A Synopsis of Thai Menispermaceae

Abstract

The following summary of the Menispermaceae of Thailand is a precursor to the account prepared for the Flora of Thailand. Since publication of the latter is likely to be delayed for a few years, the present account is provided in the meantime in order to stimulate interest and to draw attention to those species where further material is needed. Descriptions of all 20 genera and most of the 49 species will be found in my recent revision of the Malesian species in Flora Malesiana 10:157-253 (1986) or in my series of papers on the family published in Kew Bulletin (1956-85) and therefore they are not repeated here, but references to them are given. Types of specific names including synonyms are given in the Kew Bulletin papers. Where I have not previously published a description one is now provided together with the relevant typification. Of the 49 species in Thailand, 22 do not occur in Malesia but are mainly shared with Indo-China to southern China, and Burma to the Himalayas. Nine of the Thai species are endemic and three of these are new. In addition to the named species there are a few further species yet to be identified or described as new, especially in Stephania, but adequate material is required before further progress with these can be made.