taxonID	type	description	language	source
03F5BF6AFFB4FFE8FF2DFAB1F7CE104A.taxon	description	Description. Perennial rhizomatous herb 0.6 – 1 (– 1.5) m tall. Rhizomes fleshy, tuberous. Vegetative rhizome units with or without a pseudo-neck, pseudo-neck 1 – 10 cm long, 5 – 6 mm in diam., with up to 8 internodes, internodes 0.5 – 1.8 cm long, externally cream when young but brown or reddish brown with age, internally pale yellow, or beige to peach coloured or dark purplish black, persistent scales brownish with densely glandular markings, smell a mixture of common ginger and mushroom, taste bitter; head broadly obconical, 1.5 – 2 cm long, 0.6 – 0.8 cm in diam. at base, 1 – 1.8 cm in diam. at apex, with 4 – 7 internodes, internodes 0.2 – 0.9 cm long; roots succulent, 5 – 7 mm in diam. Flowering rhizome units much smaller than vegetative rhizome units, cylindrical, 0.5 – 1.2 × 0.5 – 0.8 cm, with 2 – 3 internodes. Leafy shoots often arching, one per rhizome, occasionally up to 5 leafy shoots form a small clump, each shoot with (9 –) 12 – 22 well-developed leaves when flowering, basal ca. 1 / 5 leafless; pseudostems to 1 cm in diam. at base, 0.4 – 0.6 cm in diam. in the middle; leaf sheath s open, green, sometimes lower ones purple tinged, glabrous or slightly pubescent; ligules bilobed, 1 – 6 mm long, membranous, semi-hyaline, glabrous, apices of the lobes obtuse to acute; petioles 1 – 5 mm long (slightly longer on the leaves in the middle of the shoot), consisting of pulvinus only, pale green, slightly pubescent; laminae herbaceous, narrowly elliptic, narrowly ovate to linear, 14 – 27 × 1.8 – 5 cm (length: width ratio 3.8 – 8.4), adaxially yellowish green to bluish green, smooth (not plicate) and glabrous, abaxially pale green or with burgundy tinges, glabrous or very sparsely pubescent along the midrib (hairs silvery, appressed), base obtuse on lower leaves, attenuate on upper leaves, apex acuminate, sometimes caudate on apical leaves. Inflorescences one to three per leafy shoot, radical; peduncles 1 to 27 cm long, 3.5 – 5 mm in diam., prostrate, buried under leaf litter; sheathing bracts narrowly ovate, 2.5 – 4 × 0.4 – 1.2 cm (when flattened), cream or green with pink, dark purple or red tinge (appear brownish red or red), pubescent externally; rachis densely pubescent; spikes narrowly ovoid when young, ovoid or obovoid when fruiting, 6 – 7 × 2 – 3 cm, with 7 – 19 bracts (1 – 2 basal bracts usually sterile, fertile one s each subtending a single flower); bracts linear, lanceolate, to narrowly ovate, laterally strongly recurved, almost appearing as a tube, 2.5 – 4.5 × 0.6 – 1.4 cm (when flattened), green with pink, dark purple or red tinge (appearing brownish red or red), pubescent externally (hairs appressed), glabrous internally, apex acute to attenuate; bracteole lanceolate, involute laterally, 2.3 – 3 × 1 – 1.3 cm when flattened, pale greenish purple or red, pubescent externally (hairs appressed), glabrous internally, apex attenuate. Flowers 5 – 7.5 cm long, with floral tube slightly exserted beyond bracts, one to two flowers open at a time; calyx tubular to narrowly campanulate, with unilateral incision to about a third of its length, 11 – 18 mm long, 3 – 4.5 mm in diam., membranous, cream or cream with red tinge, apex three-teethed, sparsely pubescent; floral tube 3 – 4.5 cm long, shallowly curved, cylindrical at base (2.5 – 3 mm in diam.), narrowly funnel-shaped towards the apex (3.5 – 4.5 mm in diam.), cream, sparsely pubescent externally and near the throat internally; dorsal corolla lobe narrowly ovate, shallowly convex, 25 – 32 × 6 – 10 mm, cream to yellow with red tinge, sparsely pubescent