Phytotaxa 418 (2): 158–170
https://www.mapress.com/j/pt/
Copyright © 2019 Magnolia Press
ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition)
Article
PHYTOTAXA
ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition)
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.418.2.2
Taxonomic studies on Amomum Roxburgh s.l. (Zingiberaceae) in MyanmarⅠ:
Two new species and two new records for the flora of Myanmar
HONG-BO DING1,2, SHI-SHUN ZHOU1,2, BIN YANG1,2, REN LI1,2, MYA BHONE MAW1,2, KYAW WIN MAUNG3
& YUN-HONG TAN1,2*
1
Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences & Center for Integrative Conservation, Xishuangbanna
Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla, Yunnan 666303, P.R. China
2
Center of Conservation Biology, Core Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Menglun, Mengla,Yunnan 666303, P.R. China
3
Forest Research Institute, Forest Department, Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry, Yezin, Nay Pyi Taw 05282,
Myanmar
*
Author for correspondence. E-mail: tyh@xtbg.org.cn
Abstract
Two taxa of Amomum (Zingiberaceae), Amomum erythranthum and Amomum ampliflorum, from Putao, Kachin State of
Northern Myanmar are described and illustrated as new to science. Amomum erythranthum is morphologically similar to A.
subulatum and A. nimkeyense in having similar yellow flowers, but can be distinguished by its reddish floral tube, red anther
connective, red and pubescent fruit. Amomum ampliflorum is similar to A. maximum, A. dealbatum and A. odontocarpum
in white flower, but differs in its longer inflorescence and much larger flower. Two species, Amomum pauciflorum and
Wurfbainia microcarpum are recorded for the flora of Myanmar for the first time. Data on ecology, phenology, distribution,
conservation status, similarities to the related taxa, as well as colour photographs and line drawings of the type, and voucher
specimens are provided for all reported taxa.
Keywords: Amomum, Myanmar, Taxonomy, new records, Zingiberaceae
Introduction
The pantropical Zingiberaceae is the largest family in the monophyletic order Zingiberales with 53 genera and more
than 1377 species (Kress et al. 2002, Pederson 2004, Kong et al. 2010). Amomum Roxburgh s.l. (1820: 75) is the
second largest genus in the family Zingiberaceae with about 150–180 species (Xia et al. 2004, Thomas et al. 2016).
It is distributed from the Himalayas throughout Southeast Asia to northern Australia and extends into the central
Pacific (Tripathi & Prakash 1999, Xia et al. 2004, Kaewsri & Paisooksantivatana 2007), the centre of endemism
being the forests of Southeast Asia (Droop & Newman 2014). Based on molecular phylogenetic analyses by de Boer
et al. (2018), Amomum Roxburgh s.l. are now categorised into seven monophyletic genera namely Amomum s.s.,
Conamomum Ridley (1899: 121), Meistera Giseke (1792: 205), Wurfbainia Giseke (1792: 206), Epiamomum A.D.
Poulsen & Škorničková (2018: 22), Lanxangia M.F. Newman & Škorničková (2018: 23) and Sundamomum A.D.
Poulsen & M.F. Newman (2018: 27).
Myanmar constitutes a significant component of the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot with elements of the
India, the Indochina, and the Sino-Japanese floristic regions (Van Dijk et al. 2004, Tanaka 2010, Ito & Tanaka 2014).
Considering the richness of Amomum Roxburgh s.l. species of adjacent countries (i.e. China: ca. 39 species (Wu &
Larsen 2000), India: ca. 32 species (Thomas & Sabu 2012, Thomas et al. 2010, 2012a, 2012b, 2013a, 2013b, 2014,
2015, 2016, 2019, Hareesh & Sabu 2018, Sabu et al. 2018; Sarma et al. 2019), Thailand: ca. 31 species (Kaewsri &
Paisooksantivatana 2007, Kaewsri et al. 2009), Laos: ca. 28 species (Lamxay & Newman 2012), Vietnam: ca. 24
species (Lamxay & Newman 2012; Droop & Newman 2014; Lý & Leong-Škorničková, 2018), so far there are only 10
species of Amomum Roxburgh s.l. recorded in Myanmar (Kress et al. 2003).
During floristic surveys of northern Myanmar 2016–2018, a team from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden
(XTBG) in collaboration with the Forest Research Institute of Myanmar (FRI) conducted field work in northern
Myanmar to survey plant diversity. During the field work, some interesting specimens of Amomum Roxburgh s.l. were
158
Accepted by Sin Yeng Wong: 19 Aug. 2019; published: 24 Sept. 2019
found in Putao, Kachin state. Based on detailed examination of the morphological characters of our materials and
possible closely similar species, we draw a conclusion that those specimens of Amomum Roxburgh s.l. collected in
Myanmar belong to species new to science and two newly records, which we hereby describe and illustrate.
Taxonomic treatments
Amomum erythranthum Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding, sp. nov. (Figure 1–2)
Diagnosis:—Amomum erythranthum Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding is morphologically similar to A. subulatum Roxburgh (1820: 75, t. 277) in
having similar yellow flowers and subulate calyx lobes, but can be distinguished by its bracteoles open to base and not tubular, long
calyx tube, long filament, obovate labellum with dentate apex, red anther connective and semi-lunar anther crest with dentate apex.
