Overview of the genus Palaquium Blanco (Sapotaceae) in the Greater Mekong Sub-region
Pranom Chantaranothai
Taxonomic Research Center, Faculty of Science, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
The Palaquium is a genus of trees of the paleotropic, ranging from India across S.E. Asia to the
Pacific Islands. The genus with over 110 species is the second largest, after Pouteria (140).
Palaquium is distinguished from other member of the family by its sepals in two whorls of 3 and
stamens more than 12. Fifteen species are found in the sub-region, with six endemic species. Thailand
has 10 species which is the highest species number, four each from Myanmar and Vietnam and one
each in Laos and Cambodia and none in Yunnan (China). Based on the preliminary studies in the
herbaria and in the field, this large genus genus has been sorted into two informal species groups. The
genus seems to display a high rate of endemism in the Mekong sub-region and as they (including
other sapotaceous genera) are still neglected by the general collector. Specialists are confronted with
the need for detailed field work throughout the sub-region, for which time and funding is scarce.
Palaquium
P. annamense
P. garrettii
P. hansenii
P. helferi
P. hispidum
P. impressinervium
P. maingayi
P. obovatum
P. ottolanderi
P. poilanei
P. polyanthum
P. ridleyi
P. rostratum
P. sukoei
P. sumatranum
Total
References
MY
TH
LA
CA
VI
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YU
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4
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10
1
1
4
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area in a wider sense XXIII,