Friday, September 18, 2015

[Botany • 2015] Curcuma woodii • A New Species of Curcuma subg. Ecomata (Zingiberaceae) from Thailand


Curcuma woodii N. H. Xia & J. Chen, sp. nov.  
B. Flower dissection. C. Flowers. F. Terminal inflorescence emerging from the base of the pseudostems. G. Whole plants showing leaves and terminal inflorescence.

ABSTRACT
  
Curcuma woodii, a new species of Curcuma subg. Ecomata (Zingiberaceae) from Thailand is described and illustrated here. It differs from C. rhomba by the leaf blades abaxially pubescent, the bracts whitish green, the labellum white with orange bands at the center, the lateral staminodes white with orange dots at the apex, and the ovary nearly glabrous.

Key words: Curcuma, Thailand, new taxa, Ecomata, molecular diagnosis, DNA barcode



Curcuma woodii N. H. Xia & J. Chen, sp. nov.

Similar to Curcuma rhomba J. Mood & K. Larsen (subgen. Ecomata) in several characters but differs in the leaf blades abaxially pubescent, the bracts whitish green, the labellum white with orange bands at the center, the lateral staminodes white with orange dots at the apex, and the ovary nearly glabrous. 

Type:— China, Guangdong, Guangzhou, South China Botanical Garden (cultivated, introduced from Thailand), 28 September 2010, J. Chen & T. Wood 201010 (holotype: IBSC). Figs. 1 & 2.

Distribution and Habitat:— This species was purchased at the local wild plant market in Sae Kaeow, just at the border of Cambodia. Its natural range is unknown

Phenology:— Flowering from July to September at South China Botanical Garden. 

Etymology:— The specific epithet, ‘woodii’, was named after Tom Wood, who brought this species to South China Botanical Garden. Tom Wood made a great contribution to collecting gingers from South Asia, Australia, America and Africa to South China Botanical Garden.


Juan CHEN, Anders J. LINDSTROM and Nian-He XIA . 2015. Curcuma woodii (Zingiberaceae), A New Species from Thailand. Phytotaxa. 227(1): 075–082. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.227.1.8