A Revision of the Genus Aglaonema (Araceae)
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SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY NUMBER 1 Dan Henry NicoZson A Revision of the Genus Aglaonema (Araceae) SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PRESS CITY OF WASHINGTON I 969 SERIAL PUBLICATIONS OF THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION The emphasis upon publications as a means of diffusing knowledge was expressed by the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. In his formal plan for the Institution, Joseph Henry articulated a program that included the following state- ment: “It is proposed to publish a series of reports, giving an account of the new discoveries in science, and of the changes made from year to year in all branches of knowledge not strictly professional.” This keynote of basic research has been adhered to over the years in the issuance of thousands of titles in serial publications under the Smithsonian imprint, commencing with Smithsonian Contributions to Knowl- edge in 1848 and continuing with the following active series: Smithsonian Annals of Flight Smithsonian Contributions to Anthropology Smithsonian Contributions to Astrophysics Smithsonian Contributions to Botany Smithsonian Contributions to the Earth Sciences Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology Smithsonian Studies in History and Technology In these series, the Institution publishes original articles and monographs dealing with the research and collections of its several museums and offices and of professional colleagues at other institutions of learning. These papers report newly acquired facts, synoptic interpretations of data, or original theory in specialized fields. Each publica- tion is distributed by mailing lists to libraries, laboratories, institutes, and interested specialists throughout the world. Individual copies may be obtained from the Smith- sonian Institution Press as long as stocks are available. S. DILLONRIPLEY Secretary Smithsonian Institution Official publication date is handstamped in a limited number of initial copies and is recorded in the Institution’s annual report, Smithsonian Year. UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1969 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Govornment Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20902 - Price $1.25 Contents Page Abstract ............................. 1 Introduction ............................ 1 Aglaonema within the Family Araceae ................. 3 Taxonomic History of Aglaonema ................... 4 Cytology ............................. 6 Embryology ............................ 8 Morphology. ........................... 11 Plant Diseases ........................... 16 Aglaonema Schott .......................... 17 Dubious Binomials ......................... 59 Excluded Species .......................... 60 Identification List. ......................... 61 Literature Cited .......................... 63 ABSTRACT Nicolson, Dan Henry. A Revision of the Genus Aglaonema (Araceae) . Smithsonian Contributions to Botany, 1: 1-66. 1969.-This revision of Aglaonema (ranging from northeastern India through New Guinea) is based on study of over 1500 herbarium specimens in 33 herbaria, supplemented by field studies and over 100 personal col- lections made in southeastern Asia over a period of 18 months. Much of the literature of the genus is reviewed, particularly on cytology, embryology, and morphology. The taxonomic portion of the text includes keys, synonymies, descriptions, notes on range, habitat, typification as well as discussion of taxonomic and nomenclatural problems. The sections Aglaonema and Chamaecaulon are recognized for the first time. Although 76 binomials have been published for the genus, only 21 are recognized and accepted herein as species. No new species have been recognized. Introduction Dr. A. Kostermans (Bogor), Dr. H. E. Moore (Ithaca), and Dr. G. S. Bunting (Ithaca), who took Aglaonema is a genus of tropical aroids of 21 species special interest in my work and problems. native to southeastern Asia from northeastern India I thank the National Science Foundation for across southern China and Indonesia through New Graduate Fellowships numbers 20006 ( 1960-1961 ) , Guinea. All species are herbaceous. The generic name 21204 (1961-1962) and 32118 (1962-1963). Finally means “shining stamen” in Greek. I wish to thank my wife, who never faltered in her This paper is a condensation of a doctoral disser- enthusiasm and shouldered much of the routine work. tation accepted by Cornell University in 1964. The MATERIALSAND METHODS.