externally, glabrous internally, apex mucronate; lateral corolla lobes narrowly ovate to narrowly triangular, usually deflexed, 24 – 32 × 4.5 – 7 mm, cream to yellow with red tinge, sparsely pubescent externally, glabrous internally, apex attenuate; labellum obovate to ovate, 23 – 30 × 12 – 14 mm, pure cream, or pale yellow with pale to dark purplish red tinge, glabrous on both sides, margin often crisped, apex rounded or slightly incised; lateral staminodes narrowly oblong or narrowly obovate, 13 – 18 × 3 – 5 mm, pure cream or to pale yellow with pale to dark purplish red tinged, glabrous on both sides, connate to labellum at basal 2 / 3 – 4 / 5, apex often undulate. Stamen 18 – 25 mm long (to ca. 28 mm long with anther crest stretched); filament absent; anther 8 – 11 mm long (excluding anther crest), 3.5 – 4 mm wide, connective tissue cream white to pale yellow, glabrous; anther thecae two, dehiscing throughout entire length, pollen creamy yellow; anther crest ca. 10 – 12 mm long (to 14 mm long when stretched), pure cream or with purple tinge, glabrous, apex entire. Style filiform, white, glabrous; stigma extends to tip of anther crest, slightly thicker than style, 1 – 1.5 mm long, funnel-shaped, white, ostiole ciliate. Ovary cylindrical, cream, 5 – 8 × 3 – 4 mm, densely pubescent (hair appressed), trilocular; epigynous glands two, 4 – 7 mm long, narrowly conical, cream-yellow, apex acute. Fruits narrowly ovoid, 2.5 – 3 × 1.5 – 1.8 cm, obtusely 3 - angled, pilose, pink with red or purple tinge externally, dehiscent along the dorsal suture into three valves when mature; valves 2.5 – 3 × 1 – 1.8 cm, scarlet red internally. Seeds 6 – 9 per locule, oblongoid to spherical, 4 – 5 × 4 – 4.5 mm, black, with striae on the surface; aril sac-like, white, covering 1 / 4 of the seed. Key to the two subspecies of Zingiber bambusifolium	en	Bai, Lin (2025): Taxonomic studies on Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in China VII: the identity of Z. bambusifolium and a new subspecies. Phytotaxa 689 (1): 40-52, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4
03F5BF6AFFB3FFE4FF2DFA9DF77114B9.taxon	materials_examined	Other specimens examined: — CHINA. Guangxi Province: Baise City, Leye County, Gantian Village elev. 1070 m, 28 June 1959, C. T. Li 603237 (IBK [barcode IBK 00137769]); ibidem, 24 September 1977, Leye Expedition 3 - 30138 (GXMI [barcode GXMI 045423]); ibidem, elev. 1070 m, 4 November 2023, L. Bai et al. BLSC- 326 (IBSC); Baise City, Leye County, Huaping Village, 12 September 2013, H. Z. Lv et al. 451028130912001 LY (GXMG [barcode GXMG 0098453]); Baise City, Leye County, Tongle Village, 6 November 2012, Y. M. Zhao et al. 1976 (GXMG); Baise City, Leye County, Yazhang Village, elev. 699 m, 25 July 2014, Z. C. Lu et al. YC 0677 (IBK); ibidem, elev. 1028 m, 24 October 2014, Z. C. Lu et al. YC 1157 (IBK); Baise City, Lingyun County, Xiajia Village, 12 October 1977, K. Z. Yuan 3 - 26101 (GXMI barcode GXMI 051066); Baise City, Tianlin County, Langping Village, 20 September 1977, Tianlin Expedition 3 - 43328 (GXMI [barcode GXMI 045421]); Hechi City, Fengshan County, Jinya Village, elev. 2000 m, 21 September 1977, Fengshan Expedition 40 (GXMI [barcode GXMI 045422]). Guizhou Province: Qiannan Buyi & Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guiding County, Yunwu Village, elev. 980 m, 27 July 2024, L. Bai & Y. Y. Zhang BLSC- 24072803 (IBSC).	en	Bai, Lin (2025): Taxonomic studies on Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in China VII: the identity of Z. bambusifolium and a new subspecies. Phytotaxa 689 (1): 40-52, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4
