Acilepis ngaoensis (H.Koyama) H.Rob. & Skvarla, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 122(2): 141. 2009.

Bunwong, Sukhonthip, Chantaranothai, Pranom & Keeley, Sterling C., 2014, Revisions and key to the Vernonieae (Compositae) of Thailand, PhytoKeys 37, pp. 25-101 : 40-41

Acilepis ngaoensis (H.Koyama) H.Rob. & Skvarla, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 122(2): 141. 2009.

Vernonia ngaoensis H.Koyama, Bull. Natl. Sci. Mus. Tokyo, Ser. B 30(1): 25. 2004.

Type.

Thailand, Ranong, Muang District, Ngao waterfall, T. Shimitzu, H. Toyokuni, H. Koyama, T. Yahara & C. Niyomdham T-26543 (holotype: KYO!). Fig. 5D .

Description.

Perennial herbs, 60-120 cm tall. Stems erect, conspicuously ribbed, puberulous. Leaves 10-20 by 2-5 cm, elliptic or oblanceolate, margin serrate, apex acuminate to acuminate, base cuneate, subcoriaceous; both surfaces scabrous with whip-shaped hairs and capitate glands; lateral veins 9-11-paired; petioles up to 10 mm long. Capitulescences terminal or axillary, solitary or loosely paniculate. Capitula campanulate, 10-20 mm long, pedunculate. Receptacle flat, hairy. Involucres campanulate, in 6-7 series, 10-15 mm long, herbaceous. Phyllaries light green or purple apically, margin piliferous, outer surface arachnoid, glands capitate; the outer and the middle ones ovate or lanceolate, apex spinose; the inner ones lanceolate or oblong, apex apiculate. Florets ca. 80; corollas funnelform, purple, glandular; corolla tubes 7-8 mm long; corolla lobes 3-4 mm long. Anthers 3.5-4 mm long, apical appendage acute, base obtuse. Styles purple, 7-9 mm long, branches 3-3.5 mm long. Achenes subterete, 3-4 mm long, 10-ribbed, pubescent with twin hairs and glands. Pappus bristles, the inner ones 8-9 mm long.

Distribution.

Thailand: Ranong. Endemic.

Specimens examined.

Thailand. Ranong, Muang District, Ngao waterfall, 9°51.38'N, 98°37.68'E, 25 Jan 2008, S. Bunwong 386 (KKU, US); Ngao waterfall, 10 Dec 1974, S. Indrapong 84 (BKF); Ngao waterfall, 10 Dec 1974, S. Indrapong 843 (K, L); Ngao waterfall, 28 Jan 1968, J.F. Maxwell 87-88 (AAU, BKF, CMU, L, P, PSU); Ngao waterfall, 22 Nov 1993, T. Santisuk 650 (BKF); Ngao waterfall, 8 Dec 1979, T. Shimitzu, H.Toyokuni, H. Koyama, T. Yahara & C. Niyomdham T-26543 (KYO).

Ecology.

Rocky dry dipterocarp, alt. 100 m; flowering December to January.

Diagnostic characters.

Acilepis ngaoensis is recognized by having large capitula with long peduncles, phyllaries not reflexed, and capitulescences solitary or loosely paniculate. Its specific epithet is derived from Ngao waterfall national park in Ranong province.

Vernacular name.

Nad Muang Ngao (หนาดม่วงหงาว).

Figures

Figure 5. Morphology of Vernonieae in Thailand 1. A Acilepis attenuata B Acilepis divergens C Acilepis namnaoensis D Acilepis ngaoensis E Acilepis peguensis F Acilepis principis G Acilepis saligna H Acilepis silhetensis I Acilepis squarrosa.