Begonia crassitepala

B. crassitepala

Quick Species Info

Species	crassitepala
Region	Southeast Asia
Country	Myanmar
Year published	2020
Date of Origin
Plant Type	rhizomatous
Section
Chr 2n

Species Information

Classification and Distribution

Begonia crassitepala, a perennial monoecious rhizomatous herb, is morphologically similar to Begonia dryadis but distinguished by its stem and petiole with white prickles, adaxially leaf with densely pinkish or grey hirsute, and other distinct features. It is endemic to Putao District, Kachin State, Northern Myanmar.

Habitat

This species grows in a tropical montane forest at elevations of approximately 577 meters, on moist soil slopes.

Characteristics

Begonia crassitepala has an erect stem, 40–60 cm tall, reddish, densely rusty wooly tomentose with sparse whitish soft spine-like hairs. The leaves are ovate to broadly ovate, asymmetric, with a green adaxial surface that is densely pinkish or grey hirsute, and an abaxial surface that is green and rusty puberulous.

Flower Details

The species has staminate flowers with 4 unequal tepals, numerous stamens, and pistillate flowers with 5 equal obovate tepals. The ovary is 2-locular, with placentation axillary and styles 2, fused at base.

Etymology

The species epithet 'crassitepala' refers to its thick tepals.

Comparison to Similar Species

Begonia crassitepala can be distinguished from Begonia dryadis by features such as stem and petiole with white prickles, adaxially leaf with densely pinkish or grey hirsute, and abaxially outer 2 tepals of pistillate flower with reddish or whitish succulent strigose.

References

- Maw et al. (2020). Taxonomic studies on Begonia (Begoniaceae) in Myanmar I: three new species and supplementary description of Begonia rheophytica from Northern Myanmar. PhytoKeys 138: 203–217.

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

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