Abstract
The geographic location, climatic, and soil conditions of Samar Island render a mosaic of varied habitats which harbor numerous endemic, rare, and endangered species of plants. The island province is one of the centers of plant endemism in the Philippines. Included in this rich biodiversity of flora are members of genus Begonia of the family Begoniaceae. In 2018, researchers of the University of the Philippines found in the island three unknown Begonia species. With rhizomatous habits, persistent stipules, protandrous inflorescences, four-tepaled flowers, three winged capsules and bifid placenta, the three species are clearly members of Begonia section Baryandra. Studies of literature, herbarium specimens, and living plants support the recognition of the three new species: Begonia sohoton, Begonia tarangban and Begonia burabod.
References
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<p>Elmer, A.D.E. (1910) New species of <em>Begonia</em>. <em>Leaflets of Philippine Botany </em>2: 735–740.</p>
<p>Fernando, E.S., Suh, M.N., Lee, J. & Lee, D.K. (2008) <em>Forest Formations of the Philippines</em>. ASEAN-Korea Environmental Cooperation Unit (AKECU). Geobook Publishing Co.</p>
<p>Forest Management Bureau (2010) <em>Forest cover of Eastern Visayas. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.</em> Available from: https://forestry.denr.gov.ph/index.php/forest-cover-region8 (accessed 1 March 2021)</p>
<p>Klotzsch, J.F. (1854) Marz. Gesammtsitzung der akademie. <em>Bericht über die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der Königlich Preussischen Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin </em>1854: 119–128.</p>
<p>Linnaeus, C. (1753) <em>Species plantarum, exhibentes plantas rite cognitas, ad genera relatas, cum differentiis specificis, nominibus trivialibus, synonymis selectis, locis natalibus, secundum systema exuale digestas</em>, vol .1. Salvius, Stockholm, 1200 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.59734</p>
<p>Madulid, D.A. (2000) A review and assessment of the floristic knowledge of Samar Island. In: <em>Samar Island Biodiversity Study (SAMBIO) Resources, Environment and Economics Center for Studies, Inc. (REECS). U.S. Agency for International Development.</em></p>
<p>Meneses, Z.D., Malabrigo, P.I., Buot, I.E. Jr. & Tinio, C.E. (2018) New Distribution Records of Orchids (Orchidaceae) in Samar Island, Philippines. <em>Journal of Nature Studies</em> 17 (2): 1–9.</p>
<p>Merrill, E.D. (1908) On a collection of plants from the Batanes and Babuyanes Islands. <em>Philippine Journal of Science</em>, section C, Botany 3: 421–422.</p>
<p>Merrill, E.D. (1912 [1911]) The Philippine species of <em>Begonia</em>. <em>Philippine Journal of Science</em>, section C, Botany 6: 379–380.</p>
<p>Merrill, E.D. (1912) New or Noteworthy Philippine Plants, IX<em>. Philippine Journal of Science</em> 7: 310–311.</p>
<p>Merrill, E.D. (1915) New or Noteworthy Philippine Plants, XI<em> Philippine Journal of Science</em> 10: 46.</p>
<p>Merrill, E.D. (1916) New Plants from Samar<em>. Philippine Journal of Science</em> 11: 175–206.</p>
<p>Merrill, E.D. (1923) <em>Enumeration </em>of <em>Philippine Flowering Plants</em>. Bureau of Printing, Manila. 3: 119–128. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.49412</p>
<p>Merrill, E.D. (1926) Additions to our knowledge of Philippine Flora III. <em>Philippine Journal of Science</em> 30: 413.</p>
<p>Peng, C.-I., Rubite, R.R., Lin, C.W., Hughes, M., Kono, Y. & Chung, K.-F. (2017) Three new species of <em>Begonia </em>sect. <em>Baryandra </em>from Panay Island, Philippines. <em>Botanical Studies </em>58: e28. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40529-017-0182-x</p>
<p>Restificar, S.D.F., Day, M.J. & Urich, P.B. (2006) Protection of Karst in the Philippines. <em>Acta Carsologica</em> 35: 121–130. https://doi.org/10.3986/ac.v35i1.248</p>
<p>Tolentino, P.J.S., Natividad, J.R.L., Delos Angeles, M.D., Fernandez, D.A.P., Villanueva, E.L.C., Obena, R.D.R. & Buot, Jr. IE. (2020) Biodiversity of forests over limestone in Southeast Asia with emphasis on the Philippines. <em>Biodiversitas</em> 21: 1597–1613. https://doi.org/10.13057/biodiv/d210441</p>
<p>Warburg, O. (1904) Begoniaceae. <em>In</em>: Perkins, J.R. (Ed.) <em>Fragmenta Florae Philippinae: contributions to the flora of the Philippine Islands. </em>Leipzig, Germany, pp. 52–53.</p>