Botanical Studies (2006) 47: 207-222.

*

Corresponding author: E-mail: bopeng@sinica.edu.tw;

Tel: +886-2-2789-3821; Fax: +886-2-2789-1623.

Four new species of Begonia sect. Coelocentrum

(Begoniaceae) from limestone areas in Guangxi, China

Shin-Ming KU

1,2

, Yan LIU

3

, and Ching-I PENG

1,

*

1

Herbarium (HAST), Research Center for Biodiversity, Academia Sinica, Nangang, Taipei 115, Taiwan

2

Department of Life Sciences, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan

3

Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuangzu Autonomous Region and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guilin

541006, P.R. China

(Received October 22, 2005; Accepted February 1, 2006)

ABSTRACT

. Four new species of Begonia (sect. Coelocentrum), namely B. debaoensis, B.

pseudodaxinensis, B. pseudoleprosa and B. semiparietalis, from the limestone areas in Guangxi Zhuangzu

Autonomous Region, southern China are described and illustrated. A somatic chromosome number of 2n = 30

is determined for three of them. Begonia debaoensis resembles B. bonii Gagnep., differing in having smaller

leaves; a slender rhizome with long internodes; bicolored outer tepals that are pink toward the margins and

whitish in the middle; and bearing abnormal, feminized stamens on staminate flowers. It is perhaps of hybrid

origin. Begonia pseudodaxinensis is similar to B. daxinensis T.C. Ku, differing in the leaves being entirely

green and without white maculation; the stipule apex obtuse or emarginate; and the rhizome stout and nearly

glabrous. Begonia pseudoleprosa bears a superficial resemblance to B. leprosa Hance (sect. Leprosae),

differing in the fruits being winged, trigonous obovoid-ellipsoid and with parietal placentation. It also

resembles B. bonii Gagnep., differing in the leaves being subcoriaceous, nearly flat and very sparsely

setulose or subglabrous on the adaxial surface; and petioles and the main veins on the lower leaf surface

being appressed hairy. Begonia semiparietalis is also somewhat similar to B. bonii Gagnep., differing in

the leaves having white maculation along main veins and the upper surface sparsely setose-pilose; ovaries

and fruits long glandular-pilose; placentation parietal on upper half of the ovary and axile on the lower

half.

Keywords: Begonia debaoensis; Begonia pseudodaxinensis; Begonia pseudoleprosa; Begonia sect.

Coelocentrum; Begonia semiparietalis; Begoniaceae; China; Chromosome number; Guangxi; Limestone flora;

New species.

INTRODUCTION

In continuation of our research on eastern Asian

Begonia (Peng et al., 1988; Peng and Chen, 1990, 1991;

Peng and Sue, 2000; Peng and Chiang, 2000; Chiang et

al., 2001; Oginuma and Peng, 2002; Shui et al., 2002;

Ye et al., 2004; Ku et al., 2004; Peng et al., 2005 a, b, c;

Liu et al. 2005; Li et al., 2005; Peng et al., 2006; Fang et

al., 2006; Peng et al., 2006), we report the discovery of

four new species of Begonia sect. Coelocentrum from the

limestone areas in Guangxi, China.

NEW SPECIES

1. Begonia debaoensis C.-I Peng, Yan Liu & S. M.

Ku, sp. nov.¡XTYPE: China. Guangxi Zhuangzu

Autonomous Region, Baise Shi, Debao Xian, Jixingyan,

ca. 12 km S of Debao. 23¢X15¡¦10¡¦¡¦N, 106¢X38¡¦16¡¦¡¦E,

elevation ca. 600 m, grassy vegetation, at entrance of

a limestone cave at base of a steep rocky hill, on rocky

slope face, shaded, moist, frequent. Living collection

made on 25 May 2004; type specimens (in flower)

pressed from plants in cultivation on 30 Nov 2005,

Ching-I Peng, Wai-Chao Leong, Shin-Ming Ku & Yan Liu

19712-A (holotype: HAST; isotypes: IBK). ¼w«O¬î®ü´Å

Figure 1, 2

Similis Begoniae bonii Gagnep., sed a qua differt foliis

parvis, rhizomate gracili internodiis longis instructo,

tepalis exterioribus bicoloribus margine roseis alibi

albidis, floribus staminatis staminibus abnormalibus

femineis praeditis.

