Assessment of Zingiberaceae (Tribe Alpinieae) from North East Sarawak, Malaysia

Abstract

Zingiberaceae is a pantropical herbaceous family from order Zingiberales. It consists of 60 genera and at least 1,500 species that are widely distributed in the tropics. Malesian region is known as the richest zone and Borneo covers 21 genera with more than 250 known taxa so far. This paper provides a preliminary assessment of Zingiberaceae particularly tribe Alpinieae from the north east of Sarawak. Taxon sampling were carried out at different localities from Bintulu to Miri divisions involving three national parks particularly Similajau, Niah and Lambir Hills National Parks. Thirty (30) species from eight (8) genera of tribe Alpinieae have been documented i.e. seven (7) species of Amomum Roxb., six (6) species each for Alpinia Roxb. and Plagiostachys Ridl., three (3) species each for Elettaria Maton and Etlingera Giseke, and two (2), two (2) and one (1) species each for Elettariopsis Baker, Hornstedtia Retz and Geocharis (K.Schum.) Ridl. Majority of the collected species are regarded as endemic to Borneo island while eight (8) species are distributed to other areas in the Malesian region. One species each of Amomum and Elettariopsis from Similajau National Park and Niah National Park, were described as possibly new to science. Findings on the new species and taxonomically uncertain species of Plagiostachys and Geocharis would probably increase the number of Alpinieae species from Sarawak. In addition, it is necessary for further field works in many more parts of Sarawak due to the large forests area and localised distribution of the ginger flora.