Synoptic overview of Acacia sensu lato (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) in East and Southeast Asia

Abstract

Recent research shows that the formerly broadly circumscribed, pantropical genus Acacia Mill.(Leguminosae: Mimosoideae) is polyphyletic and should be treated as comprising at least five genera, namely.Acacia Mill, sensu stricto, Acaciella Britton & Rose, Mariosousa Seigler & Ebinger, Senegalia Raf. and Vachellia Wight & Arn.The indigenous flora of Acacia sensu lato in East and Southeast Asia comprise 52 species: 32 species (38 taxa) of Senegalia, 12 species of Acacia sensu stricto and eight species of Vachellia.These species are listed and their geographic distributions given, showing that Acacia sensu lato is unevenly distributed across the region, with centres of species-richness in Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand.A summary of the classification histoiy of Acacia sensu lato is provided and nomenclatural impacts of the recent retypification of Acacia briefly discussed.