Alpinia is considered the largest genus of Zingiberaceae with ca. 250 species occurring in tropical and subtropical Asia, Australia, and Pacific Islands. The historical biogeography of Alpinia was conducted to explain where Alpinia originated and how it migrated to other regions. The phylogeny, divergence times and ancestral area reconstruction of Alpinia were performed by using the molecular data based on the comprehensive taxon sampling. Our results provide an objective approach to understand the historical biogeography of Alpinia. The genus originated in Asia during the Late Cretaceous ca. 69 Ma and started to diverge after the K-Pg boundary during the early Paleocene with the presence and development of the tropical rainforest and a warm, moist climate. Alpinia migrated to Malesia and then dispersed to Australasia. The molecular analyses supported the diversification of Alpinia in Asia and Malesia. Additionally, the Indian Alpinia has likely a common ancestor with Renealmia and Aframomum, and it is possible that after originating in Asia, Alpinia migrated from Asia to India then to Africa during the early period of collision between the Indian subcontinent and Eurasia to form the common ancestor of Indian Alpinia, Renealmia, and Aframomum. Our phylogeny provides a framework for studies in biogeography, comparative ecology, and evolution.
Colocasia spongifolia sp. nov. (Araceae) is a large herb in forest edges on mountain slopes in southern China and central Vietnam. The plant is remarkable for its distinct vegetative morphology, while floral morphology places it as a close wild relative of C. esculenta (taro), among other closely-related species. The name given here reflects a thick, rubbery, spongy leaf blade unlike the blades in other Colocasia species known to us. The blade has exceptionally large spongy mesophyll cavities that are visible to the naked eye. Vegetative reproduction appears to be limited to direct (though shy) sprouting of lateral buds to form new erect stems, without production of side-tubers or stolons. In contrast to other Colocasia species, dense spreading colonies (clumps or patches) were not seen.
Typhonium phuocbinhense has been described as a new species from central Vietnam. The plant grows on sand-soil in the gaps of rocks and the banks of stream line in the Phuoc Binh National Park of Ninh Thuan Province. The species is different from all other species in the genus. It is closest to T. varians from Thailand but differs from this species by having leaves not variegated, spathe tube brown and spathe lamina much narrower and staminodes folded 180o at apex. Beside that the species key of Typhonium in Vietnam and the species information of distribution, ecology, habitat and conservation are also introduced.
This paper continues the publication of Aspidistra species newly discovered in the flora of Vietnam. It includes illustrated diagnosis of two species new to science, A. liliiflora and A. sessilistigma found in northern and central parts of the country. Detailed analytical color illustrations, data on morphology, ecology, phenology, tentative relationships and distribution are provided for both discovered species.
Typhonium kbangense is described as a new species from Vietnam. It is one of eleven species recently found in central and southern Vietnam. It belongs to the pedate leaf blade group of species and is closest to T. bachmaense and T. dongnaiense, but is differentiated from the two latter by having much longer sterile flowers, not dense as in T. dongnaiense, and without being clavate apically as in T. bachmaense. A table of morphological characters for the three species, the ecological characteristics, specific habitat and conservation status of the new species are estimated and provided.
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