Department of Biology

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Henrik Balslev

A synopsis of Lasianthus (Lasiantheae, Rubiaceae) in Thailand and two additional new species

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  • Tiwtawat Napiroon, Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University
  • ,
  • Kongkanda Chayamarit, Wildlife and Plant Conservation
  • ,
  • Sally Dawson, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
  • ,
  • Walter Till, University of Vienna
  • ,
  • Henrik Balslev

The genus Lasianthus in Thailand was studied on the basis of herbarium specimens and field investigation in Thai natural forests and protected areas during 2016–2018. A total of 68 species, including two subspecies and two varieties, are recognized, and their synonymy, distribution, and ecology are provided. Two new species, Lasianthus puffii and L. sithammaratensis are here described as new to science based on morphological characters of fertile and vegetative organs. Lasianthus puffii is similar to L. cyanocarpus but differs from that species by being densely hirsute, with 6‒8 mm long hairs on branches, branchlets, leaf blade, petioles, and calyx (not tomentose with 2‒3 mm long hairs) and drupes with five pyrenes (not. four pyrenes). Lasianthus sithammaratensis resembles L. appressus but differs in having calyx cupular (not campanulate) and drupes with 4‒5 pyrenes (not eight). Among the Thai Lasianthus, four names are reduced to synonymy, one species was transferred to the genus Paralasianthus and excluded from Thai Lasianthus. Here, a key for the identification to all Thai Lasianthus species, as well as their nomenclature, lists of specimens examined, and notes on distribution and affinities, are provided.

Original languageEnglish
JournalPhytotaxa
Volume439
Issue1
Pages (from-to)1-38
Number of pages38
ISSN1179-3155
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Apr 2020

    Research areas

  • Conservation Assessments, Flora of Thailand, Key to species, Primary forests, Taxonomy, Thai floristic regions

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