Begonia dorisiae Bucay, Tandang & K.F.Chung, 2025
|
publication ID |
https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.698.4.4 |
|
persistent identifier |
https://treatment.plazi.org/id/3D5CF34A-FF83-575A-FF76-F284FF60B7D8 |
|
treatment provided by |
Felipe |
|
scientific name |
Begonia dorisiae Bucay, Tandang & K.F.Chung |
| status |
sp. nov. |
Begonia dorisiae Bucay, Tandang & K.F.Chung View in CoL , sp. nov. § Baryandra ( Figs. 1 View FIGURE 1 & 2 View FIGURE 2 )
Type: — PHILIPPINES. Mindanao. Davao Oriental province, in limestone formation along shaded coast. ca. 10 masl, 14 September 2023, MACBucay 1244 (holotype: PNH!, isotype: HAST)
Diagnosis: — Begonia dorisiae resembles B. amparoae , another species in Eastern Mindanao island by its overall foliage size and color and similar male flowers, but differs in having dense, dark brown tomentose hairs on the petioles (vs. sparse red hairs to glabrous in B. amparoae ), entire, glabrous leaf margins (vs. denticulate, ciliate margins), tomentose hairs on the abaxial side of lamina (vs. glabrous), rectangular bracts with an inequilaterally acuminate to acute apex (vs. widely ovate, obtuse apex) and crescent shaped capsule wing with rounded apex (vs. rectangular with truncated apex). Other differences are summarized in Table 3.
sample photos of the populations from the type locality.
Monoecious, lithophytic, perennial, rhizomatous herb with creeping, stout rhizome. Rhizome pale green to light brown, glabrous, and lenticelate, 6.4–26 cm × 13–25 mm, internodes 6–10 mm. Stipules persistent, light pink, triangular, asymmetric 15–19 × 8–12 mm, herbaceous, glabrescent, keeled, margin entire, apex acute to acuminate. Leaves alternate; petioles terete, fleshy, generally ascending, light green to yellowish, 8–22 cm × 5–8 mm, with tomentose dark brown hairs with a bulbous base; lamina asymmetric, broadly elliptic, 11.1–17.2 cm from point of attachment to apex, 17–20 cm from basal lobes to tip, 15.3–20.6 cm wide, base cordate, 10–15 cm wide, mostly overlapping; margins glabrous, entire to shallowly repand, apex acute to attenuate, adaxial surface green, glabrous, abaxial surface light green, with setose dark brown hairs with a bulbous base more concentrated on the veins, venation 7–8 palmate, dichotomously branching, slightly raised in both surfaces. Inflorescence axillary, bisexual, 13–19 cm long, protogynous cyme, monochasially branching 6–10 times; peduncle erect, pale green, 9.6–13.7 cm long, glabrous; bracts caducous, elliptic, light green, lowest pair 7–9 × 3–5 mm, glabrous, apex inequilaterally acuminate to acute, margin entire. Staminate flowers: pedicel 16–20 mm long, light pink, glabrous, tepals 4; outer tepals 2, orbicular to elliptic, white to light pink, 10–13 × 7–11 mm, glabrous, apex rounded, margins entire; inner tepals 2, obovate to lanceolate, pink, 6–9 × 4–5 mm, glabrous, apex cordate, margin entire; androecium zygomorphic, 3.5–3.6 mm across; stamens 35–42, filaments 2–3 mm long, united at base; anthers obovoid, apex rounded. Pistillate flowers: pedicel 10– 19 mm long, glabrous; tepals 4; outer tepals 2, orbicular, white to light pink, 9–10 × 8–13 mm, apex rounded, margins entire, glabrous; inner tepals 2, lanceolate, 9–10 × 5–7 mm, pink, apex rounded, margins entire, glabrous; styles 3, yellow to light green, ca. 2 mm long, united at base; stigmas spiral and densely setose-papillose, pale green, oblong in general outline; ovary: locular part oblong, rounded apex and base, green, 9–12 × 5–6 mm, 3-locular, placentae axial bifid, glabrous; with three subequal crescent wings with obtuse base, and rounded sometimes truncate apex; Capsule: locular part rounded to oblong, subequal wings, abaxial wing crescent shape, apex rounded, base obtuse, 12–17 × 9–11 mm.
Distribution and Ecology: —The species was found thriving on shaded rocky surfaces along cliffsides near the shore. The species was observed only on its type locality in Caraga, Davao Oriental ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 ).
Etymology: —The specific epithet dorisiae is a tribute to broadcaster Doris Bigornia whose name became an informal, yet very useful monicker of the genus Begonia especially for local communities. Many Filipino botanists, particularly in this series of expeditions, find that the easiest way to make citizens remember the genus Begonia is to associate it with ‘Bigornia’. Across different islands and demographics, the best way to capture citizens’ interest when communicating the biology of Philippine Begonia is, in fact, Doris Bigornia.
Phenology: —The species is observed to be flowering during the months of July to August.
Proposed Conservation Status:— The species is observed to have a restricted Area of Occupancy (AOO) on its type locality only covering less than 500 square metres. Other limestone areas along the coasts were assessed but no other populations of the plant were observed. Around 300 individuals were found, most are mature individuals and are attested to be stable in numbers by nearby local communities. The type locality is not foreseen to be in danger of immediate human activity encroachment or further degradation. The only possible threat to the population is possible clearing of the beach vegetation over the limestone formation which is not foreseen to happen in the near future as the vicinity is protected by a local church. Despite this stability, we recommend the species to be listed as Vulnerable D1D2 by having <1,000 mature individual count (D1) and restricted AOO that may be threatened in the future especially the possible typhoon effects on the area, given that the populations observed where just few meters away from the coast (D2).
No known copyright restrictions apply. See Agosti, D., Egloff, W., 2009. Taxonomic information exchange and copyright: the Plazi approach. BMC Research Notes 2009, 2:53 for further explanation.