Species

B. elnidoensis

Photos

3 photos

Identity

Genus: Begonia
Name: B. elnidoensis
Author: C.I Peng, Rubite & C.W.Lin.
Publication Date: 2018
Date of Origin: 2016
Place: El Nido, N Palawan; also Lagen and Miniloc islands and others.
Habitat: Distribution and ecology. Begonia elnidoensis is endemic to coralline limestone cliffs in northern Palawan at about sea level (Fig 6). The type specimen was collected from El Nido, and it also occurs in Lagen and Miniloc Islands and other islands and islets adjacent to El Nido as observed by some of the authors during an expedition in 2011. The previously recorded occurrence of the allied species Begonia wadei on Miniloc Island [6] is a misidentification, as the collection this is based on (Madulid et al. 27564 [BRIT, L]) is B. elnidoensis.; on limestone rock face, semi exposed
Country: The Philippines
Region: Asia
Section: Baryandra
Chr 2n: 30
Plant Type: Thick Stem or Rhizomatous
Synonyms and Comments: Etymology: after the type locality
Reference: Chloroplast and nuclear DNA exchanges among Begonia sect. Baryandra species (Begoniaceae) from Palawan Island, Philippines, and descriptions of five new species. Hughes, et al. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0194877
Article References: Hughes M. et al., Asian Begonia 97, 2018
Photo References: Hughes M. et al., Asian Begonia 97-98, 2018

