Kaempferia nemoralis Insis., 2020

Insisiengmay, Oudomphone, Newman, Mark Fleming & Haevermans, Thomas, 2020, Two new species of Kaempferia L. (Zingiberaceae) from Cambodia and Lao PDR, European Journal of Taxonomy 712, pp. 1-15 : 4-8

Kaempferia nemoralis Insis. sp. nov. urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77211164-1 Figs 1–3 , Tables 1–2

Diagnosis

A species of Kaempferia subg. Kaempferia . Vegetative parts similar to K. larsenii by the shape of the leaf blade which is glabrous, parallel-veined and erect but may be distinguished by the following characters: whole plant taller, leaf sheath and young shoot apex green, petiole absent, the flower of Kaempferia nemoralis sp. nov. is completely different from that of K. larsenii in orientation, colour and size.

Inflorescences and flowers similar to those of K. rotunda ( Kaempferia subg. Protanthium ) by the presence of white staminodes and size of labellum but distinguished by the following characters: presence of peduncle, floral tube longer, 95 mm long (vs 50–55 mm long in K. rotunda ), labellum purple with white line at centre, anther crest obovate, bifid, apex irregularly rounded and ovary glabrous, the vegetative parts differ by the shape and indumentum of the leaf blade, and absence of a petiole.

Etymology

The specific epithet is from the Latin ‘ nemoralis ’, meaning ‘of woods’. The only known locality is in open forest near a small stream.

Material examined

Type

CAMBODIA • Prov. Kratié, Dist. Snuol, Sre Roneam Village, Khseum commune ; 12°17′ N, 106°25′ E; alt. 74 m; O. Insisiengmay et al. OI 234; 9 Jul. 2017; holotype: P (dried and spirit coll.); isotype: E (spirit coll. only).

Description

Perennial herb, 8–20 cm tall. Rhizome short, horizontal; roots of two kinds; tuberous, 10–15× 3–5 mm, and filamentous. Most individuals with one or two flowering shoots. Leaves 2 with 2 leafless sheaths, green; ligule a very small rim at junction of sheaths and blade, <1 mm long, glabrous. Longest leaf blade 200 × 20 mm, oblong, erect, base attenuate, apex attenuate, glabrous, petiole absent. Inflorescence terminal, peduncle 5 mm long, flowers 1–3. Bracts narrowly elliptic to ensiform, villose, 35 × 7 mm, hyaline, subtending one flower; bracteoles 2 per flower, opposite, narrowly elliptic to ensiform, largest one 27 × 5 mm, diminishing to 25 × 2.2 mm, hyaline, villose. Calyx tubular, 50 × 3 mm (not flattened), apex with two longer teeth dorsally, greenish and translucent, glabrous and ciliate at apex; floral tube 95 × 3 mm (not flattened), glabrous, white; dorsal corolla lobe linear-acuminate, 45 × 5 mm, white, glabrous, apex with 5 mm long mucro; lateral corolla lobes linear-acuminate, 40 × 4 mm, white, glabrous, apex acute; lateral staminodes oblong, 40 × 12 mm, white, glabrous; labellum obcordate, 47 × 22 mm, purple with white line at the centre, apex bifid, incision 15 mm, lobes narrowly oblong, emarginate; stamen: filament 10 mm long, thecae 5 mm long, dehiscing by longitudinal slits throughout their length, crest obovate, 10 × 6 mm, bifid, incision 6 mm deep, apex of sublobes irregularly rounded, white, glabrous; epigynous glands 2, colourless, subulate, 12–13 mm long; ovary ovoid, 8× 3.5 mm, glabrous, trilocular with axile placentation, ovules 3–10 per locule, 1 × 0.5 mm; stigma 1.5 mm long, obcuneiform, curved longitudinally, ostiole ciliate. Fruit unknown.

Distribution and habitat

Only known from the type locality where the plants were found growing in dry dipterocarp forest, near a stream, in moist, sandy soil at low altitude, 74 m.

Conservation status

Proposed IUCN conservation status: CR. AOO = 4 km 2, this species is known only from the type locality which is near a path at the edge of a village where tractors and herds of cattle pass frequently. The area is not protected by law. The number of mature individuals is less than 20.

Notes

Other species of Kaempferia , not yet determined, were also collected at the type locality of Kaempferia nemoralis sp. nov. These species clearly differ from Kaempferia nemoralis sp. nov. by having their leaves flat on the ground and by a number of characters of the floral parts.

A high-resolution image of the type specimen will be deposited at RUPP, the National Herbarium of Cambodia. Normally, a type specimen would be deposited in the country of origin, but there is very little type material of Kaempferia nemoralis sp. nov. and no paratypes, so it has been agreed with the curator of RUPP that it is better to keep the types at E and P where the conditions for long-term conservation, especially of spirit material, are much better.

The collections at the herbaria listed in Material and methods were searched thoroughly, but no material of Kaempferia nemoralis sp. nov. was discovered.

Figures

Fig. 1. Kaempferia nemoralis Insis. sp. nov. in natural habitat. Photograph: Oudomphone Insisiengmay.

Fig. 2. Kaempferia nemoralis Insis. sp. nov. A. Whole plant. B. Flower dissected. C. Bract and bracteoles. D. Calyx. E. Calyx apex (back view). F. Calyx apex (front view) (dorsal corolla lobe side). G. Floral tube with stamen attached. H. Anther. I. Ovary and epigynous glands. J. Ovary cross section. K. Ligule. Drawing from the type material by Agathe Haevermans (O. Insisiengmay et al. OI 234).

Fig. 3. Distribution of Kaempferia nemoralis Insis. sp. nov. (●) and Kaempferia pascuorum Insis. sp. nov. (▲). Type locality of Kaempferia pascuorum Insis. sp. nov. (▲).