Rediscovery and amended descriptions of Begonia kingdon-wardii (Begoniaceae) from North Myanmar.

Yu-Min Shui,Wen-Hong Chen,Xiao-Hua Jin

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.94.21753

Yu-Min Shui, Wen-Hong Chen + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.94.21753

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Abstract

Begonia kingdon-wardii Tebbitt was rediscovered in 2014 from Myanmar after 67 years based on its last collection in 1937. Its previously unknown female flower and inaccurate morphology of leaf and ovary have been additionally described. This species belongs to Begonia sect. Sphenanthera (Hassk.) Warb. due to its dioecious habit, 3-locular ovary, berry fruits and thick placenta segments. Morphologically, it is similar to Begonia gulinqingensis S. H. Huang & Y. M. Shui in the leaf shape, placentation and fruit shape, but different in its dioecious plants, pliciform leaves, two-petalled female flowers and berry fruits. The rediscovery of this amazing living species will attract significant interest for scientific research and horticultural application.

Highlights

Begonia L. includes more than 1800 species which are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas (Ku et al 2007; Hughes et al 2015)
During a recent botanic survey on plant diversity of Hkakaborazi National Park in North Myanmar in 2014, a dioecious species was collected of Begonia with 3-loculed berry fruits and was un
Begonia kingdon-wardii was first reported in 2007 based on the holotype specimen collected from Northern Myanmar in 1926 (Fig. 1) and a paratype specimen collected near its type locality in 1937

Summary

Introduction

Begonia L. includes more than 1800 species which are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical areas (Ku et al 2007; Hughes et al 2015). During a recent botanic survey on plant diversity of Hkakaborazi National Park in North Myanmar in 2014, a dioecious species was collected of Begonia with 3-loculed berry fruits and was un- Based on further comparison with all the previously published species in Begonia sect. Sphenanthera (Smith et al 1986; Ku et al.1997; Pham1999; Huang and Shui 2006; Hughes 2008; Averyanov and Nguyen 2012), its two-petalled female flower and the serpentinous adaxial leaf surface are distinct and unique .

Results

Conclusion