Distribution of Argostemma Wall. (Rubiaceae), with special reference to Thailand and surrounding areas

Distribution of Argostemma Wall. (Rubiaceae), with special reference to Thailand and surrounding areas

Kitichate Sridith, D. of Biology, F. of Sci., PSU.
Christain Puff, Inst. fr Botanik der Universitt Wien, Vienna, Austria.
Corresponding e-mail : skiticha@ratree.psu.ac.th or Christian.Puff@univie.ac.at

Grant : stereichische Austauschdienst (AD), Asia Uni-net Project Fund, Austria
Published : Thai For Bull (Botany) 2000, 28 : 123-138
Key words : Argostemma, Rubiaceae, distribution

Argostemma Wall. (Rubiaceae), a disjunct genus (Africa: 2 spp.; SE Asia:> 95 spp.), has 31 taxa in Thailand of which 17 (or c. 55%) are endemic. Their distribution is as follows (according to Floristic Regions in Flora of Thailand): North (N) - 11 spp. (of which 6, or c. 55 %, are endemic to the region); North-eastern (NE): 1 sp.; Eastern (E): 3 spp.; South-western (SW): 4 spp.; Central (C): 3 spp.; South-eastern (SE): 5 spp. (of which 1, or 20 %, is endemic to the region). Apart from the endemics ą narrowly confined to a single region (listed above), some species endemic to Thailand have wider distributions, e,g, A. concinum (N+E+C+SE), and A. paevum (E+SE). The 14 non-endemic taxa fall into 3 categories: (1) "northern" species, also occuring in Burma, India and or China (Yunnan); (2) "southern" species, also in the Malay Peninsula [and/or S Burma (Tenasserim), or also on Sumatra or Andaman Isl.]; (3) wide-spread species (A. neurocalyx only), distributed from Borneo and Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula to Indochina (and also wide spread in Thailand: N+C+SE+PEN). - An attempt is made to correlate distribution patterns with (morphological) "species group" distinguishable within the genus.

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