Begonia Section Research Articles

Begonia corazoniae (Begoniaceae, section Petermannia), a new endemic species from southeastern Mindanao, Philippines

A new Begonia section Petermannia species, Begonia corazoniae Naive, discovered in the forest ecosystems of Davao Oriental, southeastern Mindanao, Philippines, is herein described and illustrated. It closely resembles B. rieckei, but is easily recognized by having paniculate inflorescences with prominently winged ovary and capsule. A comprehensive morphological description, geographic distribution, ecology, phenology and a discussion of similar species is provided. In addition, we assessed this species as ‘Endangered' (EN B1(iii) + 2(iii)) following the criteria of the IUCN.

1092. Begonia hongkongensis F.W.Xing: Begoniaceae

SummaryBegonia hongkongensis F.W.Xing is described and illustrated. Begonia section Platycentrum series Aequilateralibus, to which it belongs, is likely to be an artificial group defined by its symmetrical leaf base, a feature that is atypical for the genus as a whole, but which may have evolved as an adaptation to flash floods since it is associated with rheophytic and streamside species of tropical areas with very high annual rainfall. Variation within the species and relationships with morphologically similar species are discussed.

A new species of Begonia section Baryandra from Zamboanga Peninsula, Southwestern Philippines

A new species of Begonia sect. Baryandra, B. sebodensis, from Zamboanga del Norte, southwestern Philippines is described and illustrated. Begonia sebodensis is morphologically similar to B. anisoptera in obliquely ovate to widely ovate leaves, four-tepaled staminate and pistillate flowers and three locular ovary but differs in glabrescent stipules, sericeous petioles, leaf margins distantly serrate and ciliate, many-flowered inflorescences, capsule wings subequal and flat. Following IUCN criteria, we propose B. sebodensis as Endangered (EN).

A New Species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia

A new species of Begonia section Ruizopavonia is here described and illustrated, and a key for the Colombian species of the section is also provided. The new species grows on the eastern side of the eastern Colombian Cordillera and can be recognized among species in the same section bearing staminate flowers with 4 tepals and pistillate flowers with 3 tepals by the larger outer tepals on both the staminate and pistillate flowers (>9.5 mm long). We assess the new species as Endangered (EN) under IUCN criteria; its protection is therefore recommended.

Begonia fritschiana (Begoniaceae, Begonia section Baryandra), a new species from Quezon, Bukidnon, Philippines

Begonia fritschiana from Mindanao Island is described as a new species endemic to the Philippines. This is the latest addition to the species-rich Begonia section Baryandra. It resembles Begonia caramoanensis but is distinguished by the consistent obliquely ovate leaves with shorter petioles, lamina glaucous abaxially and with marginal hairs, mostly solitary to singly-branched inflorescences with shorter white-glandular hairs on the pedicels and peduncle, one of the outer tepals pink, and glabrous ovary and ovary wings. Begonia fritschiana is known only from the type locality with one population and less than 100 individuals. The area is not currently protected under the country’s National Integrated Protected Areas System by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. Because of ongoing threats such as illegal logging, poaching, and over collection of biological resources, the single area of occurrence with estimated extent < 10 km2, and the small number of < 100 individuals, we recommend a classification of B. fritschiana as Critically Endangered.

Begonia amparoi (Begoniaceae, section Baryandra) a new species from Linungaw Twin Islands, Surigao del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines

We describe Begonia amparoi, a new species of Begonia section Baryandra from Linungaw Twin Islands, Mindanao, Philippines. It grows on limestone and has a robust habit, with a thick rhizome and large leaves. Begonia amparoi is currently known only from the type locality in a coastal island forest of Tandag City, Province of Surigao del Sur. Based on IUCN red list criteria, B. amparoi is considered Vulnerable (VU).

Two new species of Begonia (section Petermannia, Begoniaceae) from the Zamboanga Peninsula, Philippines, and a redescription of Begonia parvilimba

Two new species of Begonia section Petermannia from Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines are described and illustrated: Begonia amamampang and Begonia turugsoy. Begonia parvilimba was also rediscovered and an updated description is provided. All morphological characters and measurements were observed in the wild from living plants. This brings the record to a total of 16 Begonia species under this section found in the region of Zamboanga Peninsula making Zamboanga a center of diversity of section Petermannia in the Philippines. Notes on their ecology, distribution map and proposed conservation assessment are provided.