This new species also shows some morphological affinities with A. nimkeyense Sabu, Hareesh, Tatum & Das (2018: 197), but can
be distinguished by its 2–4 mm long ligule (vs. 8–9 mm long), the calyx with horns 12–16 mm (vs. ca. 7 mm), ovate central corolla
lobe (vs. oblong), red anther connective (vs. cream) and filiform lateral staminodes (vs. absent).
Type:—MYANMAR. Kachin State: Putao, Upper Shankhaung to Wasandum. 97°14’51” E, 27°27’12” N. Understory herbs in tropical
mountain forest, 1030 m elev., 28 April 2016, flowering, Y.H. Tan & S.S. Zhou 201629 (holotype HITBC!).
Clump-forming herb, to 3 m tall, ca. 9 pseudostems per clump. Ligule 2–4 mm, membranous, outer surface tomentose,
bi-lobed, apex rounded; petiole absent to 11 cm long, tomentose; leaf blade oblong-lanceolate, 45–60 × 9–11 cm, dark
green, plicate, tomentose beneath, base attenuate, apex long caudate, 2–2.5 cm. Inflorescence arising near base, 1–3
inflorescences per shoot; flowering part broadly ellipsoid, 5–7 × 3.5–6.5 cm, 1–3 flowers open at once; peduncle ca. 3
× 1 cm, reddish, tomentose; peduncular bract broadly ovate or almost orbicular at base, 3–3.5 × 2.5–3 cm, to lanceolate
above, ca. 4 × 1 cm, red then dark brown, membranous, outer surface tomentose, inner surface glabrescent, apex
dentate, acute with long spur 2–4 mm. Bracts dark brown, lanceolate, ca. 4 × 1 cm, membranous, striate, subtending
a single flower, outer surface tomentose at apex, inner surface glabrescent, apex acute with dentate; bracteole open
to base, unidentate, 3.0–3.4 × ca. 0.5 cm, dark brown towards the apex, reddish towards the base, membranous, outer
surface tomentose, inner surface glabrescent. Flowers yellow, ca. 6.5 cm long. Calyx tubular, 4.8–5.0 cm long, 3-lobed,
reddish-white, membranous, outer surface villous; calyx tube 3.2–3.4 cm long, lobes subulate, 1.2–1.6 cm. Floral
tube 2.7–3.3 × 0.5–0.7 cm, reddish, coriaceous, tomentose; lateral corolla lobes lanceolate, 3.5–3.7 × 0.8–0.9 cm,
yellow, membranous, glabrous; central corolla lobe ovate, 3.3–3.4 × 1.2–1.3 cm, yellow, membranous, outer surface
tomentose, hooded at apex, apical cusp 4–5 mm long; labellum spreading, with dark yellow midvein, obovate, ca.
3.0 × 1.8 cm, margin plicate, rounded, dentate, glabrous, adaxial surface pilose at base; lateral staminodes subulate,
1–2 mm long, yellow, glabrous. Filament ca. 1.0 × 0.4 cm, creamy-white, glabrous; connective red, ca. 1.3 × 0.5 cm,
glabrous; anther thecae oblong, ca. 1.2 cm long, orange yellow, glabrous, dehiscing throughout their length; anther
crest semi-lunar, 7–9 × 5–6 mm, yellow, membranous, margin dentate. Stigma rounded, abruptly widening, ciliate,
apex entire; style glabrous, 4.4–4.8 cm long; epigynous glands ovate, ca. 4 × 3 mm, glabrous; ovary ca. 7 × 5 mm,
glabrous. Capsule red, 2.7–3.0 × 3.0–3.7 cm, obovoid, tuberculate, pubescent, irregularly winged, margin serrate, apex
with persistent calyx.
Phenology:—Flowering in April–May and fruiting in June.
Distribution:—Known only from the type locality, Upper Shankhaung to Wasandum, from Putao, Kachin State
of Myanmar.
Ecology:—In shaded places at an elevation of 900–1100 m in tropical montane forest.
Etymlogy:—The specific epithet ‘erythranthum’ refers to the red anther connective.
Conservation status:—DD. Based on the present knowledge and available data, conservation status is assessed
as Data Deficient (IUCN 2017).
Affinities:—Amomum erythranthum Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding shares similar characters with A. subulatum and A.
nimkeyense but differs in many characters (see Table 1).
Additional specimens examined (paratypes):—MYANMAR. Kachin State: Putao, Upper Shankhaung to
Wasandum. 97°14’50” E, 27°27’11” N. Understory herbs in tropical montane forest, 1000 m elev., 17 June 2018,
fruiting, Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding M4627 (HITBC!, RAF!).
STUDIES ON AMOMUM ROXBURGH S.L. (ZINGIBERACEAE)
Phytotaxa 418 (2) © 2019 Magnolia Press • 159
FIGURE 1. Amomum erythranthum. a. habit. b. leaf blade abaxially. c. ligule. d. basal part of plant showing inflorescences. e. flower.
f. lateral staminodes. g. infructescence. h. single flower i. single flower (side view) exclude calyx and corolla lobes. j. fruit (side view).
k. cross section of fruit. l. bracteole. m. calyx. n. central corolla lobe. o. lateral corolla lobes. p. labellum with floral tube and lateral
staminodes. q. stamen with floral tube (back view). r. stamen with floral tube (front view). s. ovary with epigynous glands and style.