Herbs, monoecious; epipetric; perennial; rhizomatous.

Rhizome slender, 20-60 cm or longer, 2.5-6 mm thick,

internodes (15-)18-30(-35) mm long, sparsely villous.

Stipules

eventually deciduous, triangular to ovate-

triangular, apex acute or obtuse, 4-9 mm long, 4-6 mm

wide, reddish-hyaline, weakly keeled, without reddish

TAXONOMY

208

Botanical Studies, Vol. 47, 2006

Figure 1. Begonia debaoensis C.-I Peng, Yan Liu & S. M. Ku. A, Habit. B, Stipules; C, Portion of leaf, adaxial surface; C¡¦,

abaxial surface; C¡¦¡¦, cross section. D, Bracts. E, Abnormal staminate flower. F, Abnormal stamen. G, Carpellate flower, face view;

G¡¦, side view. H, Serial cross sections of ovary. (All from C.-I Peng et al. 19712, HAST).

KU et al. ¡X Four new species of

Begonia

sect.

Coelocentrum

in China

209

Figure 2. Begonia debaoensis C.-I Peng, Yan Liu & S. M. Ku. A, Habit and habitat. B, Leaf. C, Leaf upper surface, showing

setulose trichomes. D, Stipules. E, Abnormal staminate flower. F, An abnormal stamen with placentae and ovule-like structures

near the base and with stigmatic papillae at the tip. G, Ovule-like structures. H, A carpellate flower with two normal styles and

one abnormal style. I, Side view of carpellate flower. J, Middle cross section of ovary. (All from C.-I Peng et al. 19712, HAST).

210

Botanical Studies, Vol. 47, 2006

nerves, with sparse minute subsessile brown glandular

hairs on abaxial surface, villous along midrib, margin

serrulate and ciliate, apex aristate, arista 1-3 mm long,

hair-like. Leaves 5-14 or more, alternate, simple,

asymmetric, unlobed, broadly ovate or suborbicular, base

deeply cordate, margin denticulate and ciliolate, apex

shortly acuminate or acute, (5-)6-8(-9.5) cm long (basal

lobes included), (3.6-)4-6(-6.8) cm wide, green or dark

green on adaxial surface, pale green to silver white (with

white maculation on intercostal area in juvenile plants)

and with green or brownish green veins, usually reddish

on abaxial surface, texture thinly herbaceous, surface

slightly rugose, adaxially sparsely setulose (trichomes

0.3-1 mm long, whitish-hyaline), abaxially sparsely

pilose on veins; venation basally palmate, veins 5 or

6, midrib distinct, with 1-3 major lateral veins on each

side, other primary veins branching dichotomously or

nearly so, tertiary veins percurrent and loosely reticulate,

forming a divergence angle of 80-90¢X to major veins,

minor veins reticulate, all veins on abaxial surface slightly

raised; petiole terete, (5-)6-10(-12) cm long, 1.5-3 mm

thick, brownish or brownish red, villous. Inflorescences

axillary, 1-3, arising directly from rhizome, flowers 4-7,

in a dichasial cyme, cyme branched 1-3 times; staminate

flowers 3-5, carpellate flowers 1 or 2; peduncle well

developed, terete, erect or ascending, 6-15 cm long, 1.5-2

mm thick, glabrous or subglabrous. Bracts caducous, ovate

to orbicular, margin denticulate and ciliate, apex obtuse

or rounded, 3-5 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, membranaceous.