03F5BF6AFFB3FFE4FF2DFA9DF77114B9.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology & Phenology: — Zingiber bambusifolium subsp. bambusifolium grows in understories of carbonate rock-based (limestone or dolomite) soil. Rhizomes are often covered by thick litter layers. The elevation of occurrence is between 699 m to 2000 m. Flower records are from late-July to late August. Fruits start to mature from September but last till early November.	en	Bai, Lin (2025): Taxonomic studies on Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in China VII: the identity of Z. bambusifolium and a new subspecies. Phytotaxa 689 (1): 40-52, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4
03F5BF6AFFB3FFE4FF2DFA9DF77114B9.taxon	distribution	Distribution & Conservation status: — Zingiber bambusifolium subsp. bambusifolium is currently known from Baise City and Hechi City in Guangxi Province and Qiannan Buyi & Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Guizhou Province (Fig. 5). The Extent of Occurrence (EOO) is about 11500 km 2. In the two spots I collected the subspecies in Leye County in Guangxi Province and Guiding County in Guizhou Province, the species forms rather large populations. At present, I therefore propose to treat Z. bambusifolium subsp. bambusifolium as ‘ Least concerned’ (LC) according to the latest IUCN Criteria (IUCN 2012, 2019).	en	Bai, Lin (2025): Taxonomic studies on Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in China VII: the identity of Z. bambusifolium and a new subspecies. Phytotaxa 689 (1): 40-52, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4
03F5BF6AFFB3FFE4FF2DFA9DF77114B9.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — The specific epithet “ bambusifolium ” is derived from the narrow laminae that resemble bamboo leaves. Notes: — The presence of minute, circular or oblong, dark brown punctae on upper surface of laminae on type specimens of T. bambusifolia var. bambusifolia is a critical character in resolving its identity. These punctae appear to be natural pigmentation. They are visible with the naked eye on dry specimens (see Fig. 1 D & 2 B). They also occur on several other species of Z. sect. Cryptanthium that have a burgundy red tinge (when fresh) on the lower surface of their laminae, e. g. Z. cochleariforme Fang (1980: 225), Z. guangxiense Fang (1980: 226) (unpublished data). These punctae do not show on a light microscope leaf epidermis examination after regular pretreatment of removing mesophyll cells. Nor do they show under scanning electron microscope (SEM) either. Coincidentally, Léveillé (1906) named T. bambusifolia var. rubromaculosa (rubro + maculosus, meaning red spotted or red blotched), after the irregular, diffused brownish patches (“ Feuilles tachées de rouge ”) that appear on the lamina of the type specimens (Fig. 1 B). However, those patches are not punctae; they are probably caused by fungi. During the search for Z. bambusifolium subsp. bambusifolium from its type locality, three other species of Z. sect. Cryptanthium, viz. Z. atrorubens, Z. emeiense Zhu (1984: 185), and Z. tuanjuum Zhu (1984: 187), were found in the general area. They all differ from Z. bambusifolium subsp. bambusifolium by their lack of the minute, circular or oblong, dark brown punctae on upper surface of lamina on dry specimens. Zingiber atrorubens (= T. bambusifolia var. rubromaculosa) futher differs from Z. bambusifolium subsp. bambusifolium by the labellum being pink to violet with white striae (vs cream-coloured), lateral staminodes being absent or vestigial (vs lateral staminodes prominent) and leaf sheaths being partially closed (vs open). Zingiber tuanjuum futher