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| Begonia kuofangii W.B.Xu & W.G.Wang, in Wang, Yang, Li, Xi, Shen et Xu. 2025. |
Abstract
Begonia kuofangii, from Leiping Town, Daxin County is a new species endemic to the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. This is the latest addition to Begonia section Coelocentrum. It resembles Begonia subcoriacea C.-I Peng, Yan Liu, S. M. Ku but differs in leaf shape (ovate-oblong vs widely ovate or suborbicular), peduncle and pedicels indumentum (subglabrous vs glandulose-pilose with reddish trichomes), pistillate flower tepals (2(-3) vs 3). Only about 100 mature individuals were found in less than 5 km2 area, hence Begonia kuofangii is provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered (CR).
Keyword: Begoniaceae, Begonia subcoriacea, China, Guangxi, limestone flora, new species
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| Illustration of Begonia kuofangii. A–B. Habitat. C. Rhizome. D. Stipule. E. Petiole. F–G. Adaxial and abaxial surfaces of leaves showing size and color variation. H–I. Sections of adaxial and abaxial leaf surfaces showing indumentum difference. J–K. Front and back views of staminate flower. L. Indumentum of the abaxial of staminate flower. M. Stamens. N–O. Side and front view of pistillate flower. P–Q. Side view of young fruits. R. Cross section of ovary. (Photos A–B by Wei-Bin Xu, C–R by Wen-Guang Wang) |
Begonia kuofangii W.B.Xu & W.G.Wang, sp.nov.
Sect. Coelocentrum | 國芳秋海棠
Diagnosis: Begonia kuofangii morphologically resembles Begonia subcoriacea C.-I Peng, Yan Liu, S. M. Ku (Peng et al., 2008) in rhizome, subleathery leaves and greenish-yellow flowers, but differs in having smaller stipules size (7–9 × 6–9 vs 10–25 × 8–14 mm), an ovateoblong leaf shape (vs widely ovate or suborbicular), peduncle and pedicels subglabrous (vs glandulose-pilose with reddish trichomes), inner tepals size of staminate flowers (2–3 vs 4–6), filaments basally nearly free (vs fused), pistillate flower tepals 2 (-3) ( vs 3).
Etymology: The specific epithet “ kuofangii” is in honor of Dr. Kuo-Fang Chung, curator of Research Museum and Herbarium (HAST), Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, for his emphatic interest and substantial contribution to the study of Guangxi Begonia (Chung et al. 2014; Tseng et al. 2019; Liu et al., 2020).
Wen-Guang Wang, Sen Yang, Ren-Kun Li, Hou-Cheng Xi, Jian-Yong Shen, Wei-Bin Xu. 2025. Begonia kuofangii, A New Species of Begonia sect. Coelocentrum (Begoniaceae) from Karst Area of southwestern Guangxi, China. Taiwania. 70(4);622 - 625. DOI: 10.6165/tai.2025.70.622 [02 September 2025]
