Zingiber oligophyllum K.Schum.

Lin, Yuan-Chien, Chao, Chien-Ti, Chang, Chih-Yi & Tseng, Yen-Hsueh, 2022, Taxonomic revision of Zingiber (Zingiberaceae) of Taiwan, European Journal of Taxonomy 839, pp. 74-102 : 87-89

Zingiber oligophyllum K.Schum.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:798373-1

Fig. 11

Das Pflanzenreich Heft 20: 185 ( Schumann 1904). Type: TAIWAN – Pingtung County • Bankensing mountains ; lectotype: A. Henry 1605; K[ K-00815678 ]; isolectotype: US[ US-00092878 ]; syntype: A. Henry 1605A; K[ K-000815679 ] (designated by Bai et al. 2016) .

Zingiber mioga sensu acut. Wu & Larsen, Flora of China Vol. 24: 332 (Wu & Larsen 2000). – Ohba, Flora of Japan. IVb: 187 ( Ohba 2016), non Roscoe.

Additional material examined

TAIWAN – Nantou County • 131 County Rd. 37K bamboo grove; Y.C. Lin 1089; TCF . – Chiayi County • Yunshuihsi ; Y. Shimada s.n.; TAI . – Kaohsiung City • Liugui ; L.H. Yang 246; TAIE • Mt. Paiyun ; S.W. Chung 11189; TAIF • Mt. Shihbaluohan ; Y.C. Lin 1088; TCF • Chading Trail ; Y.C. Lin 1161; TCF . – Pingtung County • Lidingshan ; C.I. Huang et al. 2851; HAST • Lidingshan Hiking Trail ; S.C. Liu & C.K. Yang 2492; TNU • Lidingshan ; S.L. Huang 009; TNU • ibid.; H.T. Hung 463; TNU • Lilungshan ( Lidingshan ); T.C. Huang 16142; TAI .

Description

Perennial rhizomatous herb, 30–90 cm tall. Rhizomes fleshy, aromatic, compacted, branched, 1.8–2.0 cm in diameter, brown externally, yellow internally; root tubers terete, distantly from the rhizomes, ca 2.3 × 1.2 cm, brownish externally. Leafy shoots forming dense clumps, spreading, each shoot comprising 6–13 well-developed leaves at flowering. Leaves deciduous, simple, distichous; ligules ca 1 mm long, reduced, membranaceous, pale green; petiole 2.4–2.8 cm long, connate a pulvinus; lamina narrowly obovate, 26–37 × 8–11 cm, length/ width ratio 3.0–4.4, adaxially green, plicate, sparsely pubescent, abaxially pale green, densely pubescent, base attenuate, apex acuminate, margin entire, conspicuously undulate, chartaceous. Inflorescences 1–4 per plant, arising from rhizomes; peduncles 4–18 cm long, ascending, glabrous; spike fusiform-ovoid to narrowly ovoid, ca 8–12 × 2–3 cm, each with 3–5 flowers; fertile bracts greenish-yellow, usually red tinged at base and apex, broadly ovate, 2.3–3.7 × 1.6–2.5 cm, involute on both sides, apex acute to attenuate, glabrous externally and internally; bracteole broadly ovate, 2.2–3 × 0.8–1.3 cm, translucent greenish, apex acute, involute on both sides, glabrous externally and internally. Flowers 3–5 cm long, exserted beyond the bracts; calyx tubular, membranaceous, 6–9 mm long, with unilateral incision, translucent. Corolla tube slender, 2.2–3.3 cm long, yellowish-white, glabrous externally and internally; dorsal corolla lobe narrowly ovate, ca 1.9 × 0.7 cm, yellow, apex acuminate, glabrous; lateral corolla lobes narrowly ovate, ca 1.5 × 0.5 cm, yellowish, apex acuminate, much deflexed, glabrous; labellum narrowly ovate, ca 1.7 × 0.5 cm, yellowish, apex incised or entire, glabrous; lateral staminodes narrowly oblong to spatulate, ca 1.1 × 0.3 cm, connate to labellum at ca basal ⅓, yellow, apices rounded, glabrous. Stamens one; filaments ca 2 mm, glabrous; anther connective tissue yellow, elongate appendage wrapped around style; anther thecae two, ca 0.8 cm long, longitudinal dehiscence, pollen light yellow; anther crest beak-shaped, ca 5 mm long when stretched, yellow, apex entire. Style filiform, white, ca 3.6 cm long, extending to the end of anther crest; stigma, white, ciliate. Ovary cylindrical, trilocular, ca 0.6 × 0.3 cm, yellow, pubescent; epigynous glands two, narrowly conical, ca 4 mm long, pale yellow, apices sharp. Capsule ovate, dehiscence loculicidal, ca 3.1 × 1.5 cm, usually shorter than persistent bract, pericarp yellow and orange-red inside. Seed ellipsoid, ca 0.6 × 0.4 cm, enveloped by the aril. Aril white, enveloping ¾ of the length of the seeds.

Phenology

Flowering from July to September and fruiting from August to December.

Distribution

In Taiwan, Z. oligophyllum grows in shaded, moist undergrowth of disturbed secondary forest (orchards and bamboo mixed forest), at elevation 300– 800 m. Recently, this species was also recorded from China ( Bai et al. 2016).

Conservation status

This species was evaluated as Endangered (EN) by the Editorial Committee of the Red List of Taiwan Plants (2017).

Figures

Fig. 11. Zingiber oligophyllum K.Schum., Chading Trail. A. Habit. B. Leaf adaxial (left) and abaxial (right) surface. C. Ligule. D. Rhizome. E. Inflorescence. F. Flower. G. Bracts. H. Calyx tube. I. Corolla lobes. J. Labellum. K. Stamen and pistil. L. Ovary. M. Fruit. N. Seeds. Photos: L.P. Hsu.