differs from Z. bambusifolium subsp. bambusifolium by having longer ligules (10 – 30 mm vs 1 – 6 mm), larger laminae (30 – 41 × 3.4 – 6.5 vs 14 – 27 × 1.8 – 3.5 cm) and larger bracts (2.5 – 5.7 × 1.2 – 3.5 cm vs 2.5 – 4.5 × 0.6 – 1.4 cm) that are densely imbricated (vs loosely arranged). Zingiber emeiense futher differs from Z. bambusifolium subsp. bambusifolium by its running rhizome with the vegetative rhizome units having a pseudo-neck that is 12 – 19 cm long (vs rhizome compact and pseudo-neck absent), longer ligules (7 – 9 (– 13) mm vs 1 – 6 mm), longer petioles (3 – 40 mm vs 1 – 5 mm), labella and lateral staminodes being deep violet with white striae (vs cream) and the latter connating to the former at basal 1 / 5 to 1 / 2 (vs 2 / 3 – 4 / 5).	en	Bai, Lin (2025): Taxonomic studies on Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in China VII: the identity of Z. bambusifolium and a new subspecies. Phytotaxa 689 (1): 40-52, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4
03F5BF6AFFBFFFE7FF2DFDC3F68F14F0.taxon	materials_examined	Type: — CHINA. Guizhou Province, Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Xingyi City, Xiawutun Village, limestone hills, elev. 1202 m, 104.907152 ° E, 25.051440 ° N, 20 August 2023, L. Bai & Y. Y. Zhang BLSC- 321 (holotype IBSC!, isotypes GXMI!, HITBC!, IBK!, KUN!)	en	Bai, Lin (2025): Taxonomic studies on Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in China VII: the identity of Z. bambusifolium and a new subspecies. Phytotaxa 689 (1): 40-52, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4
03F5BF6AFFBFFFE7FF2DFDC3F68F14F0.taxon	diagnosis	Diagnosis. Differs from the typical subspecies in labellum and lateral staminodes being pale yellow with pale to dark purplish red tinge (vs cream in Z. bambusifolium subsp. bambusifolium), lamina broader (3 – 5 cm vs 1.8 – 3.5 cm). rhizome pale yellow (vs beige to peach coloured or dark purplish black) and vegetative rhizome units sometimes with a pseudo-neck 1 – 10 cm long (vs vegetative rhizome units without pseudo-neck). Other specimens examined (paratypes): — CHINA. Guizhou Province: Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture: Xingren County, Xiashan Village, C. Z. Dang 80616 (HGAS, [barcode 048553 and another sheet without barcode]); Xingren County, Haizi Village, 1400 – 1450 m, 10 October 1998, Sino-Japan expedition 100700 (KUN [barcodes 0336574]) & 100264 (KUN [barcodes 0336577]); Xingren County, Yuzhang Village, 1470 m, 8 October 1998, S. G. Wu et al. 100878 (KUN [barcodes 0336578]); Xingyi City, Jingnan Village, Heimajiao Hamlet, elev. 1500 m, Anshun Expedition 677 (HGAS barcode 048554); Xingyi City, Xiawutun Village, 5 November 2023, L. Bai BLSC - 327 (IBSC); ibid., elev. 1184 m, C. Y. Deng 522301140906511 LY, 6 September 2014 (GZTM [barcodes GZTM 0059899 & GZTM 0059900]); Xingyi City, Maling River Canyon, elev. 970 m, X. Hu et al. Hu- 252 (IBSC [barcode 0804994]); Xingyi City, Maling River Canyon, elev. 998 m, L. Bai et al. BLSC- 320 (IBSC). Yunnan Province: Wenshan Zhuang Autonomous Prefecture, Guangnan County, Zhulin Village, elev. 1494 m, 21 August 2024, L. Bai BLSC- 24082101 (IBSC); Wenshan Zhuang Autonomous Prefecture, Qiubei County, Shuanglongying County, elev. 1489 m, 22 August 2024, L. Bai BLSC- 24082201 (IBSC).	en	Bai, Lin (2025): Taxonomic studies on Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in China VII: the identity of Z. bambusifolium and a new subspecies. Phytotaxa 689 (1): 40-52, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4
