Abstract:

Pyrgophyllum (Gagnep.) T. L. Wu et Z. Y. Chen is a monotypic genus of Zingibera-

ceae from China.  Originally, it was placed in Kaempferia as a subgenus by Gagnepain (1901),

later transferred to Camptandra by Schumann (1904) and to Caulokaempferia by R. M. Smith.

(1972).

       In this paper, the authors suggest that the separation of Pyrgophyllum at generic rank is

justified on cytological, morphological and anatomical evidence.  It is characterised by the large

lamina-like bracts, which are rarely seen in Zingiberaceae.  The margin of each bract is ad-

nate to the main axis of the inflorescence at the base and the lip is lobed.  Trichomes unicel-

lular, stomata each with 4-7 lateral subsidiary cells, lateral veins are of three various types of

vascular bundles: girder-shaped, semigirder-shaped and isolated. The pollen grains are spinecent.

The basic chromosome number (x) is 21.

      The type species, Pyrgophyllum yunnanensis (Gagnep.) T. L. Wu et Z. Y. Chen (Kaemp-

feria yunnanensis Gagnep.), is only distributed in Yunnan and Sichuan provinces of China.

 

Key words: Pyrgophyllum, Pyrophyllum yunnanensis, Caulokaempferia