Photographed by Y.H. Tan and H.B. Ding.
160 • Phytotaxa 418 (2) © 2019 Magnolia Press
TAN ET AL.
FIGURE 2. Amomum erythranthum. a. habit. b. leaf blade abaxially. c. calyx. d. bracteole. e. central corolla lobe. f. lateral corolla lobe.
g. lateral corolla lobe. h. labellum. i. stamen (front view) with floral tube and lateral staminodes. j. ovary with epigynous glands and style.
k. single flower (side view) exclude corolla lobes. (scale 2 cm). Illustrated by Zheng-Meng Yang
STUDIES ON AMOMUM ROXBURGH S.L. (ZINGIBERACEAE)
Phytotaxa 418 (2) © 2019 Magnolia Press • 161
TABLE 1. Comparison among Amomum erythranthum, A. subulatum and A. nimkeyense
Characters
A. erythranthum
A. subulatum
A. nimkeyense
Ligule
2−4 mm, outer surface tomentose,
bi-lobed
absent to 11 cm long,
tomentose
non-tubular, reddish and upper half
with dark brown,
cusp 1−2 mm, dark brown
3-lobed with subulate horns
horns 12−16 mm, reddish-white
outer surface villous
reddish, tomentose
3−4 mm, glabrous,
emarginate
absent or 1−3 cm
on diatal ones, glabrous
tubular, pale green,
cusp 2−4 mm, yellow
3-lobed with subulate horns,
horns 15−17 mm, white,
glabrous
wihite, glabrous
8−9 mm, densely pubescent
externally, bi-lobed
2−9 cm
pubescent
non-tubular, pale yellowish brown
with a median red band,
cusp ca. 2 mm, dark brown
3-lobed with subulate horns,
horns up to 7 mm, white-pink,
pubescent
white tinged with pink, pubescent
Petiole
Bracteole
Calyx
Floral tube
Central corolla lobe
Labellum
Lateral staminodes
Anther connective
Anther crest
Fruit
ovate, yellowish,
apical cusp 4−5 mm
obovate, ca. 3.0 × 1.8 cm,
glabrous, adaxial surface pilose
at base
filiform, yellow,
1−2 mm long
red, ca. 13 mm
oblong, yellowish,
apical cusp 5−6 mm
oblong, ca. 2.6 × 1.0 cm,
white pubescent
oblong, cream,
apical cusp 6−7 mm
obovate, 2.8−3 × 2.2−2.4 cm,
pubescent towards base internally
red, subulate
ca. 2 mm
creamy-white, ca. 1.2 cm
absent
semi-lunar, yellow
7−9 × 5−6 mm
Red, obovoid, tuberculate,
pubescent, irregularly winged
elliptic, yellow
ca. 4 × 2.5 mm
Purple or red-brown, globose
winged, wings irregularly lobed
semi-lunar, yellow
10−11 × 4−5 mm
Ovate, glabrous,
minutely winged at the apex
cream, ca. 10 mm
Amomum ampliflorum Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding, sp. nov. (Figure 3–4)
Diagnosis:—Amomum ampliflorum Y.H. Tan & H.B. Ding shows similarity with A. maximum Roxb. (1810: 344), but can be distinguished
by its entire ligule, larger flower (ca. 9.0 cm long vs. ca. 6.0 cm long), longer calyx (ca. 4.0 cm long vs. ca. 2.3 cm long), longer
filament (ca. 6 mm long vs. ca. 2 mm long) and truncate anther crest (vs. crescent-shaped). This new species is also morphologically
similar to A. dealbatum Roxb. (1820: 42) in having white flower, obovate labellum, but differs in entire ligule, larger flower (ca. 9.0
cm long vs. ca. 5.0 cm long), longer calyx (ca. 4.0 cm long vs. ca. 2.5 cm long), lateral staminodes absent (vs. subulate, ca. 2 mm)
and larger abellum (ca. 5.0 × 3.0 cm vs. ca. 2.5 × 1.5−2 cm).
Type:—MYANMAR. Kachin State: Putao, Wasandum to Awadum. 97°09’47” E, 27°30’40” N. Gorwing in understory along the tream in
tropical montane forests, 927 m elev., 12 May 2016, flowering, Y.H. Tan & S.S. Zhou 2016306 (holotype HITBC!).