Staminate flowers: pedicel 9-17 mm long; tepals 4, outer

2 tepals suborbicular, base rounded or slightly cordate,

margin entire (or dentate and ciliate when abnormal),

apex rounded, 6-11 mm long, 7-12 mm wide, glabrous or

with sparse minute, subsessile, brown glandular hairs on

outer surface, bicolor, pink toward margin, whitish in the

middle, inner 2 tepals oblong or narrowly obovate, apex

obtuse, 8-10 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, white, glabrous (or

dentate and ciliate when abnormal); stamens abnormal,

feminization, filaments 2-4 mm long, base with exposed

ovule-like

structures, tip forming a stigma-like structure,

without anthers. Carpellate flowers: pedicel 7-11 mm

long, sometimes with a bracteole on upper part; tepals 3,

caducous, if persistent not thickened when fruiting, outer

2 tepals suborbicular, margin entire, eciliate, (5-)7-9(-11)

mm long, (5-)8-9(-11) mm wide, bicolor as staminate

flowers, inner tepal oblong or narrowly obovate, apex

obtuse, 4-7 mm long, 2.5-3.5 mm wide, white, glabrous;

ovary trigonous ellipsoid, 5-8 mm long, 3.7-4.1 mm thick

(wings excluded), with sparse, minute, subsessile, brown

glandular hairs, 3-winged; wings unequal or subequal;

lateral wings 1-1.7 mm tall; abaxial wing crescent-

shaped or nearly so, 3-5 mm tall, 5-7 mm wide; locule

1, placentation intruded parietal from lower 1/3 of ovary

to summit; placentae 3, each 2-branched; styles 3, fused

in lower 1/4, yellow, 3-3.3 mm long, apically C-shaped;

stigmatic band slightly spiraled. Fruits not seen. Somatic

chromosome number, 2n = 30 (Figure 3).

Additional specimens examined. CHINA. Guangxi

Zhuangzu Autonomous Region, Baise Shi, Debao Xian,

Jixingyan, ca. 12 km S of Debao (where the type was

collected). 23¢X15¡¦10¡¦¡¦N, 106¢X38¡¦16¡¦¡¦E, elevation ca.

600 m, 25 May 2004, C.-I Peng et al. 19712 (HAST).

Ecology. On wall of a cave at base of a steep limestone

hill.

Distribution. Southwestern Guangxi, China (Figure 4).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from the

type locality, Debao Xian, Guangxi, China.

Phenology. Flowering August to January.

Notes. Like many species of Begonia sect.

Coelocentrum, B. debaoensis is highly restricted in

distribution, currently known only from one limestone

cave in western Guangxi. It resembles B. bonii Gagnep.

in being sparsely or moderately setulose on the upper

surface of the leaves, differing by the smaller leaves;

Figure 3. Mitotic chromosome spread of Begonia. A, Begonia debaoensis (2n=30); B, Begonia pseudodaxinensis (2n=30); C,

Begonia semiparietalis (2n=30), arrow indicating a probable B-chromosome. (A from C.-I Peng et al. 19712; B from W.C. Leong

et al. 3360; C from C.-I Peng et al. 20327. All vouchers at HAST).

KU et al. ¡X Four new species of

Begonia

sect.

Coelocentrum

in China

211

slender rhizome and with long internodes (vs. stout and

with congested internodes); showy bicolored outer tepals

that are pink toward margins and whitish in the middle

(vs. white or pink throughout); and bearing abnormal,

feminized stamens in the staminate flowers (Figure 2: E,

F, G). It does not produce normal stamens and fruit set

is impossible. Nevertheless, it reproduces vegetatively,

forming large, uniform colonies in the cave. We suspect

that B. debaoensis represents a natural hybrid involving

B. bonii as one of the putative parents. The other parent

is not obvious to us. Further biosystematic studies are

in progress. Table 1 summarizes the morphological

differences between Begonia debaoensis and other

somewhat similar species.

2.

