable materials and to
the Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University for providing the
excellent working condition during his study.
References
Craib W G. 1912. Contributions to the Flora of Siam, list of Siamese plants, with descriptions of new species.
Bulletin of Miscellaneous of Information, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew 10: 397–403.
Gagnepain F. 1907. Zingibéracées nouvelles de l’herbier du Muséum. Bulletin de la Societe Botanique de
France 54: 161–170.
Miller P. 1731. The Gardeners Dictionary. London: C. Rivington.
Tong S-Q, Xia Y-M. 1987. New taxa of Zingiberaceae from southern Yunnan. Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica
25: 460–471.