Clump-forming herb, up to 3 m tall. Ligule 1.5–1.9 cm, ovate, entire, easily damaged after drying, membranous,
sparsely white pubescent, apex rounded or acute; petiole 0.8–1.5 cm long, tomentose; leaf blade oblong-lanceolate,
45–90 × 7–13 cm, dark green, plicate, adaxially sparsely pubescent, abaxially villous, base attenuate, apex long caudate,
to 3 cm. Inflorescence arising near base of leafy shoot, 1–3 inflorescences per shoot; (including peduncle) to 20 cm
long, with up to 20 flowers, flowers open 1–4 at a time, peduncle 7–15 × 0.5–0.8 cm, reddish, glabrescent; peduncular
bract broadly ovate at base, 3.5–5.5 × 1.5–2.0, to elliptic above, 5–6 × 2.5–4 cm, red then dark brown, membranous,
glabrescent, apex rounded or acute. Bracts reddish brown, lanceolate, ca. 6.5 × 1.5 cm, membranous, striate, subtending
a single flower, pubescent or glabrescent, apex rounded or acute; bracteole open to base, unidentate, lanceolate, ca. 5.5
× 0.8 cm, brown, membranous, pubescent or glabrescent. Flowers white, ca. 9 cm long. Calyx tubular, 3-toothed, teeth
equal, ca. 4.0 cm long, white, membranous, outer surface pubescent; calyx tube ca. 2.9 cm long, lobes lanceolate, ca.
1.1 cm. Floral tube ca. 3.5 × 0.3 cm, reddish-white, coriaceous; lateral corolla lobes oblong, ca. 3.7 × 1.5 cm, white,
membranous, glabrous, apex cucullate; central corolla lobe oblong, 3.7 × 1.5 cm, white, membranous, glabrous, apex
cucullate; labellum spreading, with orange yellow midvein, obovate, ca. 5.0 × 3.0 cm, margin plicate, rounded, entire,
glabrous; lateral staminodes absent. Filament ca. 6 mm long, white, glabrous; anther oblong, ca. 1.5 cm long, white,
glabrous; anther crest truncate, ca. 1.1 × 0.6 cm, white, membranous, entire. Stigma rounded, abruptly widening,
glabrous, apex entire; style glabrous, ca. 5.5 cm long. Infructescence peduncle 0.8–1.9 × ca. 0.4 cm, white, glabrous;
fruits (only very young fruits have been seen) ovoid, ca. 1.6 × 1.0 cm, reddish, 9-winged.
162 • Phytotaxa 418 (2) © 2019 Magnolia Press
TAN ET AL.
FIGURE 3. Amomum ampliflorum. a. habit. b. leaf blade adaxially. c. leaf blade abaxially. d. ligule. e. basal part of plant showing
inflorescences. f. inflorescence. g. single inflorescence. h. infructescence (young fruit). i. flowers j. bract. k. bracteole. l. calyx with ovary
and peduncular. m. central corolla lobe. n. lateral corolla lobes. o. labellum with calyx, ovary and peduncular. p. stamen (front view). q.
stamen (back view). r. young fruit. s. cross section of young fruit. Photographed by Y.H. Tan.
STUDIES ON AMOMUM ROXBURGH S.L. (ZINGIBERACEAE)
Phytotaxa 418 (2) © 2019 Magnolia Press • 163
FIGURE 4. Amomum ampliflorum. a. habit. b. leaf blade abaxially. c. calyx with peduncle (scale 2 cm). d. bracteole (scale 3 cm). e.
peduncular bract (scale 3 cm). f. bract (scale 3 cm). g. central corolla lobe (scale 3 cm). h. lateral corolla lobe (scale 3 cm). i. lateral corolla
lobe (scale 3 cm). j. labellum (scale 3 cm). k. single flower (front view) exclude corolla lobes and stamen (scale 2 cm). l. stamen (front
view) (scale 2 cm). m. stamen (back view) (scale 2 cm). n. ovary with epigynous glands and style (scale 2 cm). o. young fruit (scale 2 cm).
p. cross section of young fruit. Illustrated by Zheng-Meng Yang
164 • Phytotaxa 418 (2) © 2019 Magnolia Press
TAN ET AL.
Phenology:—Flowering in May.
Distribution:—Known only from the type locality, Wasandum to Awadum, from Putao, Kachin State of
Myanmar.
Ecology:—In shaded places at an elevation of 850–1000 m in tropical montane forest.
Etymlogy:—The specific epithet ‘ampliflorum’ indicates having a larger flower.
Conservation status:—DD. Based on the present knowledge and available data, conservation status is assessed
as Data Deficient (IUCN 2017).
Affinities:—Amomum ampliflorum Y.H.Tan & H.B. Ding is similar to A. maximum and A. dealbatum, but differs
in many characters (see Table 2). This new species also shows some morphological affinities with A. odontocarpum
Fang (1980: 224), but can be distinguished by its leaf blade abaxially villous (vs. glabrous), ca. 4 cm long calyx (vs.
ca. 2.5 cm long), labellum ca. 5.0 × 3.0 cm (vs. 3−3.5 × 2.5−3.0 cm) and lateral staminodes absent (vs. oblong, 2 mm
long) (see Table 2).
