TITLE:
Description of Flower Biology of Under-Exploited Species, Zingiber barbatum (Wall.) from Myanmar
AUTHORS:
Musavvara Kh. Shukurova, Daisy Myint, Syed Abdullah Gilani, Kazuo N. Watanabe
KEYWORDS:
Wild Ginger, Inflorescence Habit, Flower Morphology, Phenotypic Variation, Taxonomy, Zingiber barbatum, Genus Zingiber
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.11 No.7,
July
17,
2020
ABSTRACT: Characterization of the reproductive morphology in
genus Zingiber is still
relevant on classical taxonomic studies because most of the species are phenotypically
similar and difficult to distinguish in the absence of the flowering stage. Reports
mainly derived based on the herbarium collections are insufficient for the
detailed morphological review. Zingiber barbatum (Wall.) belongs to the genus Zingiber and has been neglected for a long
time. Existed intraspecific morphological and genetic variations also intricate
the description of this species. The
objective of this study was to characterize the reproductive morphology of under-exploited Z. barbatum species. The study was done based on the traditional description of
morphology and habit of inflorescence and flowers, with a recording of minimum
quantitative and qualitative parameters and phenological observation regarding
inflorescence life span and duration of blossom. Assessment of reproductive
morphology displayed phenotypic variations
regarding inflorescences habit during the growth stage and morphological
features of the flower. Perhaps, an existed variation was driven by
eco-geographical factors resulting in reproductive isolation due to which
genetic divergence might occur. The taxonomic affiliation of Z. barbatum based on
inflorescence habit has been confirmed. This is the first comprehensive report
regarding flower biology on Z. barbatum.