Typification of names relevant to a revision ofZingiber(Zingiberaceae) in China

Abstract

SummaryZingiber (Zingiberaceae: Zingibereae) is an economically important but taxonomically difficult genus, with names frequently misapplied. Here, we thoroughly review all names corresponding to the currently recognised 54 species from China including their synonyms, and clarify the status of their types. Lectotypes are designated for 40 names (including one second‐step), neotypes for 3 names, and epitypes for 3 names. Additional and often uncited isotypes have been discovered for numerous names, and such additional records are here provided. Tupistra bambusifolia var. rubromaculosa, Z. simaoense, Z. confine and Z. larsenii are newly treated as synonyms of Z. atrorubens, Z. densissimum, Z. officinale and Z. recurvatum respectively. A new combination, Z. bambusifolium, is proposed, based on Tupistra bambusifolia. This study will form the nomenclatural basis of an ongoing taxonomic revision of the genus in China, and phylogenetic study of the genus.