Geostachys sp. A

Leong-Škorničková, Jana, Bình, Nguyén Qu ốc, Đăng, Tr ần H ữu, Trư ờng, Lưu H ồng & Nuraliev, Maxim S., 2023, A revision of Geostachys (Zingiberaceae: Alpinioideae) in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, including a new species, G. aristata, Phytotaxa 585 (4), pp. 245-260 : 257-258

Geostachys sp. A

Specimens examined:— LAOS. Xiangkhouang province: Pu Hua Sua [near Muang Phan], ca. 1300 m, 21 April 1932, A.F.G. Kerr 21176 (P: P06136200) .

Notes: —Given the general distribution of the genus in mainland Southeast Asia extends from Peninsular Malaysia and Thailand to Vietnam through Cambodia, the close proximity of some Vietnam collections to Laos borders (less than 10 km in case of G. aristata in Tây Giang district), and the continuity of suitable habitats, it is reasonable to expect the occurrence of Geostachys in Laos. Based on the assumption, that the type of G. pierreana, Pierre 5851 was collected in Laos, Newman et al. (2007) mentioned that it occurs there. As explained above, this remains unlikely.

Currently the only collection confirming the presence of the genus in Laos is that of Kerr 21176. Although the specimen is at very early stages of flowering, it appears that this plant likely belongs to the group of white-flowered species with cincinni/flower-bearing branches distributed evenly around the axis (including G. annamensis and G. aristata ). The label notes describe the flower colour as white (no mention of pink tinge or markings) and given the far distance from the other species in this group, it is likely, that this collection belongs to yet another undescribed species. This specimen represents the northernmost location of Geostachys currently known.