Strobilanthes paniculiformis J. R. I. Wood

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

17. Strobilanthes paniculiformis J. R. I. Wood , Kew Bull. 61: 10. 2006.

Figs 9 A , 11 C

Type.

India, Naga Hills, 1887, Clarke 40945 (holotype K [ K 000545689!]; isotype K [ K 000545690!]).

Distribution.

India, Myanmar, Thailand.

Ecology.

In hill evergreen forest or open plateau; 1,200 –2,285 m alt., flowering and fruiting from October to December.

Selected specimens examined.

Thailand, Northern: Chiang Mai, Fang, Doi Pha Hom Pok NP, 2,285 m alt., 10 Nov 2012, Chamchumroon 5541 ( BKF); Phitsanulok, Phu Hin Rong Kla NP, 1,400 –1,600 m alt., 10 Dec 1990, Larsen et al. 41827 ( AAU, P); ibid., 1,200 m alt., 11 Dec 1990, Larsen et al. 41870 ( AAU); ibid., 1,300 m alt., 14 Oct 1998, Suksathan 1302 (QBG- 2 sheets); North-eastern: Loei, Phu Kradueng NP, 1,150 –1,250 m alt., 1 Nov 1984, Murata et al. 42539 ( BKF, L).

Preliminary conservation status assessment.

This species has an Extent of Occurrence ( EOO) of 12,195.648 km 2 and an Area of Occupancy ( AOO) of 12.000 km 2 and is assessed as Vulnerable ( VU), B 1 a, b (i, ii, iii) following IUCN (2022). This species grows on the open plateau of evergreen mountains and is recorded from only a few collections. The changes of the habitat through increasing droughts and fire might lead to causing decline of S. paniculiformis .

Notes.

Strobilanthes paniculiformis was formerly known from the Naga Hills of Eastern India was also recently recorded in the Kachin State and Sagaing Region of Myanmar ( Wood et al. 2022) but is now seen to have a wider distribution stretching into the Northern and North-Eastern floristic regions of Thailand.

Figures

Figure 9. Photographs of dried specimens A S. paniculiformis J. R. I. Wood from Larsen et al. 41870 (AAU) B S. squalens S. Moore from Maxwell 74-164 (BK).

Figure 11. Distribution maps of Strobilanthes with capitate inflorescence in Thailand A S. graminea J. B. Imlay, S. hypomalla Benoist and S. kerrii Craib B S. paniculiformis J. R. I. Wood, S. paniculata (Nees) Miq. and S. phengklaii Kladwong & Chantar. C S. phyllocephala J. R. I. Wood & Scotland, S. phyllostachya Kurz and S. serpens (Nees) J. R. I. Wood & Scotland D S. speciosa Blume and S. squalens S. Moore.