Research Paper

Lasianthus sondangii (Rubiaceae, Lasianthus section Nudiflorae), a new species with a unique spiciform inflorescence from Central Vietnam

Thi Thuy Nhan Tran, Van Canh Nguyen, Van Dung Luong, Thanh Nha Phan-Thi, Hoa Thi Nguyen, Ba Vuong Truong, Quoc Bao Nguyen

Published on: 26 May 2026

Page: 488 - 494

DOI: 10.6165/tai.2026.71.488

Abstract

Lasianthus sondangii, a new species from Lasianthus section Nudiflorae, is described from Khanh Hoa Province, Central Vietnam. It can be distinguished from other Lasianthus species in Vietnam and surrounding countries by having narrowly triangular stipules, spiciform inflorescences with two or three reduced cyme secondary axes, purple flowers, and clavate calyx lobes with revolute margins. A detailed description of the new species, color plates, distribution, habitat and preliminary conservation assessment are provided.

Keyword: Indochina, Khanh Hoa, Lasiantheae, plant conservation, plant diversity, sect. Nudiflorae

Literature Cited

Beentje, H. 2010 The Kew Plant Glossary: an illustrated dictionary of plant terms (revised edition). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, London, 160 pp.

Dang, V.S., Naiki, A. 2023 A revision of the genus Lasianthus Jack (Rubiaceae) from Vietnam. Phytotaxa 581(1): 1–150.
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.581.1.1View Article Google Scholar

Dang, V.S., Le, T.A., Hoang, T.S., Le, V.S., Ha, V.B., Pham, Q.T., Phetlasy, S., Tagane, S., Naiki, A. 2025 Two new species and one new addition of Lasianthus (Rubiaceae) for the flora of Vietnam. Phytotaxa 694(1): 57–67.
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.694.1.4View Article Google Scholar

IUCN Standards and Petitions Committee. 2024 Guidelines for using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Version 16. Prepared by the Standards and Petitions Committee. Available from: https://www.iucnredlist.org/documents/RedListGuidelines.pdf (accessed 15 August 2025).

Naiki, A., Tagane, S., Chhang, P., Toyama, H., Zhu, H., Dang, V.S., Yahara, T. 2015 Flora of Bokor National Park, Cambodia II: four new species and nine new records of Lasianthus (Rubiaceae) from Cambodia. Acta Phytotax. Geobot. 66(3): 153–179.

Napiroon, T., Chayamarit, K., Dawson, S., Till, W., Balslev, H. 2020 A synopsis of Lasianthus (Lasiantheae, Rubiaceae) in Thailand and two additional new species. Phytotaxa 439(1): 1–38.
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.439.1.1View Article Google Scholar

Pham, H.H. 2000 C?y c? Vi?t Nam: An illustrated Flora of Vietnam, vol. 3. Youth Publication, Ho Chi Minh City. pp. 202–209.

Pitard, J. 1924 Rubiac?es. In: Lecomte, P.H., Humbert, H., Gagnepain, F. (Eds.) Flore g?n?rale de l’Indo-Chine, vol. 3: 371–399. Masson, Paris.

POWO 2025 Plants of the World Online. Facilitated by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available from: https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:331701-2 (accessed 15 August 2025).

Tagane, S., Souladeth, P., Tanaka, N., Phengmala, K., Yahara, T. 2023 Two new species and a new record of Lasianthus (Rubiaceae) in Laos. Phytotaxa 585(2): 145–153.
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.585.2.5View Article Google Scholar

Vietnam Administrative Atlas 2015 Vietnam Publishing House of Natural Resources, Environment and Cartography. Hanoi.

Zhu, H. 2002 A revision of the genus Lasianthus (Rubiaceae) from China. Syst. & Geogr. Pl. 72: 63–110.

Zhu, H., Taylor, C.M. 2011 Lasianthus. In: Wu, Z.Y., Raven, P.H., Hong, D.Y. (Eds.) Flora of China, vol. 19: 185–198. Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis.

Zhu, H., Roos, M.C., Ridsdale, C.E. 2012 A taxonomic revision of the Malesian species of Lasianthus (Rubiaceae). Blumea 57(1): 1–102.
DOI: 10.3767/000651912X652012View Article Google Scholar