TABLE 2. Morphological character comparison among superficial similar species, Amomum ampliflorum, A.
maximum, A. dealbatum and A. odontocarpum
Characters
A. ampliflorum
A. maximum
A. dealbatum
A. odontocarpum
Indumentum of the lamina
villous below
villous below
glabrous below
Ligule
Flowers
ovate, entire
1.5−1.9 cm
white, ca. 9.0 cm long
oblong, 2-cleft
1.2−2.0 cm
white, ca. 6.0 cm long
brownish pubescent
below
lanceolate, 2-cleft
0.4−1.6 cm
white, ca. 5.0 cm long
ovate, 2-cleft
1.5−3.0 cm
white, 5.5−6.0 cm long
Calyx
ca. 4.0 cm long
ca. 2.3 cm long
ca. 2.5 cm long
ca. 2.5 cm long
Calyx tube
ca. 2.9 cm long
ca. 1.8 cm long
1.5−1.6 cm long
1.5−1.6 cm long
Floral tube
ca. 3.5 cm long
ca. 2.5 cm long
2−2.5 cm long
2.5−3.0 cm long
Labellum
Lateral staminodes
obovate, apex undulate
ca. 5.0 × 3.0 cm
absent
obovate, apex undulate
ca. 3.5 cm long
absent or very short
obovate, apex emarginate obovate, apex rounded
ca. 2.5 × 1.5−2 cm
3−3.5 × 2.5−3.0 cm
subulate, 2 mm long
oblong, 2 mm long
Filament
ca. 6 mm long
ca. 2 mm long
ca. 5 mm long
ca. 5 mm long
Anther crest
truncate, white
ca. 1.1 × 0.6 cm
crescent-shaped, white
ca. 1.1 × 0.3 cm
truncate, white
ca. 1.0 × 0.3 cm
truncate, white
ca. 0.6 × 0.2 cm
Amomum pauciflorum Baker in Hook. f., Fl. Brit. India 6(18): 238. 1892.
Lectotype. India, Khasia Hills, near Nunklow, 21 July 1850, Hooker, f. & Thoms. 1, (K000815720 K!). Epitype. Myanmar. Kachin State:
Putao, Machanbaw to Alagur, 97°43’19.06” E, 27°16’58.49” N. Understory herbs in tropical rain forest, 640 m elev., 15 June 2018,
Y.H. Tan, B. Yang, H.B. Ding, X.D. Zeng, M.B. Maw & H.L. Naing M4535 (HITBC!, RAF!). (Figure 5). Designated here.
Rhizome slender, many stoloniferous, red, creeping, thick, sometimes sheathed with scales. Pseudostem with 2–14
leaves per pseudostem, slightly swollen at base, reddish-green; ligule ovate, bilobed, 3–5 mm long, reddish-green,
membranous, pubescent, apex acute; petiole 0.5–3.0 cm; leaf blade adaxially green, abaxially silvery, elliptic to
oblong-lanceolate, 17–50 × 4–7 cm, adaxially glabrous, abaxially densely appressed silvery pubescent, base attenuate,
apex caudate. Inflorescence radical, 7.5–11 cm, arising from the rhizome, 1–3 flowered, peduncle short, 1.5–2.0 cm.
Outer bract ovate, ca. 0.8 × 0.9 cm, sterile, inner bract, oblong, 4.0–6.0 × 1.5–2.0 cm, 3–5 per inflorescence, pinkish,
membranous, prominently veined, pubescent, apex acute. Bracteole non-tubular, 1.5–3.5 × 0.5 cm. Flower 6–9 cm,
white. Calyx tubular, 3.2–3.5 × 0.5 cm, calyx tube ca. 2.0 cm, apex 3-toothed, membranous, white tinged with pink.
Floral tube ca. 4.0 cm long, ca. 0.4 cm wide at mouth, white, pubescent; dorsal corolla lobe oblong, 3.5–4.0 × 1.0–
1.3 cm, white towards base and greenish yellow at apex, apex cucullate with cusp 1–2 mm long, glabrous; lateral
corolla lobes oblong, 3.0–3.6 × 1.0–1.2 cm, white towards base and greenish yellow at apex, apex cucullate, rounded.
Labellum spreading, with red at claw, yellowish at middle, white at apex and margin, crisped flabellate, 4.0–5.5 × 2.5–
3.0 cm, margin dentate, prominently veined. Lateral staminodes absent or very short, red, 1–2 mm. Stamen 2.5–3.0
cm long, filament 1.0–1.2 × 0.2–0.3 cm, red at base, white at apex, pubescent; connective pubescent, creamy-white;
crest entire, creamy-white, ca. 7 × 4 mm, glabrous; anther-cells pubescent, parallel, oblong, 1.3–1.5 cm long, creamywhite, dehiscing longitudinally. Epigynous glands 2, obclavate, 1.0–1.1 cm long, creamy, glabrous. Ovary oblong, ca.
6 × 3 mm, villous; style ca. 7.0 cm long, puberulous towards tip; stigma cup-shaped, white, mouth ciliate. Capsule not
seen.
STUDIES ON AMOMUM ROXBURGH S.L. (ZINGIBERACEAE)
Phytotaxa 418 (2) © 2019 Magnolia Press • 165
FIGURE 5. Amomum pauciflorum. a. habit. b. ligule. c. basal part of plant showing inflorescences. d. rhizom with inflorescences. e.
flowers. f. flower (side view). g. bracts. h. bracteole. i. calyx. j. central corolla lobe. k. lateral corolla lobe. l. labellum with Floral tube,
stamen and lateral staminodes. m. stamen (front view). n. ovary with style. o. epigynous glands. Photographed by H.B. Ding.
166 • Phytotaxa 418 (2) © 2019 Magnolia Press
TAN ET AL.