Taxonomy of the genus Begonia (Begoniaceae) in Mindanao, Philippines II: lectotypification of two Begonia section Petermannia species from the Zamboanga Peninsula

Taxonomy of the genus Begonia (Begoniaceae) in Mindanao, Philippines II: lectotypification of two Begonia section Petermannia species from the Zamboanga Peninsula

Five new species and three new varieties of Begonia section Casparya endemic to Colombia

Casparya, one of the most species-rich sections of Begonia in the Neotropics with 44 species, is distributed from Costa Rica to Peru, with the highest diversity in the Colombian Andes. The section is morphologically well-differentiated and can be distinguished from other Andean cane-like begonias by the 3-horned fruit and multifid or un-divided styles. Here we describe eight taxonomic novelties for Casparya from Colombia, five species and three varieties, descriptions include illustrations, distribution maps, taxonomic comments, and assessments of conservation status. The five species described here are: Begonia diegoi, Begonia galeanoi, Begonia mamapachensis, Begonia perijaensis, and Begonia vinagrera; and the three new varieties are: Begonia kalbreyerii var. orquidensis, Begonia silverstonei var. brevipetiolata, and Begonia vinagrera var. pomecensis. We also present a taxonomic key for the 32 species of Casparya so far known from Colombia.

Taxonomy of the genus Begonia (Begoniaceae) in Mindanao, Philippines I: Begonia olganunezae, a new Begonia section Petermannia species discovered in the province of Bukidnon

Taxonomy of the genus Begonia (Begoniaceae) in Mindanao, Philippines I: Begonia olganunezae, a new Begonia section Petermannia species discovered in the province of Bukidnon

Three new species of Begonia (section Baryandra, Begoniaceae) from Samar Island, the Philippines

The geographic location, climatic, and soil conditions of Samar Island render a mosaic of varied habitats which harbor numerous endemic, rare, and endangered species of plants. The island province is one of the centers of plant endemism in the Philippines. Included in this rich biodiversity of flora are members of genus Begonia of the family Begoniaceae. In 2018, researchers of the University of the Philippines found in the island three unknown Begonia species. With rhizomatous habits, persistent stipules, protandrous inflorescences, four-tepaled flowers, three winged capsules and bifid placenta, the three species are clearly members of Begonia section Baryandra. Studies of literature, herbarium specimens, and living plants support the recognition of the three new species: Begonia sohoton, Begonia tarangban and Begonia burabod.

Begonia guangdongensis, a new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Guangdong, China.

A new species of Begonia section Coelocentrum, B. guangdongensis W.H. Tu, B.M. Wang & Y.L. Li from Guangdong Province, China, is described and illustrated here. Morphologically, the new species is most similar to B. biflora T. C. Ku and B. longistyla Y. M. Shui & W. H. Chen, but differs from B. biflora by its rugose leaves and glabrous capsules and from B. longistyla by its glabrous stipules without ciliate margin, densely hirsute-pilose leaves and obtuse apex of bracts. Additionally, it is also somewhat similar to B. chongzuoensis Yan Liu, S. M. Ku & C.-I Peng, but there are significant distinctions in their stipules, leaves and bracts. The conservation status of B. guangdongensis is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR), according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

<p><strong><em>Begonia caramoanensis </em></strong><strong>(sect.<em> Baryandra,</em> Begoniaceae)<em> </em>a new species from Camarines Sur, Philippines</strong></p>

Begonia caramoanensis from Caramoan, Camarines Sur, Luzon Island is described as a new species endemic to the Philippines. This is the latest addition to the species rich Begonia section Baryandra. It resembles Begonia madulidii but is distinguished by the dark green almost orbicular leaves; extensive inflorescence branching five times; and the glandular hairs of the bracts, peduncle, pedicels and ovary. More than 500 individuals, were observed in each of the four barangays of Caramoan, thus according to to the IUCN red list categories and criteria, B. caramoanensis is hereby proposed to be placed under Least Concern (LC) category.

Begonia oleosa (Begoniaceae), the first species with glandular hairs in the section Casparya

A new species of Begonia section Casparya from Colombia and Venezuela is described and illustrated. Begonia oleosa is closely related to Begonia toledana var. erubescens but differs mainly by its glandular trichomes.

