The family Zingiberaceae

in Northeastern Thailand

Assist. Prof. Dr. Surapon Saensouk

Walai Rukhavej Botanical Research Institute

Mahasarakham University

ZINGIBERACEAE or GINGER

- The family Zingiberaceae or Ginger is well known for

its medicinal and economic significance.

- The best known of these is Ginger (Zingiber officinale),

Tumeric (Boesenbergia rotunda), Tulip Siam or Patumma

(Curcuma alismatifolia) and Cardamoms (species of

Amomum and Elettariopsis).

ZINGIBERACEAE or GINGER

- The family Zingiberaceae is a large and important

monocot family and is conspicuous throughout the tropics.

- It comprises approximately 50 genera and c. 1,400 species

world wide with the center of diversity in the tropics from

South to Southeast Asia.

- Thailand has one of the richest Ginger floras in the world;

about 26 genera of more than 300 species of these plants are

at present known to science

Plant Geography of Gingers

Southeast Asia = Center of diversity

1/55 4/150

50/130026/300

IMPORTANCE OF GINGERS IN THAILAND- SPICES and FOOD (ginger, turmeric, cardamom, galanga)

- SOURCE of STARCH (C pierreana)

- VEGETABLES (Z. zerumbet leaves, A. galanga – cooked

with dog meat)

- MEDICINAL PLANTS (C. longa, K. galanga, K. rotunda, H. coronarium, Z. zerumbet)- ORNAMENTALS (E. elatior, A. purpurata, H. coronarium etc.)

- COSMETICS industry (C. longa - creams) ***

- PACKING MATERIAL (Elettariopsis sp. – wraping cakes)

- CULTURAL IMPORTANCE (myths, folk tales, power

magic & black magic)

- TOURISM (Curcuma alismatifolia - Pathumma)

Proa Phu at Phuluang Tung Dok Krajiew

Who is who in Ginger

Carolus Linnaeus: Species Plantarum, 1753

9 species of Gingers : Kaempferia rotunda, K. galanga,Zingiber zerumbet, Elettaria cardamomum, Curcuma longaC. rotunda

Kaempfer �� KaempferiaJ.G.Koenig � described as new species

Amomum uliginosum Koenig

Hedychium coronarium Koenig

Amomum koenigii

Who is who in Thai GingerJ. Schmidt �� collected species on the Island of Koh Chang

K. Schumann � described several new species

Alpinia oxymitra K.Schum.

Alpinia macroura K.Schum.

A.F.G. Kerr � British medical doctor : came to Thailand

in 1902 to serve as medical plant in ChiangMai

- collected specimens all over Thailand

- 100 of species have been described on the basis

of Kerr’s collections : Geostachys kerrii, Globba kerrii, Zingiber kerrii

Who is who in Thai GingerW.G. Craib �� Kew Herbarium

initiated the Flora Siamensis Enumeratio

(annoatated checklist of the Thai Flora)

Kai Larsen � Aarhus University, Denmark

- began his botanical work in Thailand, in 1958

- Zingiberaceae, Amarantaceae and many family

- He was co-editor of Flora of Thailand, Danish editor of

Flora Nordica, Advisor to Flora of China and Executive

member of Flora Malesiana. Kaempferia larsenii, Curcuma larsenii, Caulokaempferia larsenii, Cornukaempgeria larsenii

Who is who in Thai GingerPuangpen Sirirugsa �� Thai Botanist,

began studied Zingiberaceae;

- Caulokaempferia sirirugsa

Young

Botanists �

ovary

tubular calyx

corolla lobe

labellumanther

filamenthood-like

corolla tube

stigma

stylode

lateral staminode

nectary glandFlower

Distinguished characters

Floral structure of Globba sp.

Zingiberaceae

Tribe

Alpinieae

Tribe

Globbeae

Tribe

Riedelieae

Tribe

Zingibereae

Thailand Floristic Regions :

N = North

NE = Northeastern

E = Eastern

C = Central

SW = South-Western

SE = South-Eastern

PEN = Peninsular

NE & E = Northeast part

of Thailand

(except Petchaboon Prov.)

