Begonia elnidoensis
[[File:Begoniaelnidoensis.png|thumb|center| B. elnidoensis]
| Species | elnidoensis |
|---|---|
| Region | South East Asia |
| Country | The Philippines |
| Year published | 2018 |
| Date of Origin | 2018 |
| Plant Type | Rhizomatous |
| Section | Baryandra |
| Chr 2n | N/A |
Species Information
Distribution and Ecology
Begonia elnidoensis is endemic to coralline limestone cliffs in northern Palawan, Philippines. It is primarily found at sea level on cliffs in locations such as El Nido, Lagen and Miniloc Islands, and other adjacent islands and islets. The species was originally collected from El Nido. A previous record of Begonia wadei on Miniloc Island was actually a misidentification of B. elnidoensis.
Characteristics
- **Growth Habit:** This species exhibits continuous basal emergence of new stems and is potentially immortal. It has alternate sequences of short and long internodes, with about 10 to 12 leaves produced between long (1.5 to 2 cm long) internodes and short internodes (0.5 to 1 cm long). This growth pattern corresponds to the wet and dry seasons in Palawan. - **Stem Growth:** Stem elongation appears to be 20 to 30 cm annually, with the longest stems reaching about 120 cm, representing the maximum age. New stems emerge from the base of older stems and produce adventitious roots for fixation and nutrition. - **Flowering:** Flowering appears to be continuous throughout the year, with one scar on each internode for the petiole and just above for the inflorescence peduncle. This allows the species to flower in both rainy and dry seasons. - **Fruit Dispersal:** During fruit maturation, the main inflorescence axis remains turgescent and alive, while secondary axes dry out but remain attached. This allows the dry, dehisced capsules to freely shake in the wind, facilitating active anemochory (wind dispersal).
Conservation Status
Begonia elnidoensis is not dependent on forest habitat, as it grows in crevices in coralline sea cliffs. This habitat is already exposed and not under threat from forest clearance. Additionally, the habitat is relatively inaccessible, reducing the risk of increased disturbance. Therefore, this species is provisionally assigned to the Least Concern category according to the IUCN.
Etymology
The species is named after its type locality, El Nido Town, where it was initially discovered.
Notes
Begonia elnidoensis is closely related to Begonia wadei but can be distinguished by differences in leaf shape, size, and venation, as well as characteristics of petioles, inflorescence length, and capsule size.
References
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Begonia-elnidoensis-CI-Peng-Rubite-CWLin-A-habit-B-stipule-C-C-portion-of_fig4_324905167
