# Amomum bungoensis: A New Species ofAmomum (Zingiberaceae) from Sarawak, Malaysia

Authors: S. Aimi Syazana; K. Meekiong; N. Afifah; M. Y. Syauqina
Journal: Journal of Botany
 (2018)

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## Abstract

A new species ofAmomumRoxb. from Sarawak is described.Amomum bungoensisS. Aimi Syazana & Meekiong, sp. nov., shows similarity withA. durumS. Sakai and Nagamasu by having similar fruit characteristics but differs in labellum and anther crest of the flowers. Detailed description and photographs are provided.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

The gingers are widely distributed in the tropic and pan-tropic countries throughout the World, where they are thriving almost in all habitats. Up to date, 53 genera and more than 1377 species have been recorded since 1800s [1, 2]. GenusAmomumis the second largest genus afterAlpiniaRoxb. which it consists of 150-180 species throughout Southeast Asia [3]. Locally known as“Kapulaga”or“Buah Pelaga”,Amomumis the most valuable and expensive spices after Saffron and Vanilla in the world. This genus is well-known in Indian cuisine (as a flavoring agent) and also for medicinal values ever since ancient times. Sarawak, Malaysia, is very rich with gingers species.Holttum [4], in his revision of gingers of Peninsular Malaysia, stated thatAmomumhas very own unique characteristics. It has elongating pseudostem and inflorescence, absence of involucre sterile bracts, and broad yellow and white labellum with small red markings (the most common characteristic). The anther crest is usually distinctly trilobed.Amomum’sfruit can be categorized into two groups: capsulate and fleshy spiny berry. The very last revision on genusAmomumin Sarawak was by Sakai and Nagamasu [5] where they focused onAmomumspecies in Lambir Hills National Park (LHNP). They encounter twelve species with five new species that includeA. durum[5]. According to Lamb et al. [6], about 31 species ofAmomumhave been recorded and given names. But, up till now, no taxonomic revision has been made in Sarawak.Recent explorations at Bungo Range National Park have made an addition to SarawakAmomumspecies. During the identification process, the specimen has similar outstanding fruit characteristics withA. durum. However, after detailed examination on the specimens, we found that it differs fromA. durum. Detailed descriptions on this novel species are described herein (Figure 1).Figure 1
Amomum bungoensisAimi Syazana & Meekiong, sp. nov. A: part of leafy shoot; B: rhizome and stilt root; C: head of inflorescence and flower; D: labellum; E: bract; F: side lobe; G: infructescence; H: fruit [Drawing by Meekiong K.].


## 2. Materials and Methods

The study site was in Bungo Range National Park, Bau Division, Sarawak, Malaysia. Samples collected were examined and morphological studies were conducted in the Herbarium of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (HUMS) and laboratory of Faculty of Resource Science and Technology, UNIMAS. The characteristics of stigma, stamen, ovary, and any specific features were examined using USB Digital microscope (500x). Herbarium samples collection was prepared following the standard protocols as suggested by Bridson and Forman [7]. Herbarium specimens were deposited in Herbarium of Forest Department Sarawak (SAR) and Herbarium of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (HUMS).


