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Uttapit see wine (Typhonium vinicolor) from Khon Kaen, Thailand, as new species

NEWS - Uttapit see wine (Typhonium vinicolor) from Khon Kaen Province (Northeastern Thailand) is described as a species new to science and is easily distinguished from other species by its narrow elliptic to elliptic-lanceolate leaf blades with reddish purple abaxial surfaces.

Uttapit see wine (Typhonium vinicolor) from Khon Kaen, Thailand, as new species

Researchers from Mahasarakham University in Maha Sarakham, National University of Laos in Vientiane and Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden in Chiang Mai gave it the Latin name “vinicolor” meaning wine-colored, referring to the reddish purple abaxial surface of the leaves.

T. vinicolor differs from T. laoticum Gagnep. (1942) in having reddish purple abaxial surfaces of leaf blades (vs. pale green), and white or pale green leaf sheaths with dark purple spots on the outer surface (vs. pink leaf sheaths with brown spots on the outer surface).

Then the pistil zone with 5-6 rows of pistils (vs. 2-3 rows of pistils), and staminodes arranged more or less loosely in 4-5 spirals (vs. staminodes arranged closely in 2–3 spirals).

The new species differs from T. griseum Hett. & Sookch. in having a pointed or obtuse wedge-shaped leaf blade base (vs. with rounded posterior lobes), the spadix almost as long or shorter than the spathe (vs. longer than the spathe).

Then the staminodes are clavate-fusiform and yellow (vs. white staminodes are sickle-shaped and narrowly fusiform), the staminate zone is longer (about 1 cm vs. about 0.5 cm) and the ivory-colored appendix is erect or weakly curved (vs. the pale brown appendix is strongly curved).

The spathe and spadix resemble those of T. huense V.D. Nguyen & Croat (1997), T. lineare Hett. & V.D. Nguyen (2001) and T. stigmatilobatum V.D. Nguyen (2008). However, it differs from T. vinicolor because the spathe leg is bent horizontally during anthesis (vs. only the upper part of the spathe leg is bent and then strongly coiled during anthesis in T. vinicolor).

Then the strongly curved stipe appendix, dark brown or purple (vs. the erect or weakly curved appendix, ivory in color, and stalked in T. vinicolor).

The new species is found exclusively at the type site in Khon Kaen Province, Northeastern Thailand and thrives in shaded to semi-shaded areas in tropical deciduous forests at an elevation of 200-250 meters. This species shows optimal growth in sandy loam soil mixed with rocks.

Researchers propose ‘Data Deficient’ (DD) for the Red List criteria of the IUCN Standards and Petitions Subcommittee (2024) due to limited data on distribution, no details of population size, trends or potential threats to habitat. Further research is needed to assess the conservation status of this species.

The genus Typhonium was first formally described by the Austrian botanist Heinrich Wilhelm Schott (1794-1865) in Wiener Z. Kunst 3: 72 (1829) and to date has 3 synonyms with over 70 species. The natural distribution of this genus includes East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and northwestern Australia.

Original research

Saensouk P, Saensouk S, Hein KZ, Boonma T, Sengthong A, Rakarcha S (2024). Studies on Typhonium (Araceae) of Thailand I: Typhonium vinicolor, a new species from Khon Kaen Province, Northeastern Thailand. PhytoKeys, 246: 189-195, DOI:10.3897/phytokeys.246.128778
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