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Issue: Vol. 670 No. 3: 1 Nov. 2024
Type: Article
Published: 2024-11-01
DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.670.3.4
Page range: 181-186
Abstract views: 160
PDF downloaded: 13

A new record of Begonia aptera in Southern Mindanao: the second species of Begonia sect. Platycentrum recorded from the Philippines

Integrated Basic Education Department, Notre Dame of Kidapawan College, Kidapawan City, Cotabato 9400, Philippines. Department of Natural Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Southeastern Philippines, Davao City 8000, Philippines.
Biodiversity Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115201, Taiwan. Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 116059, Taiwan. Research Museum and Herbarium (HAST), Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115201, Taiwan.
Biodiversity Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115201, Taiwan. Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei 116059, Taiwan. Research Museum and Herbarium (HAST), Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115201, Taiwan. Philippine National Herbarium, Botany and National Herbarium Division, National Museum of Natural History, National Museum of the Philippines, T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita Manila 1000, Philippines.
Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Manila, Padre Faura, Manila 1000, Philippines
Biodiversity Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115201, Taiwan
Biodiversity Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115201, Taiwan
Department of Natural Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Southeastern Philippines, Davao City 8000, Philippines
Begoniaceae New records Southeast Asia Eudicots

Abstract

Begonia aptera was recently found during expeditions in the Matutum and Melibengoy mountains in South Cotabato province, southern Mindanao island, Philippines. The identification of the species was affirmed by the morphological similarities of the samples to specimens from the neighbouring island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. Begonia aptera is a member of the Begonia longifolia complex by having berry-like dull green, rhomboidal to spherical fruits with three locules, axillary, dichasial inflorescense, 4-tepaled male and 6-tepaled female flowers. Begonia aptera is distinct by having broadly elliptic leaves with bi-tooothed, serrate margins. This is just the second member of Begonia sect. Platycentrum in the Philippines, the only member of this section being B. halconensis endemic to Mindoro Island, with all other Philippine Begonia falling into sections Petermannia and Baryandra. It is proposed that the species be declared as vulnerable in the Philippines due to the fragmented population observed and potential threats to the observed populations.

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