Kai Larsen

Kai Larsen (15 November 1926 in Hillerød – 23 August 2012) was a Danish botanist.

Kai Larsen was professor of botany (Emeritus from 1-12-1996) at Århus University, Denmark. He was the Danish editor of Flora Nordica, editor of Flora of Thailand, advisor to Flora of China and executive member of Flora Malesiana.

He was a member of the Norwegian Academy of Science and Letters. and the Royal Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters.

Research

 * SE Asian flora region, particularly Thailand, Malaysia and Indo-China. Revisions of several families e. g. Caesalpiniaceae, Caryophyllaceae, and Lowiaceae for several of the regional floras.
 * Zingiberaceae for Flora of Thailand and Flora Malesiana.

Eponymous species
Some plant names are taxonomic patronyms recognizing his contribution to studying Asian flora.

Genera

 * Kailarsenia: a genus in the family Rubiaceae found in Southeast Asia.
 * Larsenaikia: a genus in the family Rubiaceae endemic to Australia. This name is a taxonomic anagram derived from genus Kailarsenia.


 * The generic name Kaisupeea B.L. Burtt (Gesneriaceae) honours Kai and Supee Larsen.

Species

 * Burmannia larseniana D.X.Zhang & R.M.K.Saunders (Burmanniaceae)
 * Bauhinia larsenii Y.F. Chen & D.X. Zhang, fossil Leguminosae from southern China
 * Caulokaempferia larsenii Suksathan & Triboun
 * Cornukaempferia larsenii Saensouk, Theerakulpisut, & Chantaranothai
 * Curcuma larsenii C. Maknoi & T. Jenjittikul
 * Impatiens larsenii T. Shimizu
 * Kaempferia larsenii Sirirugsa
 * Mouretia larsenii Tange
 * Zingiber larsenii Theilade