Plant

Description: Chloroplast and nuclear DNA exchanges among Begonia sect. Baryandra species (Begoniaceae) from Palawan Island, Philippines, and descriptions of five new species. Hughes, et al. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0194877 Begonia elnidoensis Type: PHILIPPINES. Palawan Island, Poblacion El Nido, on limestone rock face, semi exposed, locally frequent, elevation ca. 2 m, N 11°10'39", E 119°23'28", 4 Nov 2011, C.-I Peng 23508 with K.-F. Chung, C.-I Huang, and R. R. Rubite (HOLOTYPE: PNH; ISOTYPE: HAST). Monoecious, thick-stemmed herb. Stem unbranched, ascending or pendent from limestone rock face, to 50 cm or longer, to 3 cm thick, internodes 0.5–3 cm long. Stipules persistent, pale yellowish-green or pinkish, widely ovate to ovate-triangular, 1.8–2.6 cm long, 1.2–2.5 cm wide, herbaceous, strongly keeled, glabrous, very sparsely denticulate, velutinous on margin and abaxial midrib, apex shortly aristate, arista ca. 2 mm long. Leaves alternate, in a spiral at the top of the stem, petiole terete, pale yellowish-green to reddish, (6.5−)10−25 cm long, (0.5−)0.7−1.5 cm thick, glabrous; leaf blade asymmetric, oblique, widely to very widely ovate, subtriangular, 12−30 cm long, 10.5–25 cm wide, broad side 6–17 cm wide, basal lobes cordate, 2–6 cm long, apex obtuse to acute, margin denticulate or subentire; leaf subcoriaceous, succulent, adaxially bright green or dark maroon, veins reddish toward base; abaxially pale green or magenta, veins prominent, red; venation basally ca. 8, palmate, midrib distinct, with 3 or 4 secondary veins on each side, other primary veins branching dichotomously or nearly so, tertiary veins reticulate. Inflorescences an axillary, bisexual, cymosely branching panicle 20–40 cm long, peduncle 13–33 cm long, several dichasial cymes arising directly from upper axils of stem, branched 5–6 times, erect or ascending, yellowish-green to pinkish, glabrous; protandrous. Bracts pale yellowish-green, hyaline, deciduous, those at basal node of inflorescence ovate to widely ovate, boat-shaped, 17–30 mm long, 14–20 mm wide, apex obtuse, margin entire; bracts at summit of inflorescence widely ovate, ca. 5 mm across, apex attenuate to retuse, margin entire. Staminate flower: pedicel 1.2–2 cm long, glabrous, tepals 4, white to pinkish, glabrous, outer 2 ovate to suborbicular, 1–1.5 cm long, 0.8–1.5 cm wide, inner 2 obovate or oblanceolate, 0.7–1.2 cm long, 0.5–1 cm wide, apex rounded; androecium sub-zygomorphic, ca. 0.5 cm across; stamens yellow, 33–45; filaments shortly fused at base; anthers obovate, ca. 1.2 mm long, 2-locular, apex apiculate, more or less equal at filaments. Pistillate flower: pedicel ca. 2 cm long, glabrous; ovary pale green to pinkish, body trigonous-ellipsoid, ca. 8 mm long, 5 mm thick (wings excluded), glabrous; 3-winged, wings unequal, ca. 1 cm long, lateral wings narrower, narrowly crescent-shaped to triangular, 0.8–1.5 mm wide, abaxial wing triangular, more or less truncate distally, cuneate proximally, 4.5–7 mm wide, margin entire; ovary 3-locular, bilamellate; tepals 4, white to pinkish, glabrous, outer 2 widely ovate to obovate or suborbicular, 0.9–1.4 cm long, 1–1.2 cm wide, inner 2 widely obovate, 1–1.4 cm long, 0.7–0.9 cm wide, apex rounded; styles 3, short fused at base, yellow, ca. 0.5 cm long, stigma spirally twisted. Capsule pendent, pedicel ca. 2 cm long, tepals usually deciduous; body trigonous-ellipsoid, ca. 1 cm long, 0.7 cm thick (wings excluded), greenish or reddish when fresh; wings unequal, lateral wings 1.5–2 mm wide, abaxial wing to 8 mm wide. Distribution and ecology. Begonia elnidoensis is endemic to coralline limestone cliffs in northern Palawan at about sea level (Fig 6). The type specimen was collected from El Nido, and it also occurs in Lagen and Miniloc Islands and other islands and islets adjacent to El Nido as observed by some of the authors during an expedition in 2011. The previously recorded occurrence of the allied species Begonia wadei on Miniloc Island [6] is a misidentification, as the collection this is based on (Madulid et al. 27564 [BRIT, L]) is B. elnidoensis. After observation of many individuals in different locations, it is clear that this species is potentially immortal through continuous basal emergence of new stems. Considering the leaf scars and internode length, there are alternate sequences of short and long internodes, more pronounced on individuals growing in partly shaded situations, due to the strong tuberization of the stem in individuals growing on fully exposed sea cliffs making the differences less obvious. About 10 to 12 leaves are produced between long (1.5 to 2 cm long) internodes, and about the same between short internodes (0.5 to 1 cm long). This corresponds to faster and slower growth in the wet and dry season on Palawan. Stem elongation appears to be 20 to 30 cm annually, the longest stems reaching about 120 cm, which are probably four to six years old and likely represent the maximum age. New stems emerge from one of the first short internodes at the base of living older stems and they produce adventitious roots for fixation and nutrition. Flowering seems to be continuous all the year round, as observed from the couple of scars at each internode; one scar for the petiole and just above one scar for the inflorescence peduncle. Thus, this species flowers both in rainy and dry seasons. During fruit maturation, the main inflorescence axis remains turgescent and alive, whereas the secondary axes dry out but remain attached. This junction permits the dry, dehisced capsules to freely shake in the wind. The authors have observed active anemochory in this species. Provisional conservation assessment. This species does not depend on a forest habitat, as it grows crevices in coralline sea cliffs. This habitat is already exposed and hence not under threat from forest clearance, and is also relatively inaccessible, and so is not at great risk of increased disturbance. Given there are a number of populations around coastal northern Palawan, and the fact the species was observed growing near a rubbish dump in El Nido town, we consider B. elnidoensis to belong the Least Concern IUCN category [48]. Other specimens. PHILIPPINES. Palawan, Miniloc Island, around lagoon areas on limestone, N 11°09.0', E 119°18.8', 24 Apr. 1997, Madulid, Reynoso & Agoo PPI27564 (BRIT, L); Palawan, Jul. 1912, Fenix 15540 (B, BM). Etymology. Named after its type locality, El Nido Town, where the new species was discovered. Notes. The new species is allied to Begonia wadei in the thick-trunked stem, differing in the widely to very widely ovate or subtriangular leaves, (vs. obliquely ovate), 12–30 × 10.5–25 cm (vs. 6–20 × 3–13 cm), secondary veins 3 or 4 (vs. ca. 6) on each side of midrib; glabrous petioles (vs. puberulous to tomentose); inflorescence 20–40 cm (vs. 6–20 cm) long, bracts to 30 × 14 mm (vs. 19 × 10 mm); capsules 10–13 × 8–13 (vs. 15–17 × 20–22 mm).
Growth Type: thick-stemmed herb.
Plant Habit: Lax and upright
Plant Height: Low to Medium <1m
Stem Type: Long sinuate semi-erect stems, produced from the rootstock
Stem Habit: Non-Branched
Internodal Distance: 0.5-3 cm

Lineage

1 descendants

Parents

No parentage recorded.

