Begonia beijnenii
| Species | Begonia beijnenii |
|---|---|
| Region | San Vicente, Palawan, the Philippines |
| Country | Philippines |
| Year published | 2020 |
| Date of Origin | 19 January, 2020 |
| Plant Type | Rhizomatous |
| Section | Baryandra |
| Chr 2n |
Species Information
Classification and Distribution
Begonia beijnenii is endemic to San Vicente, Palawan. The main population occurs on exposed limestone rocks of a waterfall in a deeply shaded forest, often seen growing along Codonoboea woodii Merr. At least two other sub-populations have been observed occurring in several disturbed areas nearby.
Habitat
The species primarily grows on exposed limestone rocks of a waterfall in a deeply shaded forest.
Characteristics
Begonia beijnenii exhibits the following key characteristics:
Rhizome: It has a creeping, green to maroon rhizome, measuring 40 mm in length and 3–4 mm in thickness. The rhizome is sparsely hirsute (0.5–1 mm long) with internodes measuring 2–2.5 mm.
Stipules: These stipules are persistent, pale green, triangular, and become recurved with age. They measure 11–14 mm in length and 4–5 mm in width. The stipules are keeled, have a cuspidate apex (cusp measuring 4–5 mm), and mostly feature a glabrous margin, except for an occasional single straight hair near the attachment with the petiole.
Leaves: The leaves are alternate with terete, maroon petioles, ranging from 22 to 88 mm in length and 1.5–2.5 mm in thickness. Over time, the petioles elongate, and they are covered in white tomentose hair, with the hair becoming more linear towards the lamina.
Leaf Lamina: The leaf lamina is subrhomboid and asymmetrical, succulent, and mostly glabrous, except for a few hairs near the petiole attachment. Most individuals have dark patches on interveins and margins, while some individuals have an entirely green adaxial surface. The abaxial surface is pale green to maroon, with veins slightly raised and featuring minute pilose hairs (0.5–1 mm long).
Inflorescence: The inflorescence is axillary, protandrous, cymosely branching 3–4 times, forming a panicle that is 9–14 cm long. The peduncle measures 6–9.6 cm in length.
Bracts: The bracts are boat-shaped, with an acute apex. They are glabrous and have an entire margin. The lowest bract measures 4.5 mm × 3.5 mm.
Staminate Flower: The staminate flower features four pale pink tepals that are glabrous. The outer tepals are orbicular with a rounded apex, measuring 6.5 mm × 7.5 mm, while the inner tepals are obovate with a slightly retuse apex, measuring 7 mm × 4.5 mm. The androecium measures 3.5 mm across, with 28–32 stamens. The filaments are free and 1–1.5 mm long. The anthers are yellow, approximately 1 mm long, oblong-oblanceolate, with lateral slits. The connective extends to the apex and is bluntly protruding.
Pistillate Flower: The pistillate flower also features four pale pink tepals that are glabrous. The outer tepal is orbicular with a rounded apex, measuring 6 mm × 7 mm, while the inner tepal is obovate with a slightly retuse apex, measuring 7 mm × 3.5 mm. There are three styles, shortly fused at the base, measuring 3 mm in length, spiraled and papillose all around. The ovary is greenish-pink, glabrous, trigonous-ellipsoid, measuring 6–8 mm × 2–3 mm (wings excluded). It has three unequal wings with entire margins. The largest wing is lunate, distally bluntly truncated, proximally rounded, and markedly cucullate, measuring approximately 4–7 mm wide.
Fruit: The fruit is pendent and has dimensions similar to the ovary. It is recurved in a way that the largest wing points downwards, and two lateral wings form a splash cup. The fruit dehisces along the attachment of the two lateral wings.
Flower Details
Etymology
This begonia is named after conservationist and biologist Mr. Jonah van Beijnen, who first discovered and reported about the species. It is also named in acknowledgment of his conservation efforts across Palawan, particularly his advocacy to raise The Cleopatra’s Needle Mountain Range to protected area status.
Comparison to Similar Species
Begonia beijnenii is most allied to B. hughesii, as it bears a 3-winged ovary with a cucullate wing and an abortive abaxial locule. It has tormentose petiole vestiture, glabrous adaxial leaf surface, and subglabrous abaxial leaf surface. However, Begonia beijnenii is distinctively smaller in size compared to B. hughesii.
References
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Photos
External Links
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