Begonia sykakiengii
Species Information
Classification and Distribution
Begonia sykakiengii is a species endemic to the Municipality of Maayon, Panay Island, Philippines. It belongs to the section Baryandra.
Habitat
This species is found on vertical cliffs face of exposed or semi-exposed limestone hills, at approximately 0–50 m in elevation.
Characteristics
Begonia sykakiengii is a monoecious rhizomatous herb with creeping rhizomes. It has persistent stipules, pale yellowish-green, triangular, and velutinous on the midrib. The leaves are alternate, petiole terete, reddish to crimson, and the leaf blade is asymmetric, oblique, ovate to widely ovate.
Flower Details
The male flowers have yellow stamens, and the female flowers have a trigonous-ellipsoid ovary with three subequal wings. The somatic chromosome number is 2n = 28.
Etymology
The species is named after Mr. Sy Ka Kieng, the patriarch of a Chinese family who has supported R. Rubite’s field trips.
Comparison to Similar Species
Begonia sykakiengii resembles Begonia nigritarum but differs in having larger stipules, larger leaf blades, larger bracts at the base of the inflorescence, longer inflorescence peduncle, and longer styles.
References
Links to references used in this page
Photos
Insitu
Leaf Variations
A cultivar of sykakiengii that may be a hybrid
Grown From Seed
External Links
Links to pages related to this species
