First Report of Hedychium flavescens Carey ex Roscoe (Zingiberaceae) in the Philippines

Abstract

During expeditions in the province of Bukidnon, southern Philippines, populations of Hedychium flavescens Carey ex Roscoe – a major plant invader in New Zealand, Hawaii, and La Réunion – were documented. This paper formally reports the presence of H. flavescens, an escaped species with invasive potential in the country. The species was recorded in the municipalities of Impasug-ong and Maramag in Bukidnon in 2018 and 2020, respectively. H. flavescens is the third species of Hedychium in the Philippines, adding to the two previously known species – namely, H. coronarium Koenig and H. philippinense K.Schum. Information on its distribution, habitat and ecology, phenology, colored photographs, and key to different species of Hedychium in the Philippines are provided in this paper.