Strobilanthes aprica (Hance) T. Anderson ex Benth.

Kladwong, Pornchai & Chantaranothai, Pranom, 2024, Notes on Strobilanthes (Acanthaceae) with capitate inflorescences in Thailand, PhytoKeys 244, pp. 89-126 : 89-126

1. Strobilanthes aprica (Hance) T. Anderson ex Benth. , Fl. Hongk. 262. 1861.

Fig. 10 A

Gutzlaffia aprica Hance , Hooker’s J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 1: 142. 1849. Type: China, Hong Kong, Hance 536 (lectotype CAL [ CAL 0000019794 image!] designated by Albertson and Wood 2012, pg. 50; isolectotype GH [ GH 00387581 image!]).

Strobilanthes aprica var. glabra J. B. Imlay , Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1939 (3): 116. 1939. Type: Thailand, Lamphun [Lampun]; Mae Kaw, 9 Sept 1924, Winit 1231 (holotype ABD [ ABDUH: 2 / 885 image!]; isotypes BK [257642!], BKF [ SN 001358!]).

Gutzlaffia pedunculata Craib , Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1911 (10): 436. 1911. Type: Thailand, Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep [Doi Sootep], 25 Sept 1910, Kerr 1430 (lectotype K [ K 001514863!] designated here; isolectotypes BM [ BM 000796839!], C [ C 10005192 image!], K [ K 001514864!], L [ L 2832219!], P [ P 00719397 image!]).

Strobilanthes aprica var. pedunculosa (Craib) Benoist in Lecomte et al., Fl. Indo-Chine 4: 666. 1935. Type: Based on Gutzlaffia pedunculata Craib

Type.

Based on Gutzlaffia aprica Hance

Distribution.

Myanmar, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia.

Ecology.

On open limestone hill or in open pine forest, open dipterocarp forest, open evergreen forest and open sandy grassland; 240–1,975 m alt, flowering and fruiting from August to April.

Selected specimens examined.

Thailand, Northern: Mae Hong Son, Khun Yuam, 650 m alt., 14 Jan 1988, Santisuk 6671 ( BKF); ibid., Mae La Noi, 430 m alt., 27 Dec 1965, Hennipman 3494 ( BKF); Chiang Mai, Doi Chiang Dao WS, 21 Dec 1931, Put 4460 ( BK, BM, K); ibid., Doi Pui, Huai Hee, 1,600 m alt., 22 Oct 2000, Suksathan 2815 ( QBG); ibid., 15 Oct 2019, Kiw Lom, Kladwong 495 ( KKU) & 496 ( KKU); ibid., Doi Suthep NP, 25 Sept 1910, Kerr 1430 ( BM, K, L, P); ibid., 1,500 m alt., 11 Nov 1973, Smitinand 11844 ( BKF); ibid., 850 m alt., 1 Oct 1985, Sørensen et al. 5378 ( BKF, E); ibid., 450 m alt., 12 Dec 1907, Maxwell 87-1586 ( AAU, BKF); Lamphun, Mae Kaw, 430 m alt., 9 Sept 1924, Winit 1231 ( ABD, BK, BKF); Lampang, Pa Tat, Pe Tra, 360 m alt., 13 Dec 1926, Winit 1815 ( AAU, BK, BKF); Tak, Tha Song Yang, Khao Hua Mot Noi, 5 km before Ban Tha Song Yang, 160 m alt., 23 Dec 2010, Suksathan et al. 5375 ( L). North-eastern: Phetchabun, Nam Nao NP, Pha Daeng Cliff, 900–959 m alt., 26 Dec 1982, Koyama et al. 31730 ( BKF, KYO); Loei, Phu Kradueng NP, 15 Aug 1946, Din 189 ( BKF); ibid., 1,300 m alt., 10 Nov 1976, Smitinand 12221 ( BKF). South-western: Kanchanaburi, Khao Meng, 14 Apr 1965, Chantanamuck 1061 ( BK).

Preliminary conservation status assessment.

This species has an Extent of Occurrence ( EOO) of 121,951.239 km 2 and an Area of Occupancy ( AOO) of 56.000 km 2 and is assessed as Least Concern ( LC) following IUCN (2022).

Notes.

Strobilanthes aprica is similar to S. graminea J. B. Imlay in having a gibbose and curved corolla, glabrous or subglabrous outside and 2 exserted stamens. It can be distinguished based on elliptic or oblong-elliptic to lanceolate leaf and hairy bract and bracteole vs. oblong-linear leaf and glabrous bracteole in S. graminea . Furthermore, the capsule of S. aprica has 4 seeds vs. 8 seeds in S. graminea .

Hance 536 from CAL [ CAL 0000019794] was designated as the lectotype of Gutzlaffia aprica by Albertson and Wood (2012). On examination, we found a duplicate of this collection deposited at GH [ GH 00387581]. The specimen has Hance ’ s handwriting as follows: Gutzlaffia aprica Hance. This specimen has branches, leaves and inflorescences, and it is the best preserved.

The original protologue of Gutzlaffia pedunculata was based on Kerr 1430 ( Craib 1911). We found that this collection has six duplicates. Two sheets are deposited at K [ K 001514863, K 001514864] and one is housed at each of BM [ BM 000796839], C [ C 10005192], L [ L 2832219] and P [ P 00719397]. All duplicates are in good shape. We select K 001514863 as the lectotype because it has more mature leaves, inflorescences and flowers.

Figures

Figure 10. Distribution maps of Strobilanthes with capitate inflorescence in Thailand A S. aprica (Hance) T. Anderson, S. articulata J. B. Imlay and S. brandisii T. Anderson B S. capitata (Nees) T. Anderson, S. chiangdaoensis Terao and S. consors C. B. Clarke C S. cruciata (Bremek.) Terao, S. dimorphotricha subsp. rex (C. B. Clarke) J. R. I. Wood and S. echinata Nees D S. erecta C. B. Clarke, S. esquirolii H. Lév. and S. falconeri T. Anderson.