Volume 16 > Part 2 > Year 2023 > Page 719 > Zingiberaceae > Zingiber

29. Zingiber montanum (J.Koenig) A.Dietr.wfo-0000617206

Sp. Pl., ed. 6, 1: 52. 1831; Bai et al., Taxon 68(6): 1341. 2020.— Amomum montanum J.Koenig, Observ. Bot. 3: 51. 1783.— Jaegera montana (J.Koenig) Raeusch., Nomencl. Bot., ed. 3: 1. 1797. Plate LXXXVI: B.

Accepted Name : This is currently accepted.

Synonyms & Citations :

Description : Rhizomatous herb 1.2–2 m tall, forming clumps. Leaf sheaths glabrous; ligule bilobed, lobes 2–3 mm with connecting membrane between lobes; blade elliptic, oblong or lanceolate, 18–25 by 4.5–6.2 cm, slightly hairy below, base attenuate, apex acuminate or caudate; petiole short, < 5 mm long, pubescent. Inflorescences 1–4, radical, slanting; peduncle erect, slender, ca 15 cm long; spike fusiform to ovoid, 8–10(–13) by 2.8–4 cm, acute, flower 1 or rarely 2–3 in lowermost bracts; bracts obclavate or broadly elliptic, 3.5–4.5 by 2.5–4.3 cm, obtuse, orange red or red; bracteoles lanceolate, 1.9–2.6 by 0.6–1.3 cm, acute to acuminate. Flower: ovary glabrescent or pubescent, 3–5 by 3–5 mm, ovules 9–12 per locule; epigynous glands ca 0.5 cm, rarely to 1 cm; calyx tube 0.9–1.7 cm long, lobes 1–1.6 cm long; corolla ca 7 cm long, cream-white; floral tube 3.7–4.7 cm long, dorsal lobe 2.2–2.8 by 1–1.4 cm, lateral lobes 2–2.7 by 0.5–0.7 cm; labellum cream with dark purplish markings, midlobe ovate, narrowing to the tip, apex bilobed, lobes 1.2–1.6 by 1.3–1.8 cm, side lobes 3.5–5 by 0.5–0.8 cm; stamen: filament 2–3 mm long; anther 1–1.6 by 0.3–0.5 cm, appendage 1–1.3 cm long, purplish mottled. Fruit unknown.

Thailand : PENINSULAR: Ranong (Hat Hin Dam, Khao Pho Ta Luang Kaeo, Kamphuan – type of Zingiber peninsulare: Geesink & Santisuk 4964, lectotype -L, isolectotypes -BKF L)), Phangnga (Kapong, Takua Thung), Phuket (Khao Phra Thaeo – type of Z. montanum: Bai et al. BLK-075, neotype -BKF, isoneotypes -C KUN).

Ecology : Widespread in primary and disturbed areas of evergreen forests, from near sea level to 300 m alt. Flowering: March–May.

Vernacular : Krathue pa (กระทือป่า).

Notes: The name Zingiber montanum has been applied to cassumunar ginger since 1998 (Theilade, Gard. Bull. Singapore 48: 225. 1998) but new evidence published by Bai et al. (Taxon 68: 1334–1349. 2019) indicates that the specimen collected by Koenig (C), which was thought to be the type of Z. montanum by Theilade, does not match Koenig’s protologue. Furthermore, cassumunar ginger is never found in the wild in Thailand even though it has been commonly grown and used as medicine by the Thai for a few centuries. Therefore the name Z. montanum is no longer considered to apply to the cassumunar ginger but to the wild, native ginger described above. The correct name for cassumunar ginger is now Z. purpureum Roscoe.