Acilepis kingii (C.B.Clarke) 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 : 38-39

Acilepis kingii (C.B.Clarke) H.Rob. & Skvarla, Proc. Biol. Soc. Washington 122(2): 141. 2009.

Acilepis kingii Vernonia kingii C.B.Clarke, Compos. Ind. 12. 1876.

Type.

Myanmar, Yomah province, Pegu, Irrawaddy & Sittang Valley, S. Kurz s.n. (holotype: K!).

Description.

Perennial herbs, 1-1.5 m tall. Stems erect, conspicuously ribbed, puberulous. Leaves 10-20 by 4-8 cm, lanceolate, margin serrate, apex acuminate, base attenuate, subcoriaceous; both surfaces scabrous with whip-shaped hairs and capitate glands; lateral veins 9-10-paired; petioles up to 2.5 cm long. Capitulescences terminal and axillary, paniculate. Capitula campanulate, 10-12 mm long, pedunculate. Receptacles flat, 2-2.5 mm in diam., hairy. Involucres narrowly campanulate, in 4-5 series, 5-6 mm long, 3-3.5 mm in diam., herbaceous. Phyllaries light green or purple apically, margin piliferous, outer surface arachnoid, capitate glands; the outer and the middle ones ovate, apex obtuse and apiculate; the inner ones ovate-lanceolate to oblong, apex obtuse or apiculate. Florets 8-12; corollas funnelform, purple or white, glandular; corolla tubes 4-5 mm long; corolla lobes 2.5-3 mm long. Anthers yellowish, 2.5-3 mm long, apical appendage acute, base acute. Styles purple, 5-7 mm long, branches 2-3 mm long. Achenes subterete, 2.5-3.5 mm long, 10-ribbed, pubescent, glands capitate. Pappus bristles, the inner ones 6-6.5 mm long.

Distribution.

Thailand: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai. China (Yunnan), India, Myanmar, Laos.

Specimens examined.

Thailand. Chiang Mai, Chiangdao wildlife sanctuary, 19°26.08'N, 98°53.76'E, 20 Dec 2003, S. Bunwong 78 (KKU, US); Doi Chiangdao, 30 Jan 1921, A.F.G. Kerr 4729 (BK, BM, K); Doi Chiangdao, 9 Mar 1982, Y. Paisooksantivatana 840-82 (BK); Doi Chiangdao, 25 Jan 1996, W. Nanakorn et al. 5683 (QBG); Chiang Rai, Doi Thung, 15 Jan 1975, R. Geesink, P. Hiepko & C. Phengklai 8277 (BKF, C, K, L, P).

Ecology.

Hill evergreen or pine-oak forest, alt. 1000-1800 m; flowering January to March.

Diagnostic characters.

Acilepis kingii is recognized by obtuse and apiculate phyllaries and loose paniculate capitulescence.

Vernacular name.

Muang Doi (ม่วงดอย).