Taxonomic studies on Begonia (Begoniaceae) in Myanmar I: three new species and supplementary description of Begonia rheophytica from Northern Myanmar

Three new species of Begonia (B. chenii, B. putaoensis and B. crassitepala) belonging to Begonia section Platycentrum and a supplementary description of B. rheophytica with a detailed description of female flowers from Putao, Kachin State, Northern Myanmar, are described and illustrated. All the new species are endemic to Northern Myanmar and can be easily distinguished from other species among the section Platycentrum. A detailed description, photographs, habitat, distribution and a comparison with the most related allied species for all new species are provided.

<p><strong>A new species of <em>Begonia</em> L. (Begoniaceae) and some notes on <em>Begonia difformis</em> from Kachin, northern Myanmar</strong></p>

The new species Begonia dicressine (sp. nov.) belonging to Begonia section Platycentrum is described. The new species is similar to B. rockii but differs in having petioles with long soft white hairs, plain dark green leaves with irregularly crenate margins, lower surface only with appressed hairs along midrib, and glabrous inflorescences. B. dicressine is distributed in Kachin Province in northern Myanmar in the understory of evergreen and semi-deciduous forests. New records of B. difformis from the same area are also reported, and its distribution and habitat are discussed.

Begonia balangcodiae sp. nov. from northern Luzon, the Philippines and its natural hybrid with B. crispipila, B. × kapangan nothosp. nov.

The pantropically distributed Begonia (Begoniaceae) is one of the most species-rich genera. Philippines is one of the diversity centers of Southeast Asian Begonia. In our 2012 field survey, three species of Begonia section Petermannia were collected in Barangay Sagubo, Municipality of Kapangan, Province of Benguet in the northern Luzon Island, Philippines. Our study on literatures and herbarium specimens suggests that these collections consist of B. crispipila, an unknown new species hereby we named B. balangcodiae, and the natural hybrid between them. Molecular analyses confirm that the former contributed the maternal genome while the latter provided the paternal genome. We name the natural hybrid B. × kapangan, which is the first natural hybrid reported in sect. Petermannia.

Three new species of Begonia sect. Erminea (Begoniaceae) from north-east Madagascar

Three new species of Begonia section Erminea A.DC. from north-east Madagascar are described and illustrated. They share a tuberous habit, four tepaled male flowers and six tepaled female flowers, which are typical of that section. Begonia ambanizanensis Scherber. & Duruiss., sp. nov. differs from the other species in that section by the symmetric, sub-orbicular, succulent leaf blades. Begonia ambodiforahensis Scherber. & Duruiss., sp. nov. is compared to B. antongilensis Humbert and B. erminea L'Her. but it differs from both by the combination of an acaulescent habit and the numerous lanceolate leaves with red margins and spiculiform red hairs on the blade. Begonia harimalalae Scherber. & Duruiss., sp. nov. is also compared to B. erminea from which it differs by the thicker, larger leaves, which are glabrous, with the margins shallowly and sparsely serrate vs densely biserrate.

A synopsis of Begonia (Begoniaceae) of Southeastern Sulawesi including four new species

Material acquired on a recent expedition to Southeastern Sulawesi, Indonesia, presents an opportunity to reassess and provide an overview of the Begonia flora of the region. Eleven species are recognized including four new species described and illustrated here: Begonia incudiformicarpa, B. iskandariana, and B. tumburanoensis (all in Begonia section Jackia); and B. johntania (Begonia section Petermannia). The former three species are the first confirmed records of section Jackia on Sulawesi substantially extending the known eastern range limit of this section. In addition, an illustration and a lectotypification of Begonia flacca are presented, and an identification key to Begonia species in Southeastern Sulawesi is provided.

Three new species of Begonia (section Baryandra, Begoniaceae) from Luzon Island, the Philippines

Luzon is the largest island of the Philippines, and because of its isolation from other landmasses it has developed a unique diversity of flora and fauna. Included in this rich biodiversity of flora are members of genus Begonia of the family Begoniaceae. In a joint expedition to the island, botanists from Taiwan and the Philippines found three unknown Begonia species and compared them with potentially allied species. The three species are clearly members of Begonia section Baryandra. Studies of literature, herbarium specimens, and living plants support the recognition of the three new species: Begonia droseroides, B. gabaldonensis, and B. madulidii. This brings the total of Begonia species in section Baryandra to sixty-eight, of which 85.3% are endemic to the Philippines.