Micropropagation of Gagnepainia godefroyi K Schum and Gagnepainia thoreliana (Baill) K Schum — Rare Medicinal Plants of Thailand

A micropropagation protocol for Gagnepainia godefroyi K Schum and G thoreliana (Baill) K Schum, two rare medicinal plants of Thailand, has been developed using terminal buds. After a total of twenty weeks of culture (4 weeks on MS added with 36.33 μM TDZ and 16 weeks on PGR-free MS), 28.77 and 13.50 shoots/explant were obtained, respectively. Rooting was spontaneous and regenerated plants were successfully transplanted to soil.     

Notes on the Genus Prismatomeris Thw. (Rubiaceae) of China

In the classification of J. D. Hooker (1873) and of K. Schumann (1891), the genus Prismatomeris Thw. is included in the tribe Morindeae of Rubiaceae. In the modern classifications, e. g. Bremekamp (1966), however, the taxonomic position of the genus is still uncertain. The genus agrees with the tribe Morindeae in the downward radicle, valvate aestivation of the corolla lobes and presence of raphides, but it differs significantly from the latter in the free flowers, bilocular ovary and the peltate ovule attached to the upper half of septum. Therefore, it would be more suitable that the genus is separated from the tribe Morindeae Miq., and is raised to the rank of tribe, placed in the subfamily Rubioideae based on Bremekamp’s delimitation. In the present paper ten character pairs of the genus and the notes on their taxonomic value are presented and two following species are recognized: 1. P. tetrandra (Roxb.) K. Schum. is found in northern India. Its subspecies, which is distributed in Yunnan of China and in Thailand, was previously called P. tetrandra (Roxb.) K. Schumann, and is now revised as P. tetrandra (Roxb.) K. Schum. subsp. multiflora (Ridley) Y. Z. Ruan. 2. P. connata Y.Z. Ruan is described as a new species, that has been treated as P. tetrandra (Roxb.) K. Schum. by previous auth rs. It is native to the subtropic region of South China. Its tropical new subspecies, P. connata. Y. Z. Ruan subsp. hainanensis Y. Z. Ruan, is found on Hainan Island.     

South–East Asian Phyllantheae II. Some Phyllanthus of subsect. Swartziani

In South–East Asia, Phyllanthus sect. Phyllanthus subsect. Swartziani Webster, presently includes P. amarus Schum. & Thonn., P. debilis Klein ex Willd. and P. airy–sha–wii sp. nov. The last species is found in North Thailand and has until now been confused with P. debilis. The Asian distribution of P. debilis is discussed.     

The neotropical genera of Marantaceae. Circumscription and relationships

The delimitation of the neotropical genera of the Marantaceae has been revised, using evidence mainly from the morphology of inflorescences and flowers. It is concluded that the generic concepts of Schumann in "Das Pflanzenreich", often questioned by 20th century American authors, are essentially sound, but that his grouping of the genera into two tribes is quite artificial. Main deviations from the treatment of Schumann are the rearrangement of the genera, somewhat different stress on diagnostic characters and a much narrower concept of the genus Myrosma. A new genus, Koernickanthe is proposed for the long known species Maranta orbiculata (Koern.) Schum. The genera are arranged into informal groups and the groups and genera recognized are: Maranta group (Maranta L., Monophyllanthe Schum.), Myrosma group (Myrosma L. f., Saranthe (Regel et Koern.) Eichl., Hylaeanthe Jonker et Jonker, Ctenanthe Eichl., Stromanthe Sond.), Calathea group (Calathea G. F. W. Meyer, lschnosiphon Koern., Pleiostachya Schum.), Monotagma group (Monotagma Schum., Koernickanthe gen. nov.) and Thalia "group" (Thalia L.). It is suggested, that each group has its closest affinities with Old World genera and that this indicates that the diversification of the marantaceous stock was far–reaching already before the Old and the New World became effectively isolated. It is further suggested that the early diversification of the family took place in Africa, the flora of which, although poor in species, is morphologically very diverse. Two new combinations are made, viz. Stromanthe stromanthoides (Macbr.) Anderss. and Koernickanthe orbiculata (Koern.) Anderss.     

