Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Responsive image
Issue: Vol. 749 No. 1: 25 Mar. 2026
Type: Article
Published: 2026-03-25
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.749.1.1
Page range: 1-9
Abstract views: 0
PDF downloaded: 0

Saraca laotica (Fabaceae), a new species from Laos

Kagoshima University Museum, Kagoshima University, 1-21-30, Korimoto, Kagoshima 890-0065, Japan
Faculty of Forest Science, National University of Laos, Dongdok Campus, Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital, Laos
Faculty of Forest Science, National University of Laos, Dongdok Campus, Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital, Laos
Faculty of Forest Science, National University of Laos, Dongdok Campus, Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital, Laos
Rural Regeneration Research Center, Yamagata University, 1-23 Wakaba-machi, Tsuruoka, 997-8555, Japan
Faculty of Environmental Sciences, National University of Laos, Dongdok Campus, Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital, Laos; Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Tokyo Metropolitan University, 1-1 Minami-Osawa, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0397, Japan
Institute of Life Sciences, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 85 Tran Quoc Toan Street, Xuan Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Institute of Life Sciences, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 85 Tran Quoc Toan Street, Xuan Hoa Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Faculty of Forest Science, National University of Laos, Dongdok Campus, Xaythany District, Vientiane Capital, Laos
Detarioideae endemic Fabales Leguminosae limestones plant taxonomy Eudicots

Abstract

A new species of Saraca (Fabaceae-Detarioideae), S. laotica, is described and illustrated from Laos. It is characterized by leaflets with (9–)11–20 pairs of secondary veins, relatively larger, persistent and showy bracts of 1.4–3.3 × 0.6–0.9 cm, calyx tube of 27–36 mm, 4 stamens, anthers 1.9 mm long, by which combination, it is clearly distinguished from previously known species in the genus. Information on its habitat, phenology, vernacular name, and preliminary conservation assessment are also provided.

