Species diversity and Utilization of Genus Tacca (Dioscoreaceae) in Thailand

Abstract

Survey species diversity and utilization of genus Tacca (Dioscoreaceae) in Thailand were studied between August 2016 and May 2017. Dried specimens in BK, BKF, CMU, KKU, PSU and QBG herbaria were studied. The specimens of five species in the genus Tacca were collected from all region of Thailand. One rare species, T. plantaginea (Hance) Drenth, is reported. T. leontopetaloides (L.) Kuntze is recorded as Least Concern (LC) species. The most species of this genus are distributed in rainforest, dry evergreen forest, evergreen forest, swamp forest, mixed deciduous forest, dipterocarp forest and beach forest with altitudes 0-1,500 m. above mean sea level. In addition, utilization of genus Tacca in Thailand are recognized as food (3 species), medicine (5 species), ornamental and ritual plants (3 species). The ritual utilization is reported for the first time.