Begonia pseudodaxinensis S. M. Ku, Yan Liu, & C.-I

Peng, sp. nov.¡XTYPE: China. Guangxi Zhuangzu

Autonomous Region, Chungzuo Shi, Daxin Xian,

Naling Xiang, along province road 316, SE side

of road, behind a small village, 22¢X55¡¦09¡¦¡¦N, 107¢X

01¡¦11¡¦¡¦E, elevation ca. 400 m, mixed bamboo

and broadleaf forest, at base of limestone hill, on

limestone rock face, semishaded, frequent. Living

collection made on 26 May 2004; type specimens

pressed from plants in cultivation on 26 Jan 2005,

Ching-I Peng, Wai-Chao Leong, Shin-Ming Ku & Yan

Liu 19747-A (holotype: HAST; isotypes: IBK).

°²¤j·s¬î®ü´Å

Figure 5, 6

Similis Begoniae daxinensi T. C. Ku, sed a qua differt

foliis omnino viridibus haud albo-maculatis, stipulis apice

obtusis vel emarginatis, rhizomate crasso subglabro.

Herbs, monoecious; epipetric; perennial; rhizomatous.

Rhizome stout, distinctly woody when older, 10-30 cm

or longer, (6-)11-15(-30) mm thick, internodes 6-12 mm

long, nearly glabrous. Stipules deciduous, ovate-triangular,

subcucullate to cucullate, 10-20 mm long, 7-18 mm wide,

weakly keeled, nearly glabrous, margin more or less

involute,

entire and eciliate, or sometimes ciliate, apex

obtuse or emarginate, aristate, arista 1-2 mm long, hair-

like. Leaves 2-7, alternate, simple, asymmetric, unlobed,

broadly ovate or suborbicular, base deeply cordate,

margin denticulate and ciliolate, apex shortly acuminate

or acute, (16-)20-30(-38) cm long (basal lobes included),

(12-)15-20(-26) cm wide, green, without maculation (but

with white maculation in seedlings), texture herbaceous,

surface slightly rugose, adaxially sparsely setose

(trichomes 0.2-0.6 mm long), abaxially sparsely shortly

pilose on major veins; venation basally palmate, veins (6

or )7 or 8, midrib distinct, with 1-3 major lateral veins on

each side, other primary veins branching dichotomously

or nearly so, tertiary veins loosely reticulate and weakly

percurrent, forming a divergence angle of 60-75¢X to major

veins, minor veins reticulate, all veins on abaxial surface

raised; petiole terete, (15-)20-30(-35) cm long, 4.5-7

mm thick, greenish, reddish at base, sparsely reflexed

pilose. Inflorescences axillary, 1 or 2, arising directly from

rhizome, flowers slightly fragrant, 25-57, in dichasial

cymes, cymes branched 3-6 times; first staminate flowers

opening before elongation of peduncle,

staminate flowers

20-50, carpellate flowers 4-7; peduncle well developed,

terete, erect or ascending, 14-28 cm long, 3-5 mm thick,

greenish, subglabrous or sparsely pilose. Bracts caducous,

widely ovate to rounded, margin denticulate and ciliate,

2-5.5 mm long, 2-5 mm wide, greenish, membranaceous.

Staminate flowers: pedicel 10-20(-30) mm long, pilose;

tepals 4, outer 2 suborbicular, base rounded or slightly

cordate, margin entire, eciliate, apex rounded, 15-21

mm long, 18-23 mm wide, pinkish or whitish, abaxially

sparsely pilose; inner 2 tepals oblong or obovate, apex

obtuse, 6-10 mm long, 4-7 mm wide, white, glabrous;

androecium zygomorphic, subglobose, stamens 28-40,

golf club shaped; filaments subequal, 1.5-2 mm long,

nearly free; anthers ¡Ó ascending, locules 2, slightly

compressed, oblong-obovoid or shortly so, apex of

connective

slightly emarginate, 1-1.5 mm long, 0.8-1 mm

wide, yellow. Carpellate flowers: pendent, pedicel 13-19

mm long, bracteole absent; tepals 3, caducous, if persistent

not thickened in fruit, outer 2 tepals suborbicular or

oblate, margin entire, eciliate, 11-14.5 mm long, 14-17

mm wide, pinkish, glabrous or subglabrous; inner tepal

oblong or obovate, 5-10 mm long, 3-4 mm wide, white,

glabrous; ovary trigonous ellipsoid or ovoid-ellipsoid,

8-10 mm long, 3-5.5 mm thick (wings excluded), with or

without few pilose trichomes (0.3-1 mm long), 3-winged;