## 3. The New Species

Amomum bungoensis Aimi Syazana & Meekiong,sp. nov.Similar to Amomum durum by its large, showy and thick wall fruit, differ by its labellum and anther crest of the flower.Type: Borneo, Malaysia, Sarawak, Bau Division, Bungo Range National Park, 7th December 2017,S. Aimi Syazana, K. Meekiong, Afifah, N, Syauqina, M. Y. AS0122. (holo: SAR, para (AS0123): HUMSDescription: Perennial herbs with distichous leaves, plant form clump, height less than 2 m (about 176 cm tall), has green stilt root, 7–8 plants per clump, 8–9 pairs of leaves per plant.Leaveselliptic and oblong-elliptic, 34.5–60.0 x 6–7.4 cm, apex caudate, base attenuate, margin entire, abaxial dull green, adaxial dark green with slightly corrugated.Petiolesessile or very short,c.2–3 mm long, ligule bi-lobed, longer than petiole,c.5–8 mm long, green with black at the margin.Inflorescencefrom rhizome or root-stock, imbricate type, inflorescence 5–10 cm long, or longer, headc.2–4 cm diam., flower bracts greenish cream, boat shape,c. 2.5 cm; sericea; peduncle up to 5–10 cm long, pubescent.Flowerorange; petals boat shape, translucent with orange dots, apex obtuse,c.1 mm long, 5 mm wide; labellumc.10 mm long, 7 mm width, orange and darker toward the base and throat, apex acuminate; sepals boat shape, translucent creamish white, pubescent at the margin, 1.8 cm long. Stamen oblong with velvety externally, white,anther crestdistinct trilobed.Stigmacup shaped abruptly widening, orange with cilia; style translucent with orange dots with cilia.Infructescenceaggregate or clump, infructescence headc.2–4 cm diam., peduncle 4.5–9 cm long; fruits rounded shape with persistent calyx, reticulate ornamentation, 3–5 fruits per peduncle, light greenish yellow with persistent bracteoles at the base, fruity smell.Seedsyellowish orange colour, irregular shape, covered with aril, 3 locules, 59–60 seed per fruit.Distribution and habitat: So far recorded only from the type locality, Bungo Range National Park, Kuching, Sarawak.Etymology:The epithet given after the type locality, Bungo Range National Park.Notes:At the first glance, the infructescence of the new species,A. bungoensis,is closely similar toA. durumthat we discovered in Long Banga. Both have large and showy infructescence and thick fruit-walls. Closed examination revealed that specimen from Bungo Range National Park has several distinguishing morphological characteristics, i.e., elliptic and oblong-elliptic leave with caudate apex, being bilobed with tomentose and black stripes at the margin of the ligule, orange flower, a widening cup-shaped stigma with cilia, and distinct trilobed (Table 1, Figures 2 and 3). Other than that, they differ in labellum and also anther crest of the flower (examination and observation have been made using USB digital microscope). Field observations noted thatA. bungoensishas green stilt root above ground. Besides, inflorescence bract is in green together with peduncle bracts.Table 1
Distinctive characteristics ofA. durumand A. bungoensis.
Amomum durum Amomum bungoensis Leave Lanceolate to linear Elliptic, oblong-elliptic Leave apex Acuminate Caudate Ligule Deeply bi-lobed, pubescent, membranous Bi-lobed, tomentose, black line at the margin Flower Creamy white Orange Stigma Cup-shaped open upward with hair at the opening Cup-shaped abruptly widening with cilia Anther crest Obscurely trilobed Distinct trilobedFigure 2
Amomum bungoensisAimi Syazana & Meekiong. (a) Plant with stilt roots; (b) inflorescence; (c) and (d) slightly corrugate leaves; (e) and (f) ligule; (g) fruits; (h) fruits ofAmomum durum.
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)Figure 3
Amomum bungoensisAimi Syazana & Meekiong. (a) Fruit surface ofAmomum durum;(b) fruit surface ofAmomum bungoensis;(c) labellum; (d) cup-shaped stigma; (e) deeply trilobed anther crest; (f) ovary; (g) seed; (h) cross-section of seed.
(a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) (h)


## 4. Discussion and Conclusion

Amomum durumwas first collected and described from LHNP by Sakai and Nagamasu [5] during their study on Zingiberales in Sarawak and since then was reported only from the type locality. The LHNP is lowland dipterocarp forest covered with clayey or sandy soils and, according to their report, most of the Zingiberaceae species found in LHNP were from the genusAmomumandEtlingera. The species from both genera were tall with leafy shoots that can reach 4 m height [5]. Recently, during the Heart of Borneo Scientific expedition, we discoveredA. durumin Long Banga area, Ulu Baram. With that, the distribution ofA. durumnow extended toward the south, to Ulu Baram areas. The areas are mostly mountainous with average of 430 m altitudes and are rich with plants species diversity including gingers, particularly from the genusAmomum[8].Amomum durumhas unique and distinct characteristics that make them easier to identify which are the large, showy brown fruits (Figure 2).It is very clear that theAmomumdiversity in Sarawak is tremendous. Many undescribed species have been discovered recently and all are waiting for further verifications. Many more in the forests are still waiting to be discovered. With this new discovery, the number ofAmomumspecies in Sarawak now has been increased to 33 species.



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*Source: 1978607-2018-09-13.xml*