A New Species, Alpinia nantoensis (Zingiberaceae), from Taiwan

A new species of Alpinia, A. nantoensis F. Y. Lu & Y. W. Kuo, from Taiwan is presented in
this paper. This species is found in mountainous areas of central Taiwan, at around 900~1500 m in
elevation. This new species can be distinguished from A. pricei by the tubular and persistent conformation
of the bracteole and the rhombic labellum. But the lack of a bracteole in A. pricei is the
greatest difference. It is also similar to A. shimadai var. shimada, but A. nantoensis has a tubular
unlobed, bracteole, and A. shimadai var. shimadai has a shelly bracteole, which is lobed on 1 side.
Key words: Alpinia nantoensis, Alpinia, Zingiberaceae.