03F5BF6AFFBFFFE7FF2DFDC3F68F14F0.taxon	biology_ecology	Ecology & Phenology: — Zingiber bambusifolium subsp. magenteum grows in understories of limestone hills. Rhizomes are often covered by thick litter layers. The elevation of occurrence is between 970 m to 1500 m. Flowering commences from mid-August and probably extends to late September. Fruits start to mature from October but last till late November.	en	Bai, Lin (2025): Taxonomic studies on Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in China VII: the identity of Z. bambusifolium and a new subspecies. Phytotaxa 689 (1): 40-52, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4
03F5BF6AFFBFFFE7FF2DFDC3F68F14F0.taxon	distribution	Distribution & Conservation status: — Zingiber bambusifolium subsp. magenteum is currently known from Xingren County and Xingyi City of Qianxinan Buyei and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province and Wenshan Zhuang Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province in southwestern China (Fig. 5). The Extent of occurrence (EOO) is about 7400 km 2. In the three spots I collected the subspecies, it forms rather large populations. The subspecies is not known to be harvested as medicine or vegetables. At present, I therefore propose to treat Z. bambusifolium subsp. magenteum as ‘ Least concerned’ (LC) according to the latest IUCN Criteria (IUCN 2012, 2019). Affinities: — Apart from the typical subspecies, Z. bambusifolium subsp. magenteum is also superficially similar to Z. tenuifolium Bai et al. (2015: 92). Zingiber tenuifolium is so far only known from a few populations in Xinping County, Yuxi City, Yunnan Province, about 200 km west of the nearest occurrence of Z. bambusifolium subsp. magenteum (see Fig. 5). It grows in sandstone and shale-derived substrates along creek in an elevation of 500 – 700 m. Zingiber bambusifolium subsp. magenteum differs from Z. tenuifolium by broader lamina (3 – 5 cm), corolla lobes cream to yellow with red tinge, lateral staminodes connate to labellum at basal 2 / 3 – 4 / 5 and vegetative rhizome units sometimes much elongated (pseudo neck 1 – 10 cm long). In Z. tenuifolium, laminae are 1.5 – 3 cm wide, corolla lobes are reddish brown, lateral staminodes connate to labellum at basal 1 / 3 – 1 / 2, vegetative rhizome units never elongated (lacking a pseudo-neck). Although the differences seem to be subtle, unpublished phylogenetic study shows that the two entities are not especially closely related.	en	Bai, Lin (2025): Taxonomic studies on Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in China VII: the identity of Z. bambusifolium and a new subspecies. Phytotaxa 689 (1): 40-52, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4
03F5BF6AFFBFFFE7FF2DFDC3F68F14F0.taxon	etymology	Etymology: — The subspecies epithet magenteus (meaning red-purple (Stearn 1992 )) refers to the purple-red labellum and lateral staminodes. Notes: Zingiber bambusifolium subsp. magenteum seems to hybridize with Z. densissimum Tong & Xia (1987: 467). Putative hybrid individuals (L. Bai BLSC- 24082102 & L. Bai BLSC- 24082202) are seen in the two populations of Z. bambusifolium subsp. magenteum from Wenshan Zhuang Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan. Although Z. densissimum is not seen in the same localities, they do occur in the general area of Wenshan Zhuang Autonomous Prefecture. Zingiber tenuifolium was also suspected to hybrid with Z. densissimum (Bai et al. 2024).	en	Bai, Lin (2025): Taxonomic studies on Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) in China VII: the identity of Z. bambusifolium and a new subspecies. Phytotaxa 689 (1): 40-52, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4, URL: https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.689.1.4
