JOURNAL OF TROPICAL PLANTS RESEARCH Journal of Tropical Plants Research is a peer-reviewed journal of faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University (KUFF) which publishes research articles on Systematic botany, Ecology, Physiology, Genetics, Biotechnology, Conservation and Utilization. The Journal of Tropical Plants Research is issued once a year. Articles from researchers worldwide are welcomed. EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD Prof.Dr.Kunio Iwatsuki Prof.Dr.Niels Jacobsen Dr.Thomas B. Croat Assoc.Prof.Dr.Utis Kutintara Dr.Chamlong Phengklai Prof.Dr.Niwat Ruangpanit Prof.Dr.Sanit Aksornkoae Prof.Dr.Thawatchai Santisuk Prof.Dr.Pongsak Sahunaru Assist.Prof.Dr.Suwit Sangtongpraw Assoc.Prof.Dr.Somkid Siripatanadilok Dr.Sarayudh Bunyavejchewin Dr.Kongkanda Chayamarit Assist.Prof.Dr.Wanchai Arunpraparat EDITORS Editor-in-chief Assist.Prof.Dr.Duangchai Sookchaloem Associate Editor Assist.Prof.Dr.Wichan Eiadthong EDITORIAL BOARD Dr.Trevor R. Hodkinson Assoc.Prof.Dr.Yingyong Paisooksantivatana Assoc.Prof.Sumon Masuthon Dr.Jesada Luangjame Assoc.Prof.Dr.Srunya Vajrodaya Assist.Prof.Dr.Payattipol Narongajavana Assoc.Prof.Dr.Vipak Jintana Prof.Dr.Yongyut Trisurat Assoc.Prof.Dr.Dokrak Marod Dr.Suthee Duangjai Assist.Prof.Dr.Sarawood Sungkaew Mr.Phruet Racharak Dr.Suwimon Uthairatsamee Publisher Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900, Thailand. Printed at UOPEN Co.,Ltd. Bangkok, Thailand JOURNAL OF TROPICAL PLANTS RESEARCH Vol. 5 (2012) Supporters Mr.Chairat Aramsri Deputy Managing Director, Forest Industry Organization (FIO) , Ministry of National Resources and Environment Mr.Chanatip Kuldilok Director of Reforestation Promotion Office, Royal Forest Department, Ministry of National Resources and Environment Organizers 1. Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart University 2. Faculty of Agriculture, Kasetsart University 3. Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University 4. Royal Forest Department 5. Department of National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation 6. Department of Marine and Coastal Resources Sponsors 1. Royal Forest Department 2. Forest Industry Organization 3. PPT Public Company Limited Front Cover Bauhinia siamensis K. Larsen & S. S. Larsen Sapria ram Bänziger & B. Hansen Wrightia lanceolata Kerr Back Cover Crinum thaianum J. Schulze Caulokaempferia thailandica K. Larsen JOURNAL OF TROPICAL PLANTS RESEARCH Vol. 5 (2012) CONTENTS Thai Endemic Plants: Species Diversity, Habitats, and Risk of Extinction Status 1 - 19 Sutida Maneeanakekul, Duangchai Sookchaloem Effects on Flooded Disaster in 2011 to Species Diversity of Tree Flora in 20 - 63 Kasetsart University, Bangkhen Campus Wichan Eiadthong Taxonomic Studies of Family Rubiaceae in Some Area of Khao Yai National Park, 64 - 79 Nakhon Ratchasima Province. Surin Kangkun, Duangchai Sookchaloem, Suwit Sangtongpraw Journal of Tropical Plants Research 5 : 1-19. 2012 Thai Endemic Plants: Species Diversity, Habitats, and Risk of Extinction Status Sutida Maneeanakekul1 Duangchai Sookchaloem1, * ABSTRACT Endemic plant species are the plant species occurring naturally within one country. They are easily threatened due to specific habitat requirements. Several endemic species have become extinct before being discovered. For this reason, information on endemic species diversity, conservation status, and habitat are necessary for conservation planning in the future. According to previous studies on floras of Thailand, there were 826 species from 318 genera in 74 families of plants reported as endemic to Thailand. They consisted of 577 species, 206 genera, 51 families of Dicotyledons, 219 species, 90 genera, 11 families of monocotyledons, 22 species, 20 genera, 11 families of ferns, and 6 species, 1 genus, 1 family of gymnosperms. Six status levels of extinction risk following IUCN categories and criteria (version before 1994, 1994 and 2001) were reported among Thai endemic species. There were 406 species classified as Rare status, 243 species in Vulnerable status (VU), 99 species as Endangered status (EN), 73 species as Not Evaluated status (NE), 3 species as Least Concern status (LC), and 2 species as Near Threatened status (NT). In highly threatened statuses (EN and VU status), Orchidaceae was the richest family (80 species) followed by Gesneriaceae (45 species), Araceae (15 species), Begoniaceae (15 species) and Zingiberaceae (15 species). Mostly of these families were found in montane forests (93 species) and limestone mountains (90 species). All highly threatened plants were priority groups requiring substantial and urgent actions to improve their statuses and protect their habitats. Intensive studies on population structure, ecological needs, physiology, and other autecology aspects are necessary to increase effective