References

  1. Agosti, D. (1991) Revision of the oriental ant genus Cladomyrma, with an outline of the higher classification of the Formicinae (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Systematic Entomology 16: 293–310. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-3113.1991.tb00690.x
  2. Bachman, S., Moat, J., Hill, A.W., de la Torre, J. & Scott, B. (2011) Supporting Red List threat assessments with GeoCAT: geospatial conservation assessment tool. Available from: https://geocat.iucnredlist.org/ (accessed 2 December 2025) https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.150.2109
  3. Ben Mahmoud, K., Mezzapesa, G.N., Abdelkefi, F. & Perrino, E.V. (2024) Nutritional value and functional properties of an underexploited Tunisian wild beet (Beta macrocarpa Guss.) in relation to soil characteristics. Euro-Mediterranean Journal for Environmental Integration 9: 705–720. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41207-024-00468-5
  4. Brullo, S., Tomaselli, V. & Wagensommer, R.P. (2015) A new species of Odontites (Orobanchaceae) from southern Italy. Phytotaxa 213 (3): 271–281. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.213.3.7
  5. Chen, D.Z., Zhang, D.X. & Hou, D. (2008) Saraca. In: Wu, Z.Y., Raven, P.H. & Hong, D.Y. (Eds.) Flora of China, vol. 10. Science Press, Beijing and Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, pp. 23.
  6. de Wilde, W.J.J.O. (1981) A second species of Saraca from East Malesia and additional notes on Saraca celebica (Caesalpiniaceae). Blumea 27: 235–238.
  7. de Wilde, W.J.J.O. (1985) Saraca tubiflora, a new species from West-Central Sumatra. Blumea 230: 425–428.
  8. Eguchi, K. & Bui, T.V. (2006) Cladomyrma scopulosa new species (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Formicinae) from Vietnam. Sociobiology 47: 305–314.
  9. Eguchi, K. & Bui, T.V. (2007) Ecological notes on a plant ant, Cladomyrma scopulosa Eguchi & Bui (Hymenoptera, Formicidae, Formicinae) associating with a tree species Saraca dives Pierre (Leguminosae). Asian Myrmecology 1: 51–58.
  10. Gagnepain, F. (1913) Légumineuses Caesalpiniées. In: Lecocmte, M.H. & Gagnepain, F. (Eds.) Flore générale de l'Indo-Chine, vol. 2. Masson, Paris, pp. 110–218.
  11. Heckenhauer, J., Barfuss, M.H. & Samuel, R. (2016) Universal multiplexable matK primers for DNA barcoding of angiosperms. Applications in Plant Sciences 4 (6): apps.1500137. https://doi.org/10.3732/apps.1500137
  12. Hou, D. (1996) Saraca. In: Hou, D., Larsen, K. & Larsen, S.S. (Eds.) Caesalpiniaceae. Flora Malesiana, ser. I, Spermatophyta, vol. 12 (2). Rijksherbarium, Leiden, pp. 660–673.
  13. IUCN (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 29 September 2024)
  14. Jack, W. (1822) Description of Malayan Plants. Malayan Miscellanies 2: 74–96.
  15. Lamxay, V., Lanorsavanh, S., Chanthavong, K., Souvannakhoummane, K. & Bounphammy, S. (2021) A checklist of the vascular plants of Lao PDR version 1.0. Faculty of Natural Science, National University of Laos, Vientiane.
  16. Larsen, K., Larsen, S.S. & Vidal, J.E. (1980) Légumineuses-Césalpinioïdées. In: Aubréville, A. & Leroy, K.F. (Eds.) Flore du Cambodge du Laos et du Viêtnam, vol. 18. Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris, pp. 1–227.
  17. Larsen, K., Larsen, S.S. & Vidal, J.E. (1984) Leguminosae-Caesalpinioideae. In: Smitinand, T. & Larsen, K. (Eds.) Flora of Thailand, vol. 4 part 1. The Forest Herbarium, National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, Bangkok, pp. 1–129.
  18. Linnaeus, C. (1767) Mantissa Plantarum. generum editionis VI et specierum editionis II. Laurentii Salvii, Holmiae [Stockholm]. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.119809
  19. Maschwitz, U, Fiala, B., Moog, J. & Saw, L.G. (1991) Two new myrmecophytic associations from the Malay Peninsula: ants of the genus Cladomyrma (Formicidae, Camponotinae) as partners of Saraca thaipingensis (Caesalpiniaceae) and Crypteronia griffithii (Crypteroniaceae). Insectes Sociaux 38: 27–35. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01242710
  20. Miquel, F.A.W. (1855) Flora van Nederlandsch Indië, vol. 1. C.G. van der post, Amsterdam. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.93
  21. Newman, M.F., Pullan, M., Souladeth, P., Ketphanh, S., Svengsuksa, B., Thomas, P., Sengdala, K., Lamxay, V. & Armstrong, K. (2017–present) A Checklist of the Vascular Plants of Lao PDR. Available from: https://padme.rbge.org.uk/laos/ (accessed 1 December 2025)
  22. Perrino, E.V., Tomaselli, V., Wagensommer, R.P., Silletti, G.N., Esposito, A. & Stinca, A. (2022) Ophioglossum lusitanicum L.: New records of plant community and 92/43/EEC habitat in Italy. Agronomy 12: 3188. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy12123188
  23. Perrino, E.V., Wagensommer, R.P., Mezzapesa, G.N. & Trani, A. (2024) Stachys italica Mill.: synecology, functional compounds and potential use of an Italian endemic taxon. Planta 260: 138. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00425-024-04571-3
  24. Pham, H.H. (1999) Cây cỏ Việt Nam: An illustrated flora of Vietnam, vol. 1. Youth Publication, Ho Chi Minh City.
  25. Pierre, L. (1898) Flore forestière de la Cochinchine, vol. 4. Octave Doin, Paris.
  26. Pongamornkul, W., Panyadee, P., Miuangyen, N. & Inta, A. (2021) Saraca thailandica (Leguminosae-Detarioideae), a new species from Thailand. Thai Journal of Botany 13: 29–36.
  27. POWO (2025) Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Available from: http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org/ (accessed 1 December 2024)
  28. Prain, D. (1897) Some additional Leguminosae. Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal 66: 347–518.
  29. Sefi, O., Ghrabi-Gammar, Z., Jilani, I.B.H., Daoud-Bouattour, A. & Brullo, S. (2020) A new species of Limonium from Tunisia. Phytotaxa 446 (5): 281–290. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.446.5.2
  30. Souvannakhoummane, K., Phonepaseuth, P., Souladeth, P., Lanorsavanh, S., Tagane, S. & Tanaka, N. (2025) Studies on the Gesneriaceae in Laos II: Lysionotus calcicola, a new species from limestone karsts in North and Central Laos, supported by morphological and molecular evidence. Nordic Journal of Botany 2025: e04620. https://doi.org/10.1002/njb.04620
  31. Thiers, B.M. (2025) Index Herbariorum. A global directory of public herbaria and associated staff. New York Botanical Garden’s Virtual Herbarium. Available from: https://sweetgum.nybg.org/science/ih/ (accessed 1 December 2025)
  32. Wagensommer, R.P. (2023) Floristic studies in the light of biodiversity knowledge and conservation. Plants 12 (16): 2973. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12162973
  33. Yu, J., Xue, J.H. & Zhou, S.L. (2011) New universal matK primers for DNA barcoding angiosperms. Journal of Systematics and Evolution 49 (3): 176–181. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1759-6831.2011.00134.x
  34. Zuijderhoudt, G.F.P. (1967) A revision of the genus Saraca L. (Legum. – Caes.). Blumea 15: 413–425.

How to Cite

Tagane, S., Phengmala, K., Kongxaisavath, D., Sengthong, A., Yamamoto, T., Phonepaseuth, P., Pham, Q.T., Dang, V.-S. & Souladeth, P. (2026) Saraca laotica (Fabaceae), a new species from Laos. Phytotaxa 749 (1): 1–9. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.749.1.1