Biological Resource of Family Commelinaceae in Maha Sarakham Province: Diversity, Traditional Uses and Conservation Status

Abstract

The Family Commelinaceae is considered one of the largest families in the plant kingdom, comprising 41 genera and 731  species. The biodiversity in Maha Sarakham Province plays a significant role in the daily lives of its inhabitants. It’s  used as local food, vegetables, medicinal and ornamental plants, rituals, natural dyes, traditional cosmetics, and  construction materials. This study aimed to determine Commelinaceae’s diversity, conservation status and traditional  uses in Maha Sarakham Province, northeastern Thailand. Seven genera with 26 species of Commelinaceae were collected between January and December 2021 in field surveys. The genus diversity was Murdannia (7 species), Cyanoyis  and Tradescantea (5 species each), Commelina (4 species), Callisia (3 species), Amischotolype and Floscopa (1 species each).  Callisia repens, Callisia fragrans, and Tradescantia spathacea are popular ornamental species with varied leaf colour. Commelinaceae is significantly distributed in the Kantharawichai District in four ecosystems: deciduous dipterocarp  forest (13 species), mixed deciduous forest (4 species), river basin (5 species) and 11 species in home gardens. This  study reported 15 native (57.69%) and 11 cultivated species (42.31%) grouped into non-common species (50%) and  common species (50%). The phenology is presented from June to September. The conservation status of five species is  Least Concern (LC). The study revealed that 16 species from the research area are used for food, ornamental (9 species),  rituals (1 species), medicine (4 species), and other purposes (8 species). This study provides important biological  resource data on Commelinaceae; to our knowledge, this is the first biodiversity survey of the family.