Begonia darthvaderiana
Species Information
Publication Date
2014
Origin
Endemic to Borneo (Sarawak, Malaysia).[2][10] Specifically recorded from the Batang Ai area in the Lubok Antu District.[4][6]
Growth Type
Perennial, erect, terrestrial herb.[2][3][5] It can exhibit a cane-like or shrubby habit, typically growing 25–70 cm tall.
Section
Section Petermannia[2][5][12]
Chromosome = 2n =
Description
Begonia darthvaderiana is distinguished by its striking dark foliage.[2][3][5][8][10][12] Stems: Erect, brownish to red-brown, slightly woody at the base, 25–70 cm tall, 5–10 mm thick.[2] Leaves: Alternate, simple, asymmetric with a cordate base. The blade is oblong-ovate, measuring 13–15 cm long (up to 22 cm in some descriptions) and 5–7 cm wide (up to 13 cm). The adaxial (upper) surface is dark olive-green or deep red to solid black, featuring a distinct, narrow silvery band (approx.[2] 0.2–0.4 mm) along the subentire margin.[2] The surface is slightly raised between the veins but not strongly bullate. The abaxial (lower) surface is dark maroon.[2] Flowers: The inflorescence is protogynous and bisexual.
- Staminate (Male) Inflorescence: A terminal cymose panicle, up to 20 cm long.[3] Male flowers have 2 pink-red, elliptic tepals and 9–16 yellow stamens.
- Pistillate (Female) Flowers: Have 5 pink-red tepals.
Fruit: A reddish-green capsule.
Distribution
Restricted to West Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia.
Habitat
It grows in deep shade within lowland mixed dipterocarp forests at elevations of 130–200 meters.[2][6] It is typically found on steep soil slopes or at the base of cliffs near rivers and valleys.
Flower
Pink to red.[2][3]
Etymology
The specific epithet darthvaderiana refers to the fictional character Darth Vader from the Star Wars franchise.[2][3][4][5][10] The authors chose this name due to the plant's unique, deep dark appearance.[3][5]
Synonyms
No known synonyms; this is the accepted name.
Comparison to Similar Species
Begonia darthvaderiana is morphologically similar to Begonia daunhitam (found in West Kalimantan, Indonesia), as both possess dark olive-black leaves and pink flowers. However, they differ in the following characters:
| Character | Begonia darthvaderiana | Begonia daunhitam |
|---|---|---|
| Plant Height | 25–70 cm | 15–25 cm |
| Leaf Surface | Slightly raised between veins (smooth to rugulose) | Strongly bullate (bubble-like) |
| Leaf Margin | Subentire (nearly smooth) with a silvery ring | Denticulate (toothed) without a silvery ring |
| Male Inflorescence | Terminal cymose panicle | Dichasial cyme (terminal or axillary) |
| Stamen Count | 9–16 | 20–30 |
It is also noted to share some similarities with Begonia chlorosticta but differs in lacking the greenish spots and having a solid dark leaf color.[2]
Photos
(Refer to Figure 3 in the referenced PDF for habit and flower photos by C.W. Lin & C.-I Peng, or search external databases for images by the authors.)
Hybrids
Conservation status
Data Deficient (DD) or Vulnerable. While not formally assessed on the global IUCN Red List as of 2024, the species has a very restricted range in Sarawak and is highly sought after in the horticultural trade. The related species B. daunhitam is listed as Vulnerable (VUD2), and similar threats likely apply to B. darthvaderiana due to potential over-collection and habitat limitations.
External Links
Original Description in Phytotaxa
References
Lin, C.W., Chung, S.W.[5] & Peng, C.-I (2014).[4][5][6][7][8][11] Three new species of Begonia (sect.[5] Petermannia, Begoniaceae) from Sarawak, Borneo.[2][5] Phytotaxa 191(1): 129–140. Wang, W.G., Randi, A., Wang, C.X.L., Shen, J.Y., Ma, X.D., Shi, J.P., Xu, T. & Zhang, S.Z. (2020). Begonia daunhitam, a new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from West Kalimantan, Indonesia.[1] Taiwania 65(1): 27–32.
Categories
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