Capparis trisonthiae (Capparaceae), a new species from Thailand

RÉSUMÉ Capparis trisonthiae (Capparaceae), nouvelle espèce de Thaïlande. Une nouvelle espèce de Capparaceae, Capparis trisonthiae Srisanga & Chayamarit, du Doi Phu Kha National Park, province de Nan, nord de la Thaïlande est décrite et illustrée. Elle appartient à Capparis sect.

Monostichocalyx Radlk. et ressemble à C. klossii Ridl., endémique de l’Isthme de Kra au sud de la Thaïlande, dont elle se distingue par plusieurs caractères des feuilles et des fleurs. The genus Capparis L. (Capparaceae) consists of about 250 species distributed mostly in tropical and subtropical regions (J ACOBS 1965; MABBERLEY 1997). In the account of Capparis for the Flora of Thailand, 25 indigenous species and one doubtful species due to the lack of good material were recorded (CHAYAMARIT 1991).

Recently, one additional taxon, Capparis sikkimensis Kurz subsp. yunnanensis (Craib & W.W. Sm.) Jacobs was newly recorded for Thailand (SRISANGA et al. 2003). During a botanical expedition by the first author to Doi Phu Kha National Park, Nan Province, northern Thailand, yet another undescribed species was discovered, which we describe here as Capparis trisonthiae. It belongs to section Monostichocalyx Radlk., according to JACOBS (1965), characterized by well developed and persistent leaves, sepals all free in bud and both sepals of a pair equal.

This section contains about 100 species distributed in Africa (except the dry northern part), Asia and all over Malesia to the Pacific region.