Begoniapseudoedulis, a new species in Begoniasect.Platycentrum (Begoniaceae) from southern Guangxi of China.

Xin-Xin Feng,Dan Wei,Ren-Kun Li,Zhi-Xian Liu,Dai-Ke Tian,Yan Xiao

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.182.69074

Xin-Xin Feng, Dan Wei + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.182.69074

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Abstract

Begoniapseudoedulis, a new species in Begoniasect.Platycentrum (Klotzsch) A.DC. (Begoniaceae) from southern Guangxi of China, is here described and illustrated. It morphologically resembles B.edulis H.Lév. and B.dielsiana E.Pritz. ex Diels but differs easily by its hairy petioles and inflorescences, and red hispidulous flower tepals, ovary and capsules. The molecular phylogenetic analysis based on ITS supported that the new species was a monophyletic lineage, separating from both B.dielsiana and B.edulis. Due to its isolated distribution with several small populations, which are possibly disturbed by human activities, the species is considered as “Near Threatened” (NT) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Highlights

As a pan-tropically distributed and the sixth largest genus in the angiosperms (Hughes et al 2015–onwards; Moonlight et al 2018), Begonia L. consists of 2007 known species belonging to 70 sections (Hughes et al 2015–onwards; Moonlight et al 2018 )
Begonia species are commonly sensitive to the environment, with a low tolerance to both high and low temperature and strong sunlight
Begonia pseudoedulis is assigned to B. sect

Summary

Introduction

As a pan-tropically distributed and the sixth largest genus in the angiosperms (Hughes et al 2015–onwards; Moonlight et al 2018), Begonia L. consists of 2007 known species belonging to 70 sections (Hughes et al 2015–onwards; Moonlight et al 2018 ). Showing a very high diversity in the specific level, the classification and phylogeny of this mega genus remain uncertain due to inadequate field surveys, high similarity and variation in morphology, and wild hybridization (Moonlight et al 2018; Tian et al 2018a). Over 220 species belonging to 10 sections have been illustrated in China, which is one of the diversity centers of Asian begonias. China plays a more and more significant role in classical taxonomy, phylogeny, utilization, and diversity conservation of Begonia (Tian et al 2018a, 2018b). In China, the reported Begonia taxa are mainly distributed in southeastern Yunnan and southwestern Guangxi. We conducted field surveys in several places in southwestern Guangxi on April 1, 2015, November 13, 2016, and in October 2019, respectively and found a putative new Begonia species similar to B. edulis H.Lév.

Materials and methods

Discussion