Zingiberaceae in Northeast Thailand

Zingiberaceae

3 tribes

Tribe

Alpinieae

Tribe

Globbeae

Tribe

Zingibereae

AlpiniaAmomum

ElettariopsisEtlingera

Geostachys

GlobbaGagnepainia

ZingiberCaulokaempferiaCornukaempferia

BoesenbergiaKaempferiaHedychiumCurcuma

Stahlianthus

Tribe Alpinieae

1. Alpinia-Alpinia = largest genus in the family c. 250 species

- Ornamental plant : A. purpurata, A. vittata- Rare species : A. intermedia- Endemic species : A. macrostaminodia- Power magic plant : A. mutica- Food : A. galanga, A. siamensis, A. conchigera

- Preparing manuscript for Flora of Thailand

Alpinia oxymitra

Alpinia intermedia

Alpinia galanga“Khaa”

Alpinia siamensis“Khaa”

Alpinia conchigera“Khaa & Khaa-Ling”

Confusing

in rhizome

and

Thai name

Famous ornamental plant

Alpinia purpurataKhing-Daeng

Alpinia vittataKhing-Dang

Alpinia purpurataKhing-Chompoo

A. muticaPower magic plant

“�����������”

A. blepharocalyxFirst time record in NE & E

A. macrostaminodiaRare plant

Endemic to Thailand

Only in NE

Amomum- Few data in NE

- Some species : E-San medicinal plant

Amomum biflorumA. uliginosumA. villosum var. xantoides

Amomum biflorum“��������������”Power magic plantFrom good smell

A. uliginosum: Medicinal plant

A. villosum var. xantoides“Mak-Nang” famous medicinal plant

Elettariopsis- Preparing manuscript for Flora of Thailand- Few species in NE - Few data edible uses - Only on famous plant :

“Wandokthong” Elettariopsis wandokthongPower magic plant : make more money

EtlingeraFew data and few species in NE

Dry every green &Evergreen forest

Cultivated species as oranmental

: Etlingera elatior “Dalha”

Etlingera araneosa: from Khao Yai Nat. P.

Etlingera littoralis: from Khao Yai Nat. P.

GeostachysFew data and few species in NE

Dry every green &Evergreen forest

Rare genus

Endemic : G. smitinandiiThe author: submitted manuscript for Flora of Thailand

Tribe Globbeae

GlobbaSmall herb

Common plant : G. winitii, G. schomburgiiBracts : color from green, white, violet

Flowers : specific, color from white, yellow, pale violet

Several species : described to New species

Several species : unidentified

The Author :

collecting in the genus for Flora of Thailand project

G. annamensisCommon in upper part of E-San dipterocarp forest

Royal project

G. winitii G. schomburgii

GagnepainiaRare genus and 2 species in NE Thailand

Gagnepainia godefroyi G. thoreliana

Tribe ZingibereaeZingiber

CaulokaempferiaCornukaempferia

BoesenbergiaKaempferiaHedychiumCurcuma

Stahlianthus

ZingiberCenter diversity in the world > 50 spiciesMore than 30 species in NECommon in dipterocarp forest : Z. junceumCultivated for medicinal plant:

Z. monatum; Z. zerumbet; Z. ottensiiCultivated for food : Z. officinale “Khing”

Z. newium

Z. isanensis

Rare and EndemicTo NE

Z. larsenii

CaulokaempferiaLook like KaempferiaColor flower : white, yellow, purpleHigh mountain and waterfallMany species : Endemic to NECenter Diversity : E-San

CornukaempferiaRare genus and species : New genus few years agoEndemic to Thailand, 3 species Cornukaempferia larsenii is the new describedThe author: submitted manuscript for Flora of Thailand

BoesenbergiaKrachai (B. rotunda) is famous plant in this genusCenter diversity in E-SanB. baimaii, B. xyphostachys are endemic species to Thailand : Only E-San

KaempferiaNE : Center Diversity 90%Endemic to Thailand : only E-San K. filifolia, K. larsenii, K. grandifolia, K. fallax, K. SiamensisE-San name : Toob-Moob

Amazing Toob-Moob E-San

Hedychium

Native : High mountain NE � LoieCultivated plant : H. coronarium � good smellBeautiful color flower

CurcumaE-San : Center diversity 70%Food : C. angustifolia, C. singularis, C. longaMedicinal : C. longa, C. comosaOrnamental : C. alismatifolia, C. parviflora, C. thorelii,

C. rhabdothaEndemic and Rare : C. larsenii, C. pierreana,

C. gracillima

C. comosa

Stahlianthus

Small genus: Ph.D. student : preparing manuscript for pubblishRare speciesDipterocarp forest

Conclusions

More than 150 species are recorded in NEConservation : damage areaPush to famous plant

The Author : publishing Alpinia, Cornukaempferia, Elettariopsis,Geostachys, Globba,

Book: Gingers in E-San � Soon

Prof. Dr. Pranom ChantanothaiProf. Dr. Kai LarsenProf. Puangpen SirirugsaAssist. Prof. Dr. Achara ThammathawornAjarn Supee Larsen

Gave a chance me to valuable botanist and lecturer