Globba lithophila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman

Sangvirotjanapat, Sunisa, Denduangboriphant, Jessada & Newman, Mark F., 2019, A taxonomic revision of Globba subsect. Nudae (Zingiberaceae), European Journal of Taxonomy 503, pp. 1-37 : 26-29

Globba lithophila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov.

urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77195004-1

Figs 2E , 6 , 11–12

Diagnosis

Similar to G. flagellaris and G. macrochila sp. nov. in its condensed cincinni and bright orange flowers, but differing from them by its clearly visible lateral corolla lobes, oblong and patent lateral staminodes, smaller size and ecological requirements, being found only in pockets of soil in cracks in limestone.

Etymology

From the Greek ‘ lithos ’ (stone) and ‘ phila ’ (loving), reflecting its limestone habitat.

Type material

Holotype THAILAND • Mae Hong Son, Pang Mapha, Tham Lot ; 675 m a.s.l.; 7 Aug. 1999; J.F. Maxwell 99–109 leg.; BKF.

Isotype

THAILAND • Same data as for the holotype; A.

Other material examined

THAILAND – Chiang Mai • Doi Chiang Dao , near cave at base of mountain; 14 Aug. 1963; T. Smitinand and H.O. Sleumer 1000 leg.; AAU . – Mae Hong Son • Mae Lan ; 23 May 1921; A.F.G. Kerr 5487 leg.; BK, C, K • Mae Sa-nga, near Phasua waterfall; 6 Aug. 2000; K.J. Williams 00–345 leg.; E • Pang Mapha, Tham Lot, Ban Wana Luang ; 5 Aug. 2000; K.J. Williams 00–336 leg.; E • Pang Mapha, Tham Lot ; 5 Sep. 1999; P. Suksathan 1739–1 leg.; QBG • Pang Mapha, Tham Pha Mon, near Pha Mon cave ; 5 Aug. 2000; K.J. Williams 00–334 leg.; E • Pang Mapha, Ban Bo Khai ; 12 Sep. 1999; P. Srisanga and C. Puff 1060 leg.; QBG. – Non wild collected material • Mae Hong Son, Pai, Lum Nam Pai Wildlife Sanctuary, 30 km from Amphoe Pang Mapha ; 14 Jun. 2014; Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden acc. no. 20130622B, vouchered as ‘ S. Sangvirotjanapat 642’; QBG .

Description

Herb 10–60 cm tall, growing in small pockets of rock or on soil near cliffs. Leaf sheaths ca 3, bladeless; ligule 2–5 mm long, bilobed, glabrous to minutely pubescent, light green with white margin; blades 5–6(–10), 8.7–18 × 5.5–6 cm, sessile, elliptic to narrowly ovate, base obliquely cuneate, apex acuminate, pubescent along midrib above, dark green sometimes with silver striations along midrib above, pubescent to sericeous below. Inflorescence 7–13 × 3–9 cm, lax, conical; peduncle ca 1 cm long; rachis light green with sparse hairs; bracts 2–5 × 1–1.5 mm, caducous, oblong, glabrous or pubescent, light green; cincinni 5–16, 0.5–4.7 cm long, flowers condensed at tip of cincinnus and arranged in two rows; pedicel 1–3 cm long, pubescent; bracteoles 1–4 × 0.5–2 mm, persistent, triangular, apex acute, mucronate, sparsely pubescent, green with paler margin. Flowers 2.8–3.2 cm long, ovary and calyx green, the rest pure orange; ovary 1–4 mm long (⚥), ellipsoid, ridged; calyx 4 mm long, infundibuliform, lobes acute; floral tube 12–14 mm long, minutely pubescent, dorsal and lateral corolla lobes 6–7 × 2–3 mm, hooded, elliptic, the lateral lobes easily seen; lateral staminodes ca 11 × 4.5 mm, patent, oblong, apex round or shallowly bilobed; labellum 7–8 × 4–5 mm, triangular, bilobed, spot absent, apex round to truncate, nectar tube ca 4.5 mm long; filament 23–26 mm long; anther 1–2 mm long, connective tissue, crest and appendages orange, semi-translucent, crest ca 1 mm long (shorter in Ƌ), truncate; ⚥ appendages ca 2 mm long, acuminate, bifid, upper pair bigger, decurrent to connective tissue and crest, lower pair smaller; Ƌ appendages ca 2 mm long, acuminate, bifid to halfway, upper pair only slightly bigger than lower. Fruit 10–15 × 5–6 mm, triangular, longitudinally ridged. Bulbils not seen.

Distribution and habitat

Thailand, 450–800 m a.s.l., only found in small pockets of soil in or very near limestone.

Conservation status

Least Concern. Globba lithophila sp. nov. has a small AOO of 28 km 2 and EOO of 2600 km 2, suggesting a status of Endangered but it grows in Lum Nam Pai Wildlife Sanctuary as well as ex situ in Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden so it is of Least Concern. It is a lithophyte which makes it sensitive to environmental factors so good management of protected areas is important to keep it in its natural habitat.

Notes

Globba lithophila sp. nov. has been compared closely to G. flagellaris , with which it is sympatric in north Thailand. Both species were cultivated in the same place at the Zingiberaceae nursery of Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden under controlled conditions. After two years of growth, the vegetative parts of the plants were larger than those of wild plants, while the floral parts and ratios of sizes remained the same. We conclude that these are two separate species and that G. lithophila sp. nov. is not merely a part of the variation of G. flagellaris .

Figures

Fig. 2. Globba subsect. Nudae K.Larsen. A. G. aranyaniae Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. (S. Sangvirotjanapat 785 leg.). B. G. expansa Wall. ex Horan. (M.F. Newman 2561 leg.). C. G. flagellaris K.Larsen (M.F. Newman and JLS 2048 leg.). D. G. insectifera Ridl. (S. Sangvirotjanapat s.n. leg.). E. G. lithophila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. (M.F. Newman 2576 leg.). F. G. macrochila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. (S. Sangvirotjanapat 795 leg.). Photographs: S. Sangvirotjanapat.

Fig. 6. Distribution range of G. aranyaniae Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. (circles), G. flagellaris K.Larsen (squares), G. lithophila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. (triangles), G. macrochila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. (stars). The type locality of each species is indicated by a bigger symbol.

Fig. 11. Globba lithophila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. A. Habit. B. Inflorescence. C. Bract. D. Bracteole, side and front views (same scale as C). E. Flower, front and side views. F. Dorsal corolla lobe. G. Lateral corolla lobes (same scale as F). H. Lateral staminodes. I. Labellum (same scale as H). J. ç appendages. K. Ƌ appendages (same scale as J). Drawing: S. Sangvirotjanapat from S. Sangvirotjanapat 642 leg.

Fig. 12. Globba lithophila Sangvir. & M.F.Newman sp. nov. A. Plant in its habitat. B. Habit. C. Leaves. D. Ligule. E. ç flower (front view). F. ç flower (side view). G. Ƌ flower (front view). H. Ƌ flower (side view). Photographs: S. Sangvirotjanapat from S. Sangvirotjanapat 642 leg.