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Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 5 No. 3 September-December 2007
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Vol. 5 No. 3 September - December 2007
Original Article

Notes on the Genus Elettariopsis Baker

(Zingiberaceae) in Thailand

, †
Chayan Picheansoonthon*
Piyapong Yupparach*

Abstract
Five species of the genus Elettariopsis Baker (family Zingiberaceae): E. elan C. K. Lim, E. exserta (Scort.)
Bak., E. slahmong C. K. Lim, E. smithiae Y. K. Kam, and E. triloba (Gagnep.) Loes., are enumerated for
Thailand in this treatment based on herbarium specimens. The taxonomically controversial taxon, “Pud
Sing,” is confirmed to be E. slahmong C. K. Lim, not E. curtisii Bak. as previously referred to in the Thai
literature. The key to and color illustrations of all Thai species are provided. The ethnobotany, chemical
constituents, and biological activities of these Thai taxa are also discussed.

Key words: genus Elettariopsis Baker (Zingiberaceae), Thailand, taxonomy, ethnobotany, chemical constitu-
ents, biological activities

Introduction streaks along the median. The fruits are also similar,
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The genus Elettariopsis Baker is a small plant usually subglobose to globose with longitudinal ridges.
group in the family Zingiberaceae with 8-15 taxa dis- Moreover, other vegetative characters (habit, height,
1,2
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tributed mainly in Southeast Asia. Members of the and leaf shape and size) are quite variable .
genus can be distinguished from other genera by their In Thailand, a taxonomically unknown taxon
fewer leaves (usually 1-5), loosely clasping or forming çWaan Dok Thongé or çWaan Maha Sanehé is popu-
a distinct pseudostem, and their separated flowering larly grown in front of shops or stores, because it is
shoots, either with clustered flowers in a head or with believed to have a magic power to attract customers.
3
single flowers along a decurrent scape. However, An unidentified taxon of this genus, known in the
flowers of all recognized taxa are essentially similar southern-most provinces of Thailand as çKrachai Lang
in coloration and forms, and resemble some Amomum Kong,é is famous in the Muslim communities as a
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species (e.g. A. testaceum Ridl., A. biflorum Jack, A. good hypotensive herb. An edible taxonomically con-
uliginosum Koenig). The labella are sometimes tri- troversial species çPud Singé is common in the five
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lobed and crenulated, white with a yellow median southern-most provinces of Thailand . These taxo-
stripe, and usually more or less flanked by thick red nomic problems have challenged us to work on this
genus, with the focus on the Thai-Malay Peninsula
*Faculty of Pharmaceutical Botany and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of
taxa.
Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002,
Thailand This paper is aimed at discussing the existing
†
The Academy of Science, The Royal Institute of Thailand, Sanam
knowledge of the genus Elettariopsis Baker in Thai-
Suea Pa, Khet Dusit, Bangkok 10300, Thailand
E-mail: chayan@kku.ac.th land, as reported in the available scientific literature

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