Diversity of Commelinaceae in Laos and two new record species: Amischotolype glabrata Hassk., and Commelina maculata Edgew.

A comprehensive survey of Commelinaceae diversity in Laos identifies 23 species, including two new records: Amischotolype glabrata and Commelina maculata. Conducted across four national parks—Nam Et–Phou Louey, Nakai-Nam Theun, Hin Namnor, and Dong Houa Sao—the study maps distribution, ecology, and phenology of the family. Notably, 10 species shared between Nakai-Nam Theun and Dong Houa Sao exhibit the highest similarity index (0.2857), while marshy habitats host the majority (11 species). Flowering peaks in August, with all 23 species blooming between May and November. Conservation assessments reveal five IUCN Least Concern species (Commelina benghalensis, C. diffusa, Cyanotis axillaris, Cy. cristata, Floscopa scandens) and nine rare species warranting further protection. The research underscores the family's ecological adaptability while highlighting gaps in conservation data.

SENGTHONG, A., SAENSOUK, S., SAENSOUK, P., & SOULADETH, P. (2024). Diversity of Commelinaceae in Laos and two new record species: Amischotolype glabrata Hassk., and Commelina maculata Edgew. Notulae Botanicae Horti Agrobotanici Cluj-Napoca, 52(3), 13745. https://doi.org/10.15835/nbha52313745