[Botany • 2014] Begonia natunaensis • A New Species (sect. Reichenheimia, Begoniaceae) from Natuna Island, Indonesia

Begonia natunaensis C. W. Lin and C.-I Peng, sp. nov. Sect. Reichenheimia

ABSTRACT

 Begonia natunaensis, a new species of sect. Reichenheimia from Natuna Island, Indonesia, is here described and illustrated. Begonia natunaensis resembles B. goegoensis N.E. Brown in having suborbicular, peltate leaves with an abruptly tapering tip, differing in the number of tepals in staminate flowers (2 vs. 4) and in pistillate flower (2 vs. 3) and the petiole (terete vs. 4-angular). The new species is also similar to another peltate-leaved Begonia, B. sudjanae Jans., but is distinguishable by being glabrous (vs. hispid throughout), the staminate tepals 2 [vs. (2–)4], and pistillate tepals 2 [vs. (2–)3]. Geographically, B. natunaensis is endemic to Natuna Island in the South China Sea, whereas B. goegoensis and B. sudjanae are distributed in western Sumatra, ca. 1,000 km away from Natuna.

KEY WORDS: Begonia goegoensis, Begonia natunaensis, Begonia sudjanae, Indonesia, Natuna Island, New species, Sect. Reichenheimia.

Distribution and ecology: Begonia natunaensis is endemic to Mt. Ranai, eastern Natuna Island, Indonesia (Fig. 3). The new species was found on wet sandstone cliffs in a waterfall area, associated with mosses in rock crevices, ca. 100 m elevation.

Vernacular name: Natuna Island Begonia

Etymology: The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Natuna Island of Indonesia.

Che-Wei Lin and Ching-I Peng. 2014. Begonia natunaensis (sect. Reichenheimia, Begoniaceae), A New Species from Natuna Island, Indonesia.
Taiwania. 59(4): 368‒ 373. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2014.59.4.368