In: Phyton 53, Fasc. 2 (2013), S. 241–264, with 8 figures

Key words: Pinaceae, Pinus. – Revisions, taxa circumscription, systematics, taxonomy. – Flora of Vietnam

Summary:

Vietnam shows one of the greatest conifer diversity in Eurasia, and Pinus is the genus with the highest species richness (8 species). There is a great taxonomic confusion or there are only provisional identifications of Pinus species in the relevant literature. In this study Vietnamese populations of pines with controversial identities have been taxonomically reassessed. All taxa are summarised and geographical distribution on the basis of the author’s field knowledge of Asian pine species is given. The main results were as follows: 1) the specimens referred commonly to as Pinus kwangtungensis belongs to P. eremitana (SW of the Red River Basin) or to P. wangii (NE of the Red River Basin) with geographically separated P. w. subsp. wangii (in the north of the Ha Giang Province) and P. w. subsp. variifolia (eastwards from the Ha Giang Province); 2) P. merkusii reported in Vietnamese flora refers to the mainland species P. latteri, including the population called “Muong Tip pine” in the western tip of the Nghe An Province; 3) a very limited and isolated population of a two-leaved pine called “Na Hang pine” from the karstic mountains near the boundary of the Tuyen Quang and Bac Can Provinces was identified as P. henryi, which was currently known only from China; 4) the pine recently discovered at the SE tip of the Son La Province near the border with Laos, referred to as P. armandii, was identified as the true P. fenzeliana, currently known only from China. – The true taxa Pinus kwangtungensis (= P. wangii subsp. kwangtungensis) and P. merkusii do not occur in Vietnam or in adjacent regions and should be excluded from accounts of the Vietnamese flora. A determination key to all taxa of the genus Pinus relevant to the flora of Vietnam is given.