Elettariopsis biphylla S.Saensouk & P.Saensouk, 2014

Saensouk, Surapon & Saensouk, Piyaporn, 2014, Elettariopsis biphylla, a new species of Zingiberaceae from Thailand, Phytotaxa 159 (1), pp. 23-25 : 23

Elettariopsis biphylla S.Saensouk & P.Saensouk , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–6 )

The species has two distinctive leaves and dark red veins in parts of the labellum. The morphological characters of E. biphylla are similar to those of E. monophylla but it differs in its two leaves, dark red veins in parts of the labellum and length of petioles, the pseudostem and the apex of the anther crest.

Type: — THAILAND. Bueng Kan Province: Bung Khla District, Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary , elevation 140 m., May 2013, Saensouk 400 (holotype BK!, isotypes BKF!, KKU!, QSBG!) .

Perennial herbs, 30–35 cm; rhizomes creeping, slender, bearing pseudostems at intervals. Bladeless leaf 1, normal leaves 2; ligules 1–2 mm, apex bilobed, glabescent; petioles 9–12 cm, glabrous, green, channeled; leaf blades lanceolate-oblong or elliptic, 20–30 × 5–10 cm, apex acuminate or mucronate, base attenuate, margin entire to slightly undulate, both sides glabrous, upper surface dark green, lower surface lighter green. Inflorescences arising from the rhizome between bases of pseudostems, with flowers in an erect dense head. Peduncles 0.6–1.2 cm. Bracts 6–8, lanceolate, light pinkh, c. 2.0 × 0.7 cm. Bracteoles lanceolate, 1.5 × 3.5 mm. Calyx tubular, 2.7–3.0 cm, usually longer than the corolla tube, pinkish to reddish white with yellowish apex, lobes 3, yellowish; dorsal lobe pinkish to reddish, oblong, c. 1.8 × 1.0 cm, hooded; lateral lobes pinkish to reddish, oblong, c. 1.8 × 7.0 mm, slightly hooded. Lateral staminodes absent. Labellum suborbicular, c 2.5 × 2.0 cm, white with a dark red band at the base and a yellow band in the middle, hairy towards the throat; base clawed, 5–8 mm; veins dark red; distal part 3-lobed, the median lobe crenate, sometimes slightly emarginate. Filament short, c. 5 × 3 mm, yellowish. Anther c. 4 × 3 mm; anther-crest, whitish, c. 3 × 2 mm, apex obtuse. Ovary 2–5 × 2–4 mm, pubescent, stylodes 2, slender, 5– 6 × ca. 1 mm, not surrounding the style; stigma triangular with ciliate apex, inconspicuous. Flowering from March to May. Fruits not seen.

Distribution:—Endemic to Thailand, only known from Bueng Kan Province Bung Khla District, (Phu Wua Wildlife Sanctuary)

Habitat:—This species grows in the shade of mixed deciduous forest at an elevation of ca. 140 m.

Vernacular names:—Khing-Nok-Kho.

Ethnobotany:— Even though this species has only recently been discovered, its fresh young leaves are eaten as a vegetable in Northeastern Thai cuisine.

Figures

FIGURES 1–5: Elettariopsis biphylla. 1. flower. 2, 3. inflorescence. 4. habit showing rhizome and inflorescence. 5. habit showing pseudostem.

FIGURE 6: Elettariopsis biphylla. A: plant habit, showing leafy stem. B: inflorescence.C: bract. D: calyx tube and ovary. E: dorsal corolla lobe. F: lateral corolla lobe. G: labellum. H: anther, anther crest and stigma. I: stigma (scale bars = 1 cm)