Begonia ferox
Begonia ferox
Species Information
Classification and Distribution
Begonia ferox is a monoecious, rhizomatous herb found in Guangxi Zhuangzu Autonomous Region, specifically in Longzhou County, Chunxiu Headwater Forest Nature Reserve, China. It grows on the forest floor and limestone rock surfaces at an elevation of around 130 meters.
Characteristics
This begonia species has a stout, creeping rhizome that can be 1-2.5 cm thick and up to 40 cm long. The stipules are deciduous, ovate-triangular, and herbaceous, with a keeled structure and some hairiness on the abaxial side. The leaves are alternate, ovate, and asymmetric. The upper leaf surface is green with a bullate (bubble-like) texture. The intercostal area is densely dotted with blackish-brown and hair-tipped bullae. These bullae are conical, reddish at the tip, and can be 0.3-1.5 cm high and 0.3-1.2 cm across. The abaxial leaf surface is pale green with reddish veins and bullae, and it is tomentose on the veins. Juvenile plants may have few or no bullae on their leaves.
Flower Details
- Staminate flowers: These flowers have four tepals, with the outer two being broadly ovate and yellowish-reddish on the abaxial side. The androecium is actinomorphic and spherical, with numerous stamens. - Pistillate flowers: These flowers have three tepals, with the outer two being suborbicular or broadly ovate and pinkish-white. The ovary is trigonous-ellipsoid and 3-winged, with unequal greenish-yellow wings.
Chromosome Cytology
The somatic chromosome number of Begonia ferox is 2n = 30. There is a bimodal variation in chromosome length, with two longer metacentric chromosomes.
Ecology and Distribution
Begonia ferox is known only from its type locality in southwestern Guangxi, China. It typically grows on limestone rocks with abundant leaf litter or on bare rocky slopes in evergreen broadleaf forests, but it is very rare.
Phenology
This species flowers from January to May and fruits from April to July.
Etymology
The specific epithet "ferox" is derived from the fierce-looking leaves with very prominent bullae.
Similar Species
Begonia ferox resembles B. nahangensis from Vietnam in the bullate leaves but differs in various characteristics, including leaf shape, petiole tomentosity, and overall size.