-The first Stage Of this thesis is available through University Microfilms, Inc., study emphasized visiting the type-localities of as many of Ann Arbor, Michigan, as negative microfilm num- described taxa as possible and the herbaria known to ber 65-3347. Thanks are due to my special committee: have major collections of tropical Asiatic plants. Type- Drs. W. J. Dress (Chairman), R. E. Lee, H. P. Banks, localities were emphasized for two reasons : to collect and J. F. Cornman. I owe a particular debt to Dr. topotype material to help offset loss of type material G. H. M. Lawrence, who was chairman of my special destroyed during World War I1 and to obtain some committee in the initial stages. Mr. C. V. Morton of idea of variability in type-localities. Other considera- the Smithsonian Department of Botany also critically tions (political situations, contacts, time, money) read the manuscript and many of his suggestions were largely determined where and how long I could stay gratefully adopted. and study within the natural distribution of the genus I am also deeply grateful to Dean D. Umali and Aglaonema. The following rCsumC indicates how many Mr. J. V. Pancho of the Philippine College of Ag- months were spent in each country and in what prov- riculture, Mr. A. Dilmy (Bogor), Mr. J. Womersley inces (districts or divisions) collections were made: (Lae), Dr. H. M. Burkill (Singapore), Mr. Tem Smitinand (Bangkok), and Mr. J. A. R. Anderson Dates Country Provinces (Kuching) . These, plus others I have not mentioned, Sept. 60-Jan. 6 1 Philippines Agusan, Albay, Bukidnon, Catanduanes, Davao, deserve special thanks for arranging field trips with Laguna, Leyte, Misamis and for me, as well as housing for my family. Oriental, Negros In my visits to herbaria Dr. C. G. G. J. van Steenis Oriental, Quezon and the entire staff of the Rijksherbarium (Leiden) Jan. 61-June 61 Indonesia West Java were especially generous, as were, also, Dr. Alicia June 61-Aug. 61 Malaysia Johore, Penang, Perak, Sarawak, Selangor, Lourteig (Paris), Dr. K. Rechinger (Wien), Dr. G. Singapore Schultze (Berlin),Dr. W. T. Stearn (British Museum), Sept. 61-Nov. 61 Territory of Morobe District, Bougain- Dr. C. Bonner (Geneva), Mr. L. L. Forman (Kew), New Guinea, ville, New Britain, Papua Manokwari Dec. 61-Feb. 62 Thailand Bangkok, Chanthaburi, Dan Henry Nicolson, Department of Botany, Smithsonian Chieng Mai, Nakhon Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560. Nayok, Trat, Trang 1 2 SMITHSONIAN CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY The number of my collections (total=103) of Koorders’ collections but none of Bunnemeijer’s and Aglaonema by country are as follows: Indonesia, 17; Kerr’s since they are more recent. Malaysia, 29; New Guinea, 3; Philippines, 34; Thai- Data were accumulated from each specimen. The land, 16; U.S.A., 4. habit of the stem was noted (erect, repent, or decum- Duplicates (an average of 4 per collection) were bent), its length measured or taken from field notes, distributed in the following order: 1, Washington and its largest diameter measured. Although experi- (US) ; 2, national herbarium of county of origin; ments were not performed, it is my impression that the 3, Ithaca (BH) ; 4, Leiden (L) ; 5, Kew (K) ; 6, Berlin width of a pressed and dried stem is approximately that of a fresh stem since the shrinkage in drying appears to (B) ; 7, Vienna (W) ; 8, Paris (P) ; 9, Manila (PNH) ; be matched by the increase due to flattening during 10, Bogor (BO) ; 11, Singapore (SING) ; 12, Calcutta pressing. Internode length was noted and was com- (CAL); 13, London (BM); 14, Geneva (G); 15, monly found to be about equal to the stem thickness; Cambridge (A) ; 16, New York (NY) ; 17, Brisbane i.e., internodes were longest on the thickest basal por- (BRI) ; 18, Bangkok (BK) . The abbreviations are the tion of the stem and shortest on the uppermost portion standard ones of Lanjouw and Stafleu ( 1964). of the stem. Petiolar length, petiolar sheath length, I have studied the available material of Aglaonema blade length, and blade width were measured on the in the following herbaria: most accessible and complete leaf on a specimen in or- Bogor (BO) 276 Kepong (KEP) 14 der to ensure that ratios comparing these measurements Kew (K) 242 Kuching (SAR) 12 would be real. If other complete leaves were available, Singapore (SING) 233 Stockholm (S) 11 one or two were measured to obtain an indication of Leiden (L) 133 Utrecht (U) 10 variability in the actual measurements and ratios be- Paris (P) 108 10 Munich (M) tween leaves on a given specimen. The petiolar sheath Calcutta (CAL) 73 Edinburgh (E) 7 London (BM) 70 Zurich (Z) 7 was noted as being scarious or membranous. Leaf shape Washington (US) 52 Bangkok (BKF) 5 and the shape of the leaf bases and apices were re- Manila (PNH) 46 Vienna ( W) 3 corded. The terminology for leaf shape follows that of New York (NY) 42 Lae (LAE) 3 the Committee on Terminology (1962) except that I Ithaca (BH) 38 Dehra Dun (DD) 3 regard their numbers 36 and 37 (q.v.) as lanceolate Bangkok (BK) 33 Brisbane (BRI) 2 Cambridge (A) 25 Brussels (BR) 2 (not narrowly ovate),