Etymology: after the type locality

Descendants

1 recorded children

As female parent

B. ‘Black Magician’

Male parent: B. cleopatrae

As male parent

No children recorded with this plant as the male parent.

Culture

Endangered Status: Least Concern
Original Botanical Description or Link to: http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0194877: Monoecious, thick-stemmed herb. Stem unbranched, ascending or pendent from limestone rock face, to 50 cm or longer, to 3 cm thick, internodes 0.5–3 cm long. Stipules persistent, pale yellowish-green or pinkish, widely ovate to ovate-triangular, 1.8–2.6 cm long, 1.2–2.5 cm wide, herbaceous, strongly keeled, glabrous, very sparsely denticulate, velutinous on margin and abaxial midrib, apex shortly aristate, arista ca. 2 mm long. Leaves alternate, in a spiral at the top of the stem, petiole terete, pale yellowish-green to reddish, (6.5−)10−25 cm long, (0.5−)0.7−1.5 cm thick, glabrous; leaf blade asymmetric, oblique, widely to very widely ovate, subtriangular,12−30 cm long, 10.5–25 cm wide, broad side 6–17 cm wide, basal lobes cordate, 2–6 cm long, apex obtuse to acute, margin denticulate or subentire; leaf subcoriaceous, succulent, adaxially bright green or dark maroon, veins reddish toward base; abaxially pale green or magenta, veins prominent, red; venation basally ca. 8, palmate, midrib distinct, with 3 or 4 secondary veins on each side, other primary veins branching dichotomously or nearly so, tertiary veins reticulate. Inflorescences a axillary, bisexual, cymosely branching panicle 20–40 cm long, peduncle 13–33 cm long, several dichasial cymes arising directly from upper axils of stem, branched 5–6 times, erect or ascending, yellowish-green to pinkish, glabrous; protandrous. Bracts pale yellowish-green, hyaline, deciduous, those at basal node of inflorescence ovate to widely ovate, boat-shaped, 17–30 mm long, 14–20 mm wide, apex obtuse, margin entire; bracts at summit of inflorescence widely ovate, ca. 5 mm across, apex attenuate to retuse, margin entire. Staminate flower: pedicel 1.2–2 cm long, glabrous, tepals 4, white to pinkish, glabrous, outer 2 ovate to suborbicular, 1–1.5 cm long, 0.8–1.5 cm wide, inner 2 obovate or oblanceolate, 0.7–1.2 cm long, 0.5–1 cm wide, apex rounded; androecium sub-zygomorphic, ca. 0.5 cm across; stamens yellow, 33–45; filaments shortly fused at base; anthers obovate, ca. 1.2 mm long, 2-locular, apex apiculate, more or less equal at filaments. Pistillate flower: pedicel ca. 2 cm long, glabrous; ovary pale green to pinkish, body trigonous-ellipsoid, ca. 8 mm long, 5 mm thick (wings excluded), glabrous; 3-winged, wings unequal, ca. 1 cm long, lateral wings narrower, narrowly crescent-shaped to triangular, 0.8–1.5 mm wide, abaxial wing triangular, more or less truncate distally, cuneate proximally, 4.5–7 mm wide, margin entire; ovary 3-locular, bilamellate; tepals 4, white to pinkish, glabrous, outer 2 widely ovate to obovate or suborbicular, 0.9–1.4 cm long, 1–1.2 cm wide, inner 2 widely obovate, 1–1.4 cm long, 0.7–0.9 cm wide, apex rounded; styles 3, short fused at base, yellow, ca. 0.5 cm long, stigma spirally twisted. Capsule pendent, pedicel ca. 2 cm long, tepals usually deciduous; body trigonous-ellipsoid, ca. 1 cm long, 0.7 cm thick (wings excluded), greenish or reddish when fresh; wings unequal, lateral wings 1.5–2 mm wide, abaxial wing to 8 mm wide.