Begonia gironellae
Species Information
Classification and Origin
Begonia gironellae is a species native to Palawan Island, Philippines. It was described in 2022 based on specimens collected in Barangay Tanabag, Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, in December 2014.
Habitat
This species is found on rocky slopes along the curvy Tanabag River in Palawan. It typically grows in areas exposed to semi-exposed conditions at an elevation of approximately 30 meters.
Characteristics
- Rhizome: Short and creeping, 3−5 cm in length, 5−8 mm thick, with very congested internodes. - Stipules: Pale yellowish-green or pinkish, widely triangular, 5±6 mm long, 6±7 mm wide, herbaceous, strongly keeled, and sparsely velutinous or nearly glabrous. - Leaves: Alternate, with ovate to widely ovate blades, often with variegation along the midrib and toward the end of primary veins near the leaf margin. - Inflorescences: Axillary, bisexual, protandrous, cymosely branching panicles, 17±41 cm long, with yellowish-green to reddish peduncles. - Bracts: Pale yellowish-green, hyaline, deciduous, boat-shaped, and ovate.
Flower Details
- Staminate Flower:**
- Tepals: 4, white to pinkish, outer 2 widely ovate or obovate, inner 2 obovate or oblanceolate. - Androecium: Sub-zygomorphic, with 32±46 stamens.
- Pistillate Flower:**
- Tepals: 4, white to pinkish, outer 2 obovate, inner 2 oblanceolate to widely obovate. - Styles: 3, shortly fused at the base, with yellow stigma.
Distribution and Ecology
Begonia gironellae is endemic to Tanabag, Puerto Princesa, in northern Palawan, Philippines. It grows along riverbanks or steep mossy slopes at an elevation of around 30 meters.
Conservation Status
This species is provisionally assigned to the Data Deficient category due to limited population information and the possibility of further populations existing upstream.
Etymology
The species is named in honor of Prof. Elizabeth P. Gironella of the Palawan State University, who played a significant role in guiding the field trip to the type locality and southern Palawan.
Notes
Begonia gironellae resembles Begonia cleopatrae, another species from northern Palawan, in some aspects. However, it can be distinguished by its shorter rhizome, congested internodes, widely triangular stipules, and other morphological differences.
References
- C.I Peng, Rubite & C.W.Lin (2022). Begonia gironellae sp. nov. Philippine Journal of Science, 151(3), 271-277.