wings equal or subequal; abaxial wing crescent-shaped

or subrectangular, 4-5 mm tall, 9-11 mm wide; locule 1,

placentation intruded parietal from lower 1/4 of ovary to

summit; placentae 3, each 2-branched; styles 3, fused in

lower 1/4, yellow, ca. 2-4 mm long, apically C-shaped;

stigmatic band slightly spiraled. Capsule nodding, stipe

20-25 mm long, fruit body 13-14 mm long, 5-6 mm thick,

greenish or reddish when fresh, apex with persistent

Figure 4. Distribution of Begonia debaoensis („S ), B.

pseudodaxinensis (

ƒÞ

), B. pseudoleprosa (¡¶ ) an d B .

semiparietalis (¡¹) in Guangxi Zhuangzu Autonomous Region,

China.

212

Botanical Studies, Vol. 47, 2006

Figure 5. Begonia pseudodaxinensis S.M. Ku, Yan Liu & C.-I Peng. A, Habit. B, Rhizome. C, Leaf margin, adaxial surface; C¡¦,

abaxial surface. D, Portion of leaf, adaxial surface; D¡¦, abaxial surface. E, Stipules, abaxial side; E¡¦, adaxial side; E¡¦¡¦, lateral

side. F. Inflorescences. G, Bracts. H, Staminate flower. I, Stamens. J, Carpellate flower, face view; J¡¦, side view. K, Pistil. L, S erial

cross sections of ovary. M. Fruit. N. Seeds. (All from W.-C. Leong 3360, HAST).

KU et al. ¡X Four new species of

Begonia

sect.

Coelocentrum

in China

213

Figure 6. Begonia pseudodaxinensis S.M. Ku, Yan Liu & C.-I Peng. A, Habit and habitat. B, Cultivated plant at anthesis. C, Setose

hair on leaf upper surface. D, Young rhizome with stipules. E, Woody rhizome. F, Carpellate flower. G, Side view of carpellate

flower. H, Staminate flower. I, Fruit. J, Middle cross section of ovary. K. Seed SEM micrograph. (A from C.-I Peng et al. 19747;

B-K from W.-C. Leong 3360. All at HAST).

214

Botanical Studies, Vol. 47, 2006

styles; abaxial wing 4-7 mm tall. Seeds numerous, brown,

ovoid-ellipsoid or ellipsoid, 0.4-0.48 mm long, 0.23-0.29

mm thick, chalazal end rounded, micropylar end obtuse

or slightly constricted, outer periclinal walls of mature

seeds concave; collar cells elongated, straight, nearly

rectangular, 11-13 cells in a ring, occupying 1/3-1/2

of seed length. Somatic chromosome number, 2n = 30

(Figure 3).

Additional specimens examined. CHINA. Guangxi

Zhuangzu Autonomous Region, Chungzuo Shi, Daxin

Xian, Naling Xiang, along Province Road 316, SE side

of road, behind a small village, 22¢X55¡¦09¡¦¡¦N, 107¢X01¡¦

11¡¦¡¦E, elevation ca. 400 m, mixed bamboo and broadleaf

forest, at base of limestone hill, on limestone rock face,

semishaded, frequent, 26 May 2004, C.-I Peng et al.

19747 (HAST); same locality, 22¢X49¡¦55¡¦¡¦N, 107¢X01¡¦

11¡¦¡¦E, 28 Aug 2004, W.C. Leong et al. 3360 (HAST),

3360-A (HAST: specimen pressed from plant grown

in the greenