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Journal of Thai Traditional & Alternative Medicine Vol. 6 No. 1 January-April 2008
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Vol. 6 No. 1 January - April 2008
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Notes on the genus Kaempferia L. (Zingiberaceae)

in Thailand

Chayan Picheansoonthon * †
Supachai Koonterm *

Abstract
The genus Kaempferia L. (Ziniberaceae) is one of the important medicinal plant genera in Thailand. As
a result of herbarium investigation and intensive field studies, 16 taxa are enumerated for Thailand in this
account. Distinguishable morphological characteristics of these species are given. Photographic illustrations
of some key species are included. The ethnobotany of the genus Kaempferia in Thailand is also discussed in
four main aspects: food, medicine, belief, and horticulture.
Key words: genus Kaempferia L. (Zingiberaceae), Thailand, taxonomy, ethnobotany

Introduction study, including for future drug development. Our fo-
The family Zingiberaceae is one of the most im- cus on the genera Caulokaemferia K.Larsen,
portant but least known medicinal plant families in Elettariopsis Baker., Gagnepainia K.Schum.,
Thailand. Several taxa of the family form the plant Hedychium J. König, Hemiorchis Kurz, and
group known in Thai folk taxonomy as wan, a me- Stahlianthus Kuntze of the family Zingiberaceae re-
dicinal plant group in the Thai materia medica and sulted in the report of several new taxa and new
1-10
recorded in the traditional Thai medical literature. records for Thailand, with several more reports to
The plants either have or lack underground storage be published.
roots or stems; some may be used for medicinal pur- The genus Kaempferia L. constitutes several wan
poses, but some are believed to possess certain spiri- known in the Thai literature, such as Wan Krachai-
tual or magical effects. dam (K. parviflora Wall. ex Baker), Wan Thao Nang-
During the past decade, we have been working haeng (K. angustifolia Roscoe), Wan Karchae-chan (K.
to establish basaline knowledge about this plant group galanga L.), and Wan Chang-njang (K. marginata
indigenous to Thailand, including taxonomic studies Carey), to name a few. Some of the wan in this genus
and ethnopharmacological documentation for further are still taxonomically unknown, a few of which may
be new to science, while some taxa are currently
* Pharmaceutical Botany and Pharmacognosy Research Unit, under intensive research for various aspects of drug
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University,
development, e.g. K. galanga L. and K. parviflora Wall.
Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
ex Baker.
† The Academy of Science, The Royal Institute of Thailand, Sanam
Suea Pa, Khet Dusit, Bangkok 10300, Thailand This paper is a preliminary report on this genus

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