Plagiostachys lourdesiae (Zingiberaceae), a new species from Mindanao, Philippines

Abstract

A new species, Plagiostachys lourdesiae, from Mindanao, Philippines is described here. Plagiostachys escritorii, which also occurs in Mindanao, is the most closely related species. The new species differs from P. escritorii in its petiolate lamina, lax inflorescence, red and strongly curved upward labellum, and globose to subglobose maroon fruit. A colour plate, notes on its distribution, habitat, phenology, conservation status as well as a key to Plagiostachys species in the Philippines are provided.

Plagiostachys Strobilifera Var. Conica (Zingiberaceae), a New Variety From Sarawak, Borneo

“…Specimens were described and verified with protologues and type material. Examination from several herbaria (SAR, HUMS), digital images of types (IPNI, 2020; Newman et al, 2020; POWO, 2020), protologues and published materials of relevant species including Holttum, 1950;Smith, 1985;Cowley, 1999;Sakai & Nagam, 2003;Newman et al, 2004;Gobilik et al, 2005;Julius et al, 2007;Sabu et al, 2008;Meekiong et al, 2011& Docot, 2020 were also carried out. Herbarium specimens were prepared accordingly including preserving the flowers in 70% ethanol.…”

“…One of these, P. albiflora, extends to Narathiwat and Yala provinces of Thailand (POWO, 2020). Nine species of Plagiostachys have been recorded in the Philippines including P. albiflora and the newly described species P. lourdesiae Docot (Docot, 2020) and, eight of them endemic (Acma et al, 2019). Two species are found in Indonesia particularly Sumatra and the Moluccas; P. sumatrensis Ridl.…”

Discovery through citizen science III: Cryptocoryne zamboangensis (Araceae), a new water trumpet discovered in Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines

“…Despite the importance of the Zamboanga Peninsula in terms of presence of restricted-range and endemic species, very few studies have been conducted in the area. However, thanks to ongoing field exploration efforts in the area over the past few years, new plant taxa have been discovered within the Zamboanga Peninsula such as Plagiostachys lourdesiae Docot (Docot 2020), Macrosolen zamboangensis Mazo, Nickrent and Pelser (Mazo et al 2022), Begonia bangsamoro subsp. bagasa Naive (Naive et al 2022a) and many more.…”