Begonia guangdongensis, a new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Guangdong, China

Abstract

A new species of Begonia section Coelocentrum, B. guangdongensis W.H. Tu, B.M. Wang & Y.L. Li from Guangdong Province, China, is described and illustrated here. Morphologically, the new species is most similar to B. biflora T. C. Ku and B. longistyla Y. M. Shui & W. H. Chen, but differs from B. biflora by its rugose leaves and glabrous capsules and from B. longistyla by its glabrous stipules without ciliate margin, densely hirsute-pilose leaves and obtuse apex of bracts. Additionally, it is also somewhat similar to B. chongzuoensis Yan Liu, S. M. Ku & C.-I Peng, but there are significant distinctions in their stipules, leaves and bracts. The conservation status of B. guangdongensis is assessed as Critically Endangered (CR), according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Begonia shenzhenensis, a new species of Begoniaceae from Guangdong of China

“…In the past, the numerous surveys on plant diversity of this province were widely conducted by a number of botanists mainly from several research institutions, including South China Botanical Garden of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Academy of Forestry, South China Agricultural University, etc. However, some new species and new records still have been recently discovered (Huang et al, 2020;Zhou et al, 2020), including two begonia species (Ding et al, 2018;Tu et al, 2020)…”

Begonia shenzhenensis, a new species of Begoniaceae from Guangdong, China

“…Numerous surveys on plant diversity of this province have been widely conducted by a number of botanists, mainly from several research institutions, including South China Botanical Garden of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Academy of Forestry, South China Agricultural University, and others. Nonetheless, some new species and new records have been recently discovered ( Huang et al 2020 ; Zhou et al 2020 ), including two begonia species ( Ding et al 2018 ; Tu et al 2020 ). Here we describe and illustrate a new species of Begonia , Begonia shenzhenensis D.K.Tian & X.Yun Wang, which increases the number of begonias species to 14 in Guangdong province.…”

Begonia catbensis (sect. Coelocentrum, Begoniaceae), a new species from northern Vietnam

“…Coelocentrum has grown from 18 species (Shui et al 2002) to 73 species (Shui et al 2019) during the past two decades. The growth of the section has been stimulated by a series of flora diversity surveys conducted by many botanists (Shui and Chen 2005;Fang et al 2006;Ku et al 2006;Peng et al 2007Peng et al , 2015; Averyanov and Nguyen 2012;Qin et al 2017;Chen et al 2018;Radbouchoom et al 2019;Tong et al 2019;Liu et al 2020;Tu et al 2020). Some species have been merged into sect.…”