Phenology:—Flowering in May–June.
Myanmar:—Kachin State, Putao, from Namti to Nahsihbo, 97°35’13.98” E, 27°23’27.09” N. Understory herbs
in tropical rain forest, 660 m elev., 16 May 2017, Y.H. Tan, B. Yang, H.B. Ding, M.B. Maw & T.S. Tin M1848 (HITBC!);
Kachin State, Putao, Upper Shankhaung, 97°14’48.30” E, 27°26’23.32” N. Understory herbs in tropical rain forest,
720 m elev., 17 June 2018, Y.H. Tan, B. Yang, H.B. Ding, S.N. Dee M4613 (HITBC!, RAF!).
Distribution:—India, Myanmar.
Ecology:—In the forest edge or roadside at an elevation of 500–900 m in tropical rain forests and tropical mountain
forests.
Conservation status:—LC. This species has a very large extent of occurrence and is common, with no significant
threats and is therefore assessed as Least Concern (IUCN 2017).
Wurfbainia microcarpa (C.F. Liang & D. Fang) Škorničk. & A.D. Poulsen in de Boer et al., Taxon 67(1): 30. 2018.—
Amomum microcarpum C. F. Liang & D. Fang in D. Fang, Acta Phytotax. Sin. 16(3): 49. 1978. Type: China, Guangxi,
Fangchenggang City, 1975-04-29, D. Fang 76564 (holotype: GXMI051018!). (Figure 6)
Creeping herb, 1–2 m tall; rhizome ca. 5 mm diameter, brown; interval between pseudostems ca. 6 cm, scales ovate,
0.7–1.5 cm long, brown, striate, shiny, sparsely pilose, membranous. Pseudostem with 8–12 leaves per pseudostem;
ligule 1–2 mm long, coriaceous, outer surface tomentose, apex rounded, emarginate, margin ciliate; petiole very short,
1–2 mm long, tomentose; leaf blade oblong-lanceolate, 20–30 × 3.5–6.0 cm, dark green, plicate, adaxially glabrescent,
abaxially pubescent, base attenuate, apex with caudate tip to 3.5 cm. Inflorescence arising near base, 1–2 inflorescences
per pseudostem; flowering part pyramidal, lax with rachis visible between bracts, 4–6 × 4–5 cm, 1–2 flowers open at
once; peduncle 3–6 cm long, red, tomentose; peduncular bract tubular at base, ovate to oblong above, 0.5–1.7 × 0.4–
0.6 cm, reddish-brown, membranous or papery, apex acute to cucullate with spur ca. 1 mm. Bracts brown, lanceolate,
ca. 2.0 × 0.5 cm, dark brown, papery, striate then soon rotting, subtending a single flower, tomentose at base, apex
acute; bracteole tubular, 2-toothed, 10–13 × 2 mm, reddish then dark brown, membranous, bracteole tube 5–7 mm
long, tomentose at base. Calyx tubular, 3-toothed, teeth unequal, 12–14 × 2 mm, white to light pink, coriaceous, outer
surface tomentose at base, inner surface glabrous; calyx tube 7–8 mm long; teeth 2–7 mm long, apex acute. Corolla
white, 2.5–3.0 cm long, floral tube ca. 1.0 × 0.15 cm, coriaceous, tomentose at base; central corolla lobe ovate, ca. 1.0
× 0.4 cm, apex rounded; lateral corolla lobes narrower than central one, 1.3–1.4 × 0.2–0.3 cm, membranous, glabrous;
labellum saccate, clawed, white with yellow midvein and red dots, trilobed, 1.7–2.0 × 1.5–1.8 cm, membranous,
glabrous, adaxial surface pilose at base and centre; lateral staminodes filiform, 1–2 mm long, red, glabrous. Filament
ca. 5 mm long, white, glabrous; anther oblong, ca. 4–5 mm long, white, glabrous; anther crest trilobed, lateral lobes
ca. 2 × 2 mm; central lobe rounded, ca. 4 × 2 mm, emarginated, white, glabrous. Stigma rounded, abruptly widening,
glabrous, apex entire; style glabrous, ca. 1.9 cm; epigynous glands oblong, ca. 4 × 1.5 mm, glabrous; ovary 4–5 × 2–3
mm, appressed villous. Capsule globose, 1.3–1.7 cm in diam., deep purple red to dark red, prickly, hairy.
Phenology:—Flowering in May and fruiting in June.
Myanmar:—NORTHERN: Kachin State, Putao, Maza, 97°45’26.25” E, 27°30’07.77” N. Understory herbs in
tropical rain forest, 570 m elev., 13 May 2017, Y.H. Tan, B. Yang, H.B. Ding, M.B. Maw & T.S. Tin M1741 (HITBC!);
Kachin State, Putao, Ghattu, 97°57’04.25” E, 27°28’17.53” N. Understory herbs in tropical rain forest, 590 m elev., 3
June 2018, Y.H. Tan, B. Yang, H.B. Ding, X.D. Zeng, M.B. Maw & H.L. Naing M3992 (HITBC!, RAF!).
Distribution:—China (Guangxi), Vietnam (Lamxay & Newman 2012), Laos (Lamxay & Newman 2012),
Myanmar.
