Abstract:In order to develop and utilize germplasm resources of zingiberaceae flowers, 84 species of germplasm resources of zingiberaceae flowers were collected and introduced, analyzed and evaluated in combination with growth, ornamental characteristics and economic use, and germplasm innovation was carried out by artificial cross breeding. The results showed that 77 of 84 introduction germplasm resources of Zingiberaceae survived with survival of 91.7%, flowering rate of 98.7%, and fruiting rate of 63.6%. Among all species, 59.5% had excellent growth, 7.1% had good growth, 25% had moderate growth and 8.3% had died. Most species of Zingiberaceae originally distributed in tropical and subtropical areas at middle and low altitudes could be preserved in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, while those in tropics at middle and high altitudes and special habitats areas were not suitable. Stage domestication method could be used for introduction and preservation, and there were 60.7% species of multipurpose flowers. The hybrid breeding could not only innovate new germplasm, but also transfer and preserve superior genes of Zingiberaceae flowers.

Abstract:Amomum pauciflorum Baker, a newly recorded species of Amomum s.s. (Zingiberaceae) from Ximeng, Yunnan, China is reported. The species is morphologically similar to A. longipetiolatum Merr., but can be distinguished by its wider corolla lobes and crescent anther crest (vs. trilobed). A detailed description, geographical distribution and color photoes are provided here. The voucher specimens are deposited in the Herbarium of Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Abstract:Alpinia calcicola Q. B. Nguyen & M. F. Newman, a newly recorded species of Alpinia (Zingiberaceae) from China is reported. Morphological characteristic description, geographical distribution and color photos are provided. The voucher specimens are deposited in Herbarium of South China Botanical Garden (IBSC).

Abstract:Alpinia coriandriodora D. Fang, (Zingiberaceae) previously known only from Guangxi Province, China is reported from Vietnam for the first time. It is similar to A. bambusifolia D. Fang but differs in having elliptic-lanceolate leaf blade, light yellow labellum with red-brown stripes and triangular anther crest. A detailed morphological description and colour plate of this species are given. Distribution and ecology information for the species is also provided. The vouchers are kept in the herbaria of Vietnam National Museum of Nature (VNMN) and South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IBSC).

Abstract:The flowers of Zingiberaceae have higher degrees of organ fusion and specialization with one functional stamen and two lateral subsidiary structures, which result in controversial explanations on the derivation and nature of the floral organs. However, the origin and course of the floral vasculature may provide credible evidence to understand the nature of floral structures. This paper reported the floral anatomy of Hedychium forrestii Diels with paraffin method. The floral vasculature of H. forrestii is described and the nature of labellum and petaloid subsidiary structures is discussed. The labellum is supposed to represent one member of the outer androecial whorl by the median bundle and two members of the inner whorl by its two lateral traces. While the two petaloid structures, the petaloid staminodes, receive vascular traces of two adaxial sets of carpellary dorsals, representing two inner androecial members. Present evidence is in support of the Thompson and Gregory’s view that the labellum is a triple structure in Zingiberaceae. As in other species of Zingiberaceae, the epigynous glands on the prolongation of the flower in H. forrestii are vascularized emergences of the ovary, which are of modified gynoplural nectary but not androecial member. Comparison with other species studied, the origin and course of floral vasculature are consistent in the tribe Hedychium, which indicated that homeosis played an important role in the evolution of the flower in Zingiberaceae.

Abstract:A new species of Curcuma L., C. nankunshanensis N. Liu, X. B. Ye & J. Chen, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to C. kwangsiensis X. X. Chen, but differs in its lateral rhizome multibranched, leaf blades broad-lanceolate and glabrous adaxially, coma bracts white except for purple toward the apex and fertile bracts green. It is also easily distinguished from C. aromatica by its rhizome white inside, coma bracts white except for purple toward the apex, seeds bearing. A key to Curcuma from Guangdong is provided.

Abstract:Zingiberaceous plants including 135 species, 3 varieties and 3 forms in 23 genera have been introduced from home and abroad to the South China Botanical Garden at Guangzhou for more than two decades. Of all the plants introduced, 103 species with 2 varieties and 2 forms in 18 genera can grow well. Siliquamomum tonkinense Baill. and Etlingera yunnanensis (T. L. Wu et Senjen) R. M. Smith, which are of rare and endangered species, are in ex situ conservation in the Garden. Of all the introduced species, the survival rate is 74.5％，and the percentages of spedes which can flower and fruit are 56.3％ and 33．8％，respectively. From the 8 important genera，the survival rate is 100％ in species of Costus and Curcuma, but species of Cautleya and Roscoea fail to survive．The survival rate in both Alpinia and Kaemferia species is 83.3％, and survival rates in species of Hedychium and Zingiber are 57.1％ and 85.7％, respectively．The factors， such as climatic，soil，geographical and biological factors, which affect the introduced plants are elucidated.

Abstract:Curcuma albicoma S. Q. Tong and C. chuanyujin C. K. Hsieh et H. Zhang arereduced to synonyms of C. sichuanensis X. X. Chen and C. kwangsiensis S. G. Lee et C. F.Liang, respectively. Curcuma phaeocaulis Val. was misidentified as C. zedoarea (Christm.)Rose., C. caesia Roxb. and C. aeruginosa Roxb. in China. Curcuma elata sensu X. X. Chenis C wenyujin, and C kwangsiensis var. puberula Y. H. Chen and C kwangsiensis var. affinisY. H. Chen are not to be recognized, while C. viridiflora Roxb. in F1. Taiwan remains suspicious. A key of 12 species of curcuma in China is given.

Abstract:The history of studies on Zingiberaceae is briefly introduced. The classification system, proposed by B. L. Bunt (1972) is adopted. Some morphologic characters of the organs with evolutionary significance, such as rhizome, inflorescence, bracteole, staminoides, etc. are discussed. The Zingiberaceae is a pantropic family, devided into 2 subfamilies and 4 tribes, comprising 52 genera, about 1377 species. The subfamily Zingiberoideae with 48 genera 1268 species, has its greatest concentration in Indo-Malaysian area, while subfamily Costoideae comprising 4 genera 109 species, is manily distributed in tropical America and Africa. Six distribution maps of Zingiberaceae and statistics of genera in the floristic restons of the world and China are presented. Based on the evidence of fossil records and the present distribution, the origin and the formation of recent distributional Patterns of this family tvers probed. Fossil Zingiberaceae has been recorded in stratum of late Cretaceous and early Tertiary from Europe, North America and India. The family was probably common to very early Laurasia and West Gondwanaland (Raven &. Axelred, 1974). After the Tertiary,when the climate of Europe and North America became cooler, the Zingiberaceae gradually disappeared, but in Southeast Asia, which was less influenced by glacjation, the Zingiberaceae continuously developed. So Southeast Asia became the centre of preasent distribution and species diversity. In Australia there is no endemic genus but there are 7 genera in common with Asia, belonging to Indo-Malaysia element.These genera probably entered north Australia through Malaysia. There are 6 genera and 115 species in Tropical Africa, only 4 genera 120 species in South Americ; Costoideae is well developed in these areas.