Orophea phouphamarnensis (Annonaceae), a new species from limestone karst in central Laos

Researchers have discovered Orophea phouphamarnensis, a new species of plant belonging to the Annonaceae family, within the limestone karst landscapes of central Laos. This finding highlights the region's rich biodiversity, particularly in Khammouane Province, which is part of two significant protected areas: Phou Hin Poun National Protected Area and Hin Nam No National Park. The discovery underscores the ecological importance of these sites, which cover approximately 30,000 km² of limestone in Laos, contributing to the global understanding of plant diversity in fragmented limestone habitats.

KONGXAISAVATH, D., TAGANE, S., SOUVANNAKHOUMMANE, K., PHENGMALA, K., SENGTHONG, A., DANG, V.-S., NGUYEN, Q. B., YAMAMOTO, T., TANAKA, N., TAKAHASHI, K. T., & SOULADETH, P. (2025). Orophea phouphamarnensis (Annonaceae), a new species from limestone karst in central Laos. Phytotaxa, 687(1), 15–20. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.687.1.3