The The ginger genus Burbidgea confirmed in the flora of the Philippines

Abstract

The facultative epiphytic ginger genus Burbidgea harbours six species hitherto thought to be endemic in Borneo. Recent fieldwork in Zamboanga region, Mindanao, Philippines, resulted in the collection of a ginger, which we identified as Burbidgea nitida. The species, however, was already collected in Zamboanga region in 1919 but the evidence remained misidentified for a long time as Hedychium. Including the Burbidgea in the flora of the Philippines, increases the number of native ginger genera of the country to 17. Based on the recent collections, a complete description of B. nitida in the Philippines is provided here including illustrations and notes on ecology and a local name. We lectotypify Burbidgea nitida, the type of the genus, and clarify the overlap of native ginger genera and species between Borneo and Philippines.