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| Begonia beijnenii Y.P. Ang, Tandang, Rubite & R. Bustam. in Ang, Tandang, Rubite & Bustamante, 2020. |
Abstract
In our study, a distinctive new species of Begonia from an unexplored region of Port Barton, San Vicente, Palawan, Begonia beijnenii, is described and illustrated. The new species belongs to section Baryandra. It is morphologically most similar to B. hughesii, in having a 3-winged ovary with a cucullate wing and an abortive abaxial locule, tomentose petioles, and leaves that are adaxially glabrous and abaxially subglabrous. However, B. beijnenii distinctly differs by being comparatively smaller in size. It is only known from its type locality and vicinity. Comparisons with two variegated species of Palawan: B. cleopatrae and B. gironellae are also provided to aid in identification. B. beijnenii is hereby proposed to be Vulnerable (VU) D1, based on guidelines by IUCN.
Keywords: Begonia cleopatrae, Begonia gironellae, Begonia hughesii, endemic, Eudicots, Malesia, taxonomy
Begonia beijnenii Y.P.Ang, Tandang, Rubite, R.Bustam., sp nov. § Baryandra
Diagnosis:— B. beijnenii is most allied to B. hughesii by bearing 3-winged ovary with a cucullate wing and an
abortive abaxial locule, petiole vestiture tormentose, leaf glabrous adaxially and subglabrous abaxially. However,
Begonia beijnenii is distinctively different in being comparatively smaller in size. B. beijnenii differs from B. hughesii
(differences in parentheses) by having rhizome 3–4 mm in diameter (vs 5–10 mm in diameter), internodes of 2–2.5
mm (vs 3–8 mm), stipules glabrous except keel has ca. 1 or none straight hair near the attachment (vs dimorphic
character: brown hairs on keel only or tormentose entirely abaxially), leaf lamina subrhomboid, 4.1–4.8 × 3.8–4.6 cm
(vs ovate, 7–10 × 5–7.5 cm), peduncle length 6–9.6 cm (vs 15 cm), bracts glabrous, 4.5 × 3.5 mm in size (vs minute
scattered glandular hairs, 1.5–2 × 1.5–2 mm in size), stamen count 22–32 (vs. ca. 40), ovary length 6–8 mm (vs 10
mm), cucullate wing 6–8 × 4–7 mm in size (vs 9–14 × 7–9 mm in size). Both species are only known from their type
locality and vicinity, which is at least 40 km apart.
Etymology:—This begonia is named after conservationist and biologist Mr. Jonah van Beijnen, who first
discovered and reported about the species, and also in acknowledgement for his conservation efforts across Palawan;
in particular his advocacy to raise The Cleopatra’s needle Mountain Range to protected area status.
Yu Pin Ang, Danilo N. Tandang, Rosario R. Rubite and Rene Alfred Anton Baena Bustamante. 2020. Begonia beijnenii (Begoniaceae, section Baryandra), A New Species of Begonia from San Vicente, Palawan, the Philippines. Phytotaxa. 455(3); 196–204. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.455.3.2
