Species diversity utilization of zingiberaceae in Phu Laenkha national park, Chaiyaphum province

Abstract

Zingiberaceae in Phu Laenkha National Park were studied from three trails between January and December 2013. Sixteen species, eight genera and three tribes were investigated. Tribe Zingibereae is the most common tribe in the area with five genera, namely Boesenbergia (1 species), Curcuma (5 species), Kaempferia (3 species), Stahlianthus (1 species) and Zingiber (1 species). The second is tribe Alpinieae with two genera, namely Alpinia (2 species) and Amomum (1 species). The third is tribe Globbeae and it included only genus Globba (2 species). Fourteen species are used as food and ornamental plants, for example Alpinia galanga L., A. zerumbet (Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M. Sm., Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf., Curcuma alismatifolia Gagnep., C. singularis Gagnep. and Kaempferia rotunda L.. Five species, Amomum villosum Lour., Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf., Curcuma alismatifolia Gagnep., C. harmandii Gagnep. and Stahlianthus macrochlamys (Baker) Craib are recognized as rare species. The vernacular names, phenology, ecology information, utilization and an artificial key to species are provided.