Five new Liphistius species (Araneae, Mesothelae) from Thailand

Five new Liphistius species are described: L. lahu from northern Thailand, L. isan from northeastern Thailand, L. sayam from central Thailand, L. phileion from southeastern Thailand and L. phuketensis from southern Thailand. Liphistius thaleban Schwendinger is recorded from a new locality in southern Thailand. Notes on natural history are given, zoogeography and relationships between the species examined are discussed and four superspecies are distinguished within the trung -species group.     

光叶云南草蔻的植物分类学研究

作者在调查云南草蔻及光叶云南草蔻资源时发现,过去在云南、广西和广东被定为光叶云南草蔻的植物为三种不同的山姜属植物,从中分出两新种:那坡山姜Alpinia napoensis H.Dong et G.J.Xu和卵果山姜 Alpinia ovoidocarpa H.Dong et G.J.Xu,并对光叶云南草蔻作了形态特征补充描述。查清光叶云南草蔻Alpinia blepharocalyx K.Schum.var.glabrior(Hand.-Mazz.)T.L.Wu仅分布云南南部及东南部,广西、广东无分布。     

Diospyros korupensis sp. nov. and Diospyros onanae sp. nov. (Ebenaceae) from Cameroon

Diospyros korupensis Gosline is described as a new species endemic to the Korup National Park in Cameroon and neighbouring areas on the slopes of Mt Cameroon. Diospyros onanae Gosline is described as a new species from the South and Southwest Regions of Cameroon allied to the poorly known D. soyauxii Gürke & K. Schum. ex. Gürke.     

大苞红唇益智选育研究

采用杂交育种和系统选育技术,利用良姜亚属的益智(Alpinia oxyphylla Miq.)作母本,艳山姜亚属的小草蔻(Alpinia henryi K．Schum．)作父本,进行远缘杂交,经多年多代分离、筛选和鉴定,从其杂交后代中选育出姜科花卉新品种大苞红唇益智。该品种综合园艺性状优良,主要表现为具有较强的丛生性,花序直立,花大艳丽,唇瓣红色,赏花期长,适应性广。适合于园林布置或生产切花用。     

Four new species, a new variety, and a status change in Argostemma (Rubiaceae) from Thailand

Four new species of Argostemma , all endemic to Thailand are described: A. thaithongae , restricted to northern Thailand; A. monophyllum , rather widely distributed in the easern half of Thailand: A. puffii and A. routundicalyx , both endemic to peninsular Thailand. Var. variabile is a new variety of the peninsular Thailand, species A. lobulatum. A. setosum , previously thought to be an endemic species of peninsular Thailand, is now considered to be a subspecies of A. laeve (Malay peninsula and Sumatra): A. laeve subsp. setosum , stat. nov.     

Development of species-specific SCAR markers for identification of three medicinal species of Phyllanthus

Phyllanthus amarus Schum. & Thonn. has been widely used in traditional medicine in Thailand as an antipyretic, a diuretic, to treat liver diseases and viral infections. Two closely related species, P. debilis L. and P. urinaria Klein ex Willd., with different and less effective medicinal properties, are less commonly used. These three species are similar in morphology and often occur in overlapping populations in nature. The latter two species can easily be mistaken for P. amarus and collected for medicinal uses, which can lead to undesirable results. DNA fingerprints of these species were obtained using RAPD-PCR techniques. RAPD markers specific for each species were identified. Primers for highly specific sequence-characterized-amplified-regions (SCAR) were then designed from nucleotide sequences of specific RAPD markers. These primers efficiently amplified SCAR markers of 408, 501 and 319 bp unique to P. amarus, P. debilis and P. urinaria respectively. This method of plant identification was rapid and highly specific when tested against DNA of several closely related species and was able to amplify specific markers from mixed DNA samples.     