managements in the future. Key words: Thai endemic plants, risk of extinction, status, species diversity E-mail: [email protected] 1 Department of Forest Biology, Faculty of Forestry, Kasetsart university * Corresponding author 2 Sutida Maneeanakekul and Duangchai Sookchaloem INTRODUCTION Thailand is one of the most flora richest countries, containing about 10,000 species and 1,900 genera of vascular plants, of which 10 percent are endemic species. They are usually found in restricted geographic areas or under limited environmental conditions, such as isolated islands, dry limestone areas, or mountainous areas (Santisuk, 2005). Endemic plants are the species that occur naturally within one country (IUCN, 2010). Because of the requirements of a specific habitat and microclimate, they are easily threatened (Santisuk, 2005). Important factors threatening plant species are continuous habitat destruction and overexploitation. Some plant species are popular as ornamental plants, such as those found in the Orchidaceae and Cycadaceae family, etc. Several endemic species, especially those classified as vulnerable, endangered, and critically endangered plants, have already become extinct before being discovered. Consequently, basic information on endemic species diversity, together with habitats, and their risk of extinction status levels are important databases for Thailand. A knowledge of these endemic plants is very helpful for monitoring and conservation planning in the future. Species diversity of endemic plants in Thailand According to previous reports on floras of Thailand, there were 826 species from 318 genera in 74 families reported as endemic plants to Thailand. They were divided into four groups: ferns, gymnosperms, monocotyledons and dicotyledons, by evolutional level. Numbers of each group were as shown below. Endemic ferns comprised 22 species from 20 genera in 11 families. There were 5 species of Dryopteridaceae (Tagawa and Iwatsuki,1988), 4 species of Parkeriaceae (Tagawa and Iwatsuki, 1988), 2 species of Lomariopsidaceae (Tagawa and Iwatsuki, 1988), and 1 species each Aspleniaceae (Santisuk et al., 2006), Grammitidaceae (Tagawa and Iwatsuki,1988), Athyriaceae (Santisuk et al., 2006), Dryopteridaceae (Tagawa and Iwatsuki, 1988; Santisuk et al., 2006 ), Lomariopsidaceae (Santisuk et al., 2006), Pteridaceae (Santisuk et al., 2006), Thelypteridaceae (Tagawa and Iwatsuki, 1988) and Vittariaceae (Santisuk et al., 2006). Endemic gymnosperms comprised 6 species from Cycas genus in Cycadaceae family (Santisuk et al., 2006). Endemic monocotyledons comprised 219 species from 90 genera in 11 families. Orchidaceae family had the highest number of species with 89 endemic species (Santisuk et al., 2006; Pooma, 2008; Kurzweil, 2009). There were 39 species of Araceae (Santisuk et al., 2006; Sookchaloem, 1995, 1997), 29 species of Zingiberaceae (Santisuk et al., 2006; Pooma et al., 2008), 21 species of Cyperaceae (Simpson and Koyama, 1998; Santisuk et al., 2006), 13 species of Palmae (Santisuk et al., Journal of Tropical Plants Research 5 : 1-19. 2012 3 2006), 12 species of Gramineae (Santisuk et al., 2006), 8 species of Dioscoreaceae (Santisuk et al., 2006; Winlkin and Thapyai, 2009), and 5 species of Smilacaceae reported as endemic plants (Santisuk et al., 2006). The families Amaryllidaceae (Santisuk et al., 2006), Eriocaulaceae (Santisuk et al., 2006), Lowiaceae (Santisuk et al., 2006) had only 1 endemic species each. Endemic dicotyledons comprised 579 species from 206 genera in 51 families. The Rubiaceae family had the highest number of endemic species. Species numbers in each family are reported in Table 1. Table 1 Species numbers in dicotyledon families and references Family Number of References Species Rubiaceae 63 Santisuk et al., 2006; Chamchumroon, 2006; Pooma, 2008 Euphorbiaceae 56 Santisuk et al., 2006; Chayamarit and Welzen, 2007 Gesneriaceae 50 Pooma et al., 2005; Santisuk et al., 2006 Aristolochiaceae 28 Phuphathanaphong, 1987, 2006; Santisuk et al., 2006 Cucurbitaceae 27 Santisuk et al., 2006; De Wilde and Duyfjes, 2008 Scrophulariaceae 25 Yamazaki, 1992; Pooma et al., 2005; Santisuk et al., 2006 Leguminosae 24 Santisuk et al., 2006; Pooma, 2008; Wilmot-Dear, 2008 Begoniaceae 23 Santisuk et al., 2006 Myrtaceae 23 Santisuk et al., 2006; Pooma, 2008 Balsaminaceae 21 Santisuk et al., 2006; Pooma, 2008 Myrsinaceae 19 Larsen and Hu, 1996 Labiatae 16 Santisuk et al., 2006; Leeratiwong et al.,2009 Sapotaceae 13 Santisuk et al., 2006 Apocynaceae 11 Middleton, 1999; Santisuk et al., 2006; Pooma, 2008 Ebenaceae 11 Phengklai, 1981; Santisuk et al., 2006 Oleaceae 11 Santisuk et al., 2006 Gentianaceae 10 Santisuk et al., 2006; Pooma, 2008 Lauraceae 10 Santisuk et al., 2006 Convolvulaceae 9 Santisuk et al., 2006; Staples: 2010 4 Sutida Maneeanakekul and Duangchai Sookchaloem