Monday, September 7, 2020

[Botany • 2020] Begonia trucatifolia (Begoniaceae, section Baryandra) • A New Species of Begonia from San Vicente, Palawan Island, the Philippines


Begonia trucatifolia R.Bustam. M.Pranada, Tandang, & Y.P.Ang

in Bustamante, Tandang, et al., 2020. 

Abstract
A new species of Begonia sect. Baryandra with 2-locular ovary and cucullate abaxial wing from the town of San Vicente, Palawan is described and illustrated. The new species, Begonia trucatifolia, is diagnosed against the morphologically similar B. blancii. Both species are endemic to Palawan and are similar in having spathulate leaves, 4-tepaled staminate & pistillate flowers and bilocular ovaries, but B. truncatifolia is significantly different in being comparatively smaller in size (stipules, lamina and inflorescences) and having obtusely rounded to acute lamina apices. The new species is proposed Critically Endangered following the criteria set by the IUCN.

Keywords: Begonia blancii, Critically Endangered, Eudicots, Malesia, riparian, San Vicente, taxonomy



Begonia trucatifolia 
A. Habitat; B. Habitat of variegated variant; C. Stipules also showing petiole and rhizome; D. Leaf abaxial; E. Inflorescence and bracts; F. Staminate flowers face view; G. Staminate flower side view; H. Pistillate flower face view; I. Pistillate flower side view; J. Ovary cross-section. Photos A–B by D. Tandang, C–J by Y.P. Ang.


Begonia trucatifolia R.Bustam. M.Pranada, Tandang, & Y.P.Ang





 Rene Alfred Anton Bustamante, Danilo N. Tandang, MC Andrew K. Pranada and Yu Pin Ang. 2020. Begonia truncatifolia (Begoniaceae, section Baryandra), A New Species from Palawan Island, the Philippines. Phytotaxa. 458(3); 215–222. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.458.3.4