Development of species-specific SCAR markers for identification of three medicinal species of Phyllanthus

Phyllanthus amarus Schum.& Thonn.has been widely used in traditional medicine in Thailand as an antipyretic.a diuretic.to treat liver diseases and viml infections.Two closely related species,P. debills L.and P.urinaria KIein ex Willd.,with different and less effective medicinal properties,are less commonly used.These three species are similar in morphology and often Occur in overlapping populations in nature.The latter two species can easily be mistaken for P.amarus and collected for medicinal uses, which can lead to undesirable results.DNA fingerprints of these species were obtained using RAPD-PCR techniques.RAPD markers specific for each species were identified.Primers for highly specific sequence-characterized-amplified-regions (SCAR) were then designed from nucleotide sequences of specific RAPD markers.These primers efficiently amplified SCAR markers of 408,501 and 319 bp unique to P.amarus,P.debilis and P.urinaria respectively.This method of plant identification Was rapid and highly specific when tested against DNA of several closely related species and was able to amplify specific markers from mixed DNA samples.     

Gunnar Seidenfaden

Some additions and corrections to earlier papers are given, including two proposed new species and three new records for Thailand.
An alphabetic enumeration of the 999 taxa of orchids so far recorded from Thailand is supplied, with indications in broad lines of their occurrence inside and outside Thailand.     

The identity of the African genus Oncostemma K. Schurn. (Asclepiadaceae)

Oncostemma cuspidatum K. Schum., described from the West African island of S˜o Tomé, is recognized as being synonymous with Tylophora oblonga N.E. Br., a widespread and variable species of mainland African rainforests. The monotypic genus Oncostemma K. Schum. is reduced to synonymy with Tylophora R. Br. (Asclepiadaceae-Asclepiadeae-Astephaninae).     

Contributions to the orchid flora of Thailand IX

In continuation of earlier papers in this series, published in the now discontinued Botanisk Tidskrift Vol. 65–72, 1969–1977, additions and corrections to earlier papers on East Asiatic orchids are supplied. Seven new species are proposed, of which five from neighboring countries, and further seven new records for Thailand are listed. The five species alien to Thailand may be expected to be found also in Thailand. Some nomenclatural changes and new synonyms are proposed. An attempt is made to clarify taxonomical and nomenclatural problems on some entities in the Rhopalanthe section of Dendrobium.     

Myxomycetes from Thailand

Thirty–four species of mycomycetes are reported, mostly from northern Thailand, of which sixteen are new records for Thailand. Cribraria rufa is reported from tropical latitudes for the first time.     

A synopsis of Goniothalamus species (Annonaceae) in Thailand, with descriptions of three new species

A comprehensive taxonomic revision of Goniothalamus species (Annonaceae) occurring in Thailand is presented for the first time. Twenty-five species are recognized, including three that are described as new to science ( Goniothalamus aurantiacus from South-Western Thailand, Goniothalamus maewongensis from Northern Thailand, and Goniothalamus rongklanus from Northern and North-Eastern Thailand). Several taxonomic and nomenclatural misunderstandings are corrected. The name G. griffithii is shown to be widely misapplied for populations in Northern Thailand, for which the name G. calvicarpus should be applied; 'true' G. griffithii is restricted to South-Western Thailand and Myanmar. In addition, the widely used name G. marcanii is shown to be a synonym of G. tamirensis , and the name G. latestigma , previously regarded as a synonym of G. undulatus , is reinstated. Goniothalamus cheliensis is furthermore newly recorded from Thailand. Most species are restricted to Peninsular Thailand and represent a Malesian floristic component.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 156 , 355–384.     

Seven new species of Miliusa (Annonaceae) from Thailand

Seven new species of the genus Miliusa are described from Thailand (M. fragrans, M. hirsuta, M. intermedia, M. nakhonsiana, M. sessilis, M. thailandica, and M. umpangensis). A key to the 19 species of Miliusa in Thailand is provided. In addition, the complete taxonomic nomenclature of all known species of Miliusa in Thailand is given, with several new proposed synonyms. The new as well as the known species of Miliusa in Thailand are classified into four morphological groups on the basis of a combination of flower and/or inflorescence position and inner petal morphology proposed earlier.     

Contributions to the orchid flora of Thailand XI

The present paper contains further additions and corrections to earlier papers on the orchid flora of Thailand. Five new species are proposed, three species are new records for Thailand, and three earlier established taxa are reduced to synonyms.