Ecology:—In the forest edge or roadside at an elevation of 500–800 m in tropical rain forests and tropical mountain
forests.
Conservation status:—LC. This species has a very large extent of occurrence and is common, with no significant
threats and is therefore assessed as Least Concern (IUCN 2017).
STUDIES ON AMOMUM ROXBURGH S.L. (ZINGIBERACEAE)
Phytotaxa 418 (2) © 2019 Magnolia Press • 167
FIGURE 6. Wurfbainia microcarpa. a. leaf blade. b. infructescence. c. basal part of plant showing inflorescences. d. leaf blade abaxially.
e. ligule. f. bracteole. g. calyx (outer view). h. calyx (inner view). i. labellum with Floral tube, lateral corolla lobes and lateral staminodes.
j. stamen (front view) with central corolla lobe. k. ovary with epigynous glands and style. l. fruit (side view). m. cross section of fruit.
Photographed by H.B. Ding and Y.H. Tan.
168 • Phytotaxa 418 (2) © 2019 Magnolia Press
TAN ET AL.
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to the Forest Research Institute of Myanmar for permission to conduct this study in the
Northern Myanmar, and for their support and collaboration. We are grateful to Kyaw Saw and Myint Zaw for their
kind help in the field work. We thank Zheng-Meng Yang for the illustration. This work was financially supported by
a grant from National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no. 31970223) awarded to Yun-Hong Tan, by a
project of Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund (Biodiversity Monitoring and Network Construction
along Lancang-Mekong River Basin project) and the Southeast Asia biodiversity research institute, Chinese Academy
of Sciences (Y4ZK111B01) and the CAS 135 program (No. 2017XTBG-F03).
References
Baker, J.G. (1892) Amomum. In: Hooker, J.D. (Ed.) Flora of British India, Vol. 6. L. Reeve and Co., London, pp. 233–243.
de Boer, H., Newman, M., Poulsen, A.D., Droop, A.J., Feìr, T., Hiên, L.T.T., Hlavataì, K., Lamxay, V., Richardson, J.E., Steffen, K. &
Leong-Škorničkova, J. (2018) Convergent morphology in Alpinieae (Zingiberaceae): Recircumscribing Amomum as a monophyletic
genus. Taxon 67: 6–36.
https://doi.org/10.12705/671.2
Droop, A.J. & Newman, M.F. (2014) A revision of Amomum (Zingiberaceae) in Sumatra. Edinburgh Journal of Botany 71 (2): 193–258.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0960428614000043
Fang, D. (1978) Some new taxa of Zingiberaceae from Kwangsi. Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica 16 (3): 47–53.
Fang, D. (1980) Some new taxa of Zingiberaceae from Guangxi Ⅲ. Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica 18 (2): 224–229.
Hareesh, V.S. & Sabu, M. (2018) Amomum riwatchii (Zingiberaceae) a new species from northeastern India. Botany Letters 165 (2):
223–227.
https://doi.org/10.1080/23818107.2018.1437073
Ito, Y. & Tanaka, N. (2014) Chromosome studies in the aquatic monocots of Myanmar: a brief review with additional records. Biodiversity
Data Journal 2: e1069.
https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.2.e1069
IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee. (2017) Guidelines for using the IUCN red list categories and criteria. Version 13. Prepared by
the Standards and Petitions Subcommittee. Available from: http://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.pdf (accessed
24 September 2019)
Kaewsri, W. & Paisooksantivatana, Y. (2007) Morphology and palynology of Amomum Roxb. in Thailand. Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore
59 (1–2): 105–112.
Kaewsri, W., Paisooksantivatana, Y. & Veesommai, U. (2009) A new record and a new synonym in Amomum Roxb. (Zingiberaceae) in
Thailand. Thai Forest Bulletin (Botany) 37: 32–25.
Kong, J.J., Xia, Y.M. & Li, Q.J. (2010) Inflorescence and flower development in Hedychieae (Zingiberaceae): Hedychium coccineum
Smith. Protoplasma 247 (1–2): 83–90.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00709-010-0145-5
Kress, W.J., De, Filipps, R.A., Farr, E. & Kyi, D.Y.Y. (2003) A checklist of the trees, shrubs, herbs, and climbers of Myanmar. Contributions
from the United States National Herbarium 45: 1–590.
Kress, W.J., Prince, L.M. & Williams, K.J. (2002) The phylogeny and a new classification of the gingers (Zingiberaceae): evidence from
molecular data. American Journal Botany 89 (11): 1682–1696.
https://doi.org/10.3732/ajb.89.10.1682
Lamxay, V. & Newman, M.F. (2012) A revision of Amomum (Zingiberaceae) in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Edinburgh Journal of
Botany 69 (1): 99–206.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0960428611000436
Giseke, P.D. (1792) Praelectiones in Ordines Naturales Plantarum. B.G. Hoffmann, Hamburg, pp. 1–662.
