Monday, April 17, 2017

[Botany • 2017] Begonia exposita, B. pengchingii, B. phutthaii & B. pseudosubperfoliata • Four New Species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Thailand


 Begonia pengchingii    Phutthai & M.Hughes


Abstract
Four new species of Begonia are described from Northern, Peninsular and Southwestern Thailand. Three belong to Begonia sect. Diploclinium (Begonia exposita Phutthai & M.Hughes, Begonia pengchingii Phutthai & M.Hughes and Begonia pseudosubperfoliata Phutthai & M.Hughes), and one (Begonia phutthaii M.Hughes) to Begonia sect. Apterobegonia . All four species are karst limestone endemics. The provisional IUCN status of all the new species is ‘Vulnerable’.


• Begonia exposita Phutthai & M.Hughes sp. nov. Sect. Diploclinium
The habit resembles that of Begonia putii Craib, B. discreta Craib and B. soluta Craib in terms of the small number of cordate leaves arising directly from a tuber. Begonia putii and B. soluta differ in being smaller plants, ..... 
 Type: Thailand, Sangkhla Buri District. On exposed limestone in direct sunlight area, .... (holo BKF; iso E, PSU).

Begonia pengchingii Phutthai & M.Hughes, Habit and habitat 


• Begonia pengchingii Phutthai & M.Hughes sp. nov. Sect. Diploclinium
 A distinct species, closest to Begonia discreta in having 1 or 2 elongate-cordate symmetrical or subsymmetrical leaves and inflorescence arising from the tuber. ....
 Type: Thailand, Chiang Rai, Mae Sai District. On limestone cliff face in deep shade of summit cliff, 1350 m, .... (holo HAST; iso BKF, E).
ส้มกุ้งเมืองเหนือ Begonia pengchingii Phutthai & M. Hughes พืชถิ่นเดียวของประเทศไทย พบที่ภูเขาหินปูนในจังหวัดเชียงรายและเชียงใหม่ ตั้งชื่อให้เป็นเกียรติแก่ผู้ที่เก็บตัวอย่างนี้เป็นครั้งแรก


Begonia phutthaii M.Hughes, Habit, habitat and inflorescence 

• Begonia phutthaii M.Hughes sp. nov. Sect. Apterobegonia
Differs from the allied Begonia delicatula in having caducous (not persistent) stipules, a denser indumentum over all vegetative parts (B. delicatula has glabrous stems, not densely hairy, and leaves with scattered, not dense hairs). .... 
 Type: Thailand, Mae Hong Son, Pang Ma Pha District, Road between Pai and Pang Ma Pha. On vertical limestone in deep shade of dry evergreen forest on limestone, .... (holo E; iso BKF, SING).  


• Begonia pseudosubperfoliata Phutthai & M.Hughes sp. nov. Sect. Diploclinium. 
Resembles Begonia subperfoliata Parish ex Kurz in habit but differs in having 5 tepals in the female flowers (not 2) and glabrous lanceolate bracts (not deeply dissected and papillose). Also similar to Begonia rabilii Craib in habit but differs in having 5 tepals in the female flowers (not 4), and leaves with a more deeply crenate margin. 
Type: Thailand, Chon Buri, Bo Thong District, Khao Cha Ang On cave. On limestone karst in deep shade, 350 m altitude, 10 ix 2007, T. Phutthai 162 (holo BKF; iso E, PSU).


 Thamarat Phutthai and M. Hughes. 2017. Four New Species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Thailand.  Edinburgh Journal of Botany. DOI:  10.1017/S0960428617000051

 Four new Begonia species for Thailand today, 2 named after great botanists T.Phutthai and Ching-I Peng @TheBotanics thanks to @NewtonFund