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119 Chayan Picheansoonthon and Pornpimol Wongsuwan «“√ “√ √“™∫— ≥±‘ µ¬ ∂“π ªï ∑’Ë ÛÛ ©∫— ∫∑’Ë Û °.§.-°.¬. ÚııÒ Abstract Twenty-three taxa (21 species and four varieties) of the genus Hedychium J. K nig are currently recognized for Thailand. Key characters of these species are discussed. Description and illustrations of H. malayanum Ridl., a new record for Thailand, is given. Photographic illustrations of the major taxa are also included. Key words: genus Hedychium (Zingiberaceae), Thailand, H. malayanum Ridl., new record Notes on the genus Hedychium J. Konig (Zingiberaceae) known for Thailand Chayan Picheansoonthon* Fellow of the Academy of Science, The Royal Institute, Thailand Pornpimon Wongsuwan* * Pharmaceutical Botany and Pharmacognosy Research Unit, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand Introduction The genus Hedychium J. K nig is one of the ethnobotanically and economicly important genera of the family Zingiberaceae. Some species are recognized ethnopharmacologically, Hedychium coronarium J. K nig, H. coccineum Buch.-Ham. ex Sm., H. flavescens Carey ex Rosc., to mention a few. Several taxa, especially those with showy and fragrant flowers, have or may have horticultural potential. K nig established the genus in 1783 based on the type species, Hedychium coronarium J. K nig. Up to now, over 50 species, distributed mainly from eastern Himalaya to South India, South China and Southeast Asia, were recognized. Baker recorded twenty-four species of the Hedychium found in India (1890, in J.D. Hooker). Gagnepain listed five species from Indochina (1908, in Lecomte), with two more taxa were later added by Larsen (1965). Ridley first listed four species for Malay Peninsula (1924), and three species were later added by Holttum (1950). Twenty-eight species (eighteen en- demic) were recently enumerated for China (Wu & Larsen, 2000). Seventeen species (with one unknown taxon) of the genus were previously accounted for Thailand (Sirirugsa & Larsen, 1994). Larsen & Karsen (2006) recently listed 22 species for Thailand. However, from decades of field trips throughout Thailand and herbarium investigation, the authors have not yet seen any specimens of four species in their list; ie. H. densiflorum Wall., H. flavum Roxb., H. gracile ..