JANA LEONG-SKORNICKOVA

JANA LEONG-SKORNICKOVA

JANA LEONG-SKORNICKOVA

Adjunct Associate Professor

Website at Botanic Gardens

jana_skornickova@nparks.gov.sg

Research Interests

My main research focus is on various aspects of the ginger order (Zingiberales) in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indochina, Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore. My core strength lies in an assessment of the biodiversity, taxonomy and nomenclature of gingers and, through several international collaborations and as a co-supervisor of Ph.D. students, I am also involved in various phylogenetic and palaeobotanic studies.

My interest also extends to the taxonomy and conservation of other families of herbaceous monocotyledons, particularly in connection to the Singapore Flora.

In the past decade, I have worked extensively in forests across South and Southeast Asia. As a result I have published two books and more than 40 research papers, mainly on the taxonomy and nomenclature of gingers, as well as many popular articles about gingers. In addition, I am an editor of the Flora of Singapore and a member of the Nomenclatural Committee of Vascular Plants.  I also serve on the Editorial Board of the Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore, the Editorial Advisory Committee of Rheedea, and on the Board of the Singapore Gardening Society.

Current Research and Projects

  1. Taxonomic research on Zingiberaceae in Indochina, particularly Vietnam.

  2. Monographic studies of Lowiaceae.

  3. Conservation of native Zingiberales and other herbaceous monocots in Singapore.

Selected Publications

Middleton, D.J., Leong-Škorničková, J. & Lindsay, S. (eds) (2019). Flora of Singapore vols. 1: Introduction. Singapore: National Parks Board. x + 133 pp.

Middleton, D.J., Leong-Škorničková, J. & Lindsay, S. (eds) (2019). Flora of Singapore vol. 7: Poales. Singapore: National Parks Board. x + 525 pp.

Middleton, D.J., Leong-Škorničková, J. & Lindsay, S. (eds) (2019). Flora of Singapore vol. 13: Gentianales. Singapore: National Parks Board. x + 654 pp.

Leong-Škorničková, J., Tran, H.D., Nguyen, Q.B., Hlavata, K., Truong, L.H., Nguyen, Q.D., Nguyen, T.T. & Newman, M. (2019). The identity of Amomum trilobum and Amomum unifolium (Zingiberaceae: Alpinioideae), and description of four new related species from Vietnam. Phytotaxa 401(3): 149–165.

De Boer, H., Newman, M. Poulsen, A.D., Droop, J., Fer, T., Le, T.T.H., Hlavata, K., Lamxay, V., Richardson, J.E., Steffen, K. & Leong-Škorničková, J. (2018) Convergent morphology in Alpinieae (Zingiberaceae): Recircumscribing Amomum as a monophyletic genus. Taxon 67(1): 6–36.

Niissalo, M.A., Leong-Škorničková, J., Webb, E.L. & Khew, G.  (2018). ddRAD derived SNPs support evidence–based conservation interventions for an extremely threatened stenoendemic herb in urban tropical rainforest fragments. Botanical Journal of Linnean Society 187(2):346–361.

Niissalo, M.A., Leong-Škorničková, J., Webb, E.L. & Khew, G.  (2018). ddRAD derived SNPs support evidence–based conservation interventions for an extremely threatened stenoendemic herb in urban tropical rainforest fragments. Botanical Journal of Linnean Society 187(2):346–361.

Leong-Škorničková, J. & Niissalo, M.A. (2017) Identity and typification of Hanguana malayana and H. anthelminthica and notes on other early names in Hanguanaceae. Plant Systematics and Evolution 303:1213–1223.

Niissalo, M.A., Leong-Škorničková, J., Khew, G. & Webb, E.L. (2017) Very Small Relict Populations Suggest High Extinction Debt of Gingers in Primary Forest Fragments of a Tropical City. American Journal of Botany 104(1): 1–8.

Leong-Škorničková, J.  & Newman, M. (2015). Gingers of Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam. Published by Singapore Botanic Gardens, National Parks Board in association with Royal Botanic Garden Ediburgh and Pha Tad Ke Botanical Garden, 232 pp.

Benedict, J.C., Smith, S.Y., Collinson, M.E., Leong-Škorničková, J., Specht, C.D., Fife, J.L., Marone, F., Xiao, X. & Parkinson, D. 2015. Evolutionary Significance of Seed Structure in Alpinioideae (Zingiberaceae). Botanical Journal of Linnean Society 178: 441–466.

Leong-Škorničková, J.,  Šída, O., Záveská, E. & Marhold, K. (2015). History of infrageneric classification, typification of supraspecific names and outstanding transfers. Taxon 64(2): 362–373.

Leong-Škorničková, J. & Boyce, P.C. (2015) Hanguana in Singapore demystified: an overview with description of three new species and a new record. Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 67(1): 1–28.

Leong-Škorničková, J., Thame, A. & Chew, P.T.  (2015). Notes on Singapore native Zingiberales I: A new species of Zingiber and notes on the identities of two further Zingiber taxa. Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore 66(2): 153–167.

Leong-Škorničková, J., Lý, N.S., Poulsen, A.D., Tosh, J. & Forrest, A. (2011). Newmania, a new ginger genus from central Vietnam. Taxon 60(5): 1386–1396.

Leong-Škorničková, J.  & Gallick, D. (2010). The Ginger Garden, Singapore Botanic Gardens Pictorial Pocket Guide 2. Published by National Parks Board & Singapore Botanic Gardens, 178 pp. 

Leong-Škorničková, J., Šída, O. & Marhold, K. (2010) Back to types! Towards a stability of names in Indian Curcuma (Zingiberaceae). Taxon 59(1): 269–282.

Leong-Škorničková, J. , Šída, O., Wijesundara, S. & K. Marhold. 2008. On identity of turmeric: typification of Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 157: 37–46.

Leong-Škorničková, J. , Šída, O., Sabu, M. & K. Marhold. 2008. Taxonomic and nomenclatural puzzles in Indian Curcuma: the identity and nomenclatural history of C. zedoaria (Christm.) Roscoe and C. zerumbet Roxb. Taxon 57(3): 949–962.

Leong-Škorničková, J., Šída, O., Jarolímová, V., Sabu, M., Fér T. , Trávníček P. & J. Suda. 2007. Chromosome numbers and Genome Size Variation in Indian Species of Curcuma (Zingiberaceae). – Annals of Botany (London) 100 (3): 505–526.