Boesenbergia collinsii
Herb, up to 80 cm tall. Leaves 5-6, elliptical or broadly ovate, c. 28-44 × 12-19 cm, glabrous with a few hairs on the midrib, base rounded to cordate, sometimes asymmetric, apex acute to long acuminate. Inflorescence radical, c. 3-6 or more per pseudostem, up to c. 9 cm long. Bracts cymbiform, c. 4, c. 5-8 × 1.5-2 cm, distichously arranged, green or dark red. Flowers c. 4 per inflorescence, up to c. 15 cm long, creamy white. Labellum saccate, semi-orbicular, 4-4.2 cm long, 3 cm wide, light yellow, and dark red band across the lip, turning to pink towards the apex. [1]
References
- , “The history and identity of Boesenbergia longiflora (Zingiberaceae) and descriptions of five related new taxa”, Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore, vol. 65, pp. 47–95, 2013.
Deciduous herb up to 80 cm tall; rhizome small, elongate c. 5 × 0.5 cm, externally brownish, internally yellow; tuberous roots prolific, c. 15-20, c. 10 × 1 cm, swelling to 1.5 cm in the lower third or tapering, externally pink, internally three concentric pink rings, root hairs many, c. 8 mm long, thin, white. Pseudostem up to c. 20 cm long, composed of leaf sheaths, base oval, c. 2-2.5 cm diam., 1-2 leafless sheaths at the base, leaf sheaths longitudinally ridged, green or green and red, glabrous, margin hyaline. Leaves 5-6 per pseudostem; petiole 12-16 cm, deeply channelled, light green or reddish, glabrous; ligule slightly bilobed, lobes an extension of the hyaline margin, c. 3 mm long, white, glabrous; lamina elliptical or broadly ovate, c. 28-44 × 12-19 cm, ventrally dark green, glabrous, dorsally lighter green, glabrous with a few hairs on the midrib, base rounded to cordate, sometimes asymmetric, apex acute to long acuminate. Inflorescence radical, c. 3-6 or more per pseudostem, up to c. 9 cm long (including peduncle) produced from the rhizome below the stem; peduncle c. 1 cm long, white, glabrous, basal sheaths 1-2, white, glabrous; spike horn-shaped, 5-8.5 × 3 cm. Bracts cymbiform, c. 4, c. 5-8 × 1.5-2 cm, distichously arranged, green or dark red, each bract enclosing one flower, apex sometimes curved; bracteole cylindrical, c. 5 × 0.5 cm, white, translucent, glabrous, open to the base, apex acute. Flowers c. 4 per inflorescence, up to c. 15 cm long. Calyx tubular, 2 × 0.5 cm, white, translucent,glabrous, apex bi-dentate. Floral tube 14 cm long, 3 mm wide at the base, white, glabrous externally and internally, dorsal corolla lobe lanceolate, 3-3.2 × 1 cm, creamy white, glabrous, margins involute, ventral lobes linear, 4 × 0.6 cm, creamy white, glabrous, margins involute; androecial tube cup-shaped, c. 8 mm long, c. 5 mm diam. at the top, yellow, glabrous externally and internally. Labellum saccate, semi-orbicular, 4-4.2 cm long, 3 cm wide (when flattened at broadest point) light yellow, throat centre bright orange-red, maculate with yellow showing through as dots, interrupted with a yellow, irregular band, then a dark red band across the lip, turning to pink towards the apex, externally with a few glandular hairs, internally glabrous, margin entire, revolute on the sides, apex slightly truncate, wavy; lateral staminodes obovate, 1.6 × 1 cm, light yellow, dorsal surface with few glandular hairs, ventral surface glabrous, apex rounded, revolute, margin wavy. Stamen 11 mm long, filament 1.5-2 mm long, 2-3 mm wide at the base, light yellow, few glandular hairs, anther c. 9 mm long, 3 mm
wide (first day) then c. 6 mm wide (thecae diverging on the second day) apex slightly bilobed with no anther crest, thecae 9 × 1 mm, red, dehiscing along the entire length.
Ovary c. 8 × 5 mm, trilocular, axile placentation, white, glabrous; style filiform, white, glabrous, stigma rounded to oval, white, ostiole oval, without cilia, exuding a sticky
liquid on the second day; epigynous glands narrowly ovate, two, 5 mm long, light yellow. Fruit a capsule, elliptical, c. 2 cm long, 1 cm wide, trilocular, white, glabrous,
dehiscence loculicidal, valves rolling outward into coils; seed round, c. 15, c. 3 mm diam., light brown, slightly pubescent, aril white, translucent. (Measurements based
on living, cultivated material of M06P14).
Endemic to northern and northeastern regions of Thailand.
Belong to Boesenbergia longiflora complex in yellow flower group. Differ from B. longiflora and B. kerrii in smaller plant, uo to 80 cm tall and boarder leaves.