Lý, Ngọc-Sâm & Leong-Škorničková, J. (2018) Amomum cristatissimum (Zingiberaceae: Alpinieae), a new species with echinate fruits
from central Vietnam. Nordic Journal of Botany e01691.
https://doi.org/10.1111/njb.01691
Pederson, L.B. (2004) Phylogenetic analysis of the subfamily Alpinioideae (Zingiberaceae), particularly Etlingera Giseke, based on
nuclear and plastid DNA. Plant Systematics and Evolution 245: 239–258.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-004-0126-2
STUDIES ON AMOMUM ROXBURGH S.L. (ZINGIBERACEAE)
Phytotaxa 418 (2) © 2019 Magnolia Press • 169
Ridley, H.N. (1899) The Scitamineae of the Malay Peninsula. Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society 32: 85–184.
Roxburgh, W. (1810) Descriptions of several of the monandrous plants of India, belonging to the natural order called Scitamineae by
Linnaeus, Cannae by Jussieu, and Drimyrhizae by Ventenat. Asiatic Researches 11: 318–359.
Roxburgh, W. (1820) Plants of the Coromandel, Vol. 3. Bulmer & Co., London, 300 pp.
Sabu, M., Hareesh, V.S., Mibang, T. & Das, A.K. (2018) Amomum nimkeyense (Zingiberaceae), a new species from Arunachal Pradesh,
northeastern India. Phytotaxa 340 (2): 197–200.
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.340.2.12
Sarma, J., Dey, S., Salunkhe, C.K. & Barbhuiya, H.A. (2019) A new species of Amomum (Zingiberaceae) from Assam, North East India.
Phytotaxa 391 (2): 163–166.
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.391.2.13
Tanaka, N. (2010) Plant inventory research in Myanmar. Bunrui 10 (2): 139–149.
Thomas, V.P., Dan, M., Sabu, M. & Jabbar, M.A. (2010) Amomum andamanicum (Zingiberaceae): a new species from the Andaman
Islands, India. Blumea 55: 295–299.
https://doi.org/10.3767/000651910X550954
Thomas, V.P., Muhammed, Nissar, V.A. & Gupta, U. (2014) Amomum sabuanum (Zingiberaceae): a new species from Sikkim, India.
Phytotaxa 159 (2): 122–126.
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.159.2.6
Thomas, V.P., Muhammed, Nissar, V.A. & Sabu, U. (2015) Amomum kingii var. oblongum (Zingiberaceae): a new variety from Sikkim
Himalaya. Phytotaxa 220 (1): 89–94.
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.220.1.9
Thomas, V.P. & Sabu, M. (2012) Two new species of Amomum (Zingiberaceae) from Western Ghats, India. Edinburgh Journal of Botany
69 (2): 313–321.
https://doi.org/10.1017/S0960428612000133
Thomas, V.P., Sabu, M. & Chathurvedi, S.K. (2012a) Amomum carnosum (Zingiberaceae): a new species from Nagaland, north-east India.
Kew Bulletin 67 (3): 549–553.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-012-9391-3
Thomas, V.P., Sabu, M. & Lalramnghinglova, H. (2013a) Amomum dampuianum and A. mizoramense spp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from
Mizoram, northeast India. Nordic Journal of Botany 31: 561–568.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.2012.01312.x
Thomas, V.P., Sabu, M. & Prabhu Kumar, K.M. (2012b) Amomum nilgiricum (Zingiberaceae), a new species from Western Ghats, India.
PhytoKeys 8: 99–104.
https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.8.2152
Thomas, V.P., Sabu, M. & Prabhu Kumar K.M. (2013b) Amomum sahyadricum (Zingiberaceae), a New Species from the Western Ghats,
India. A Journal for Botanical Nomenclature 22 (3): 321–324.
https://doi.org/10.3417/2010090
Thomas, V.P., Sabu, M. & Sanoj, E. (2016) Amomum meghalayense (Zingiberaceae): a new species from northeast India. Phytoaxa 245
(2): 178–182.
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.245.2.9
Thomas, V.P., Sabu, M. & Nissar, V.A.G.M. (2019) A new species of Amomum Roxb. (Zingiberaceae) from Nagaland, India. Taiwania 64
(1): 9–12.
https://doi.10.6165/tai.2019.64.9
Tripathi, S. & Prakash, V. (1999) Amomum jainii sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) from N. E. India. Nordic Journal of Botany 19 (5): 609–611.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1756-1051.1999.tb01148.x
Van Dijk, P.P., Tordoff, A.W., Fellowes, J., Lau, M. & Jinshuang, M. (2004) Indo-Burma. In: Mittermeier R.A., Robles G.P., Hoffmann
M., Lamoreaux J. & da Fonseca G.A. (Eds.) Hotspots Revisited: Earth’s Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Terrestrial
Ecoregions. CEMEX, Agrupación Sierra Madre, pp. 323–330.
Wu, T.L. & Larsen, K. (2000) Zingiberaceae. In: Wu, Z.Y. & Raven, P.H. (Eds.) Flora of China 24. Science Press, Beijing & Missouri
Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, pp. 322–377.
Xia, Y.M., Kress, W.J. & Prince, L.M. (2004) Phylogenetic analyses of Amomum (Alpinioideae: Zingiberaceae) using ITS and matK DNA
sequence data. Systematic Botany 29 (2): 334–344.
https://doi.org/10.1600/036364404774195520
170 • Phytotaxa 418 (2) © 2019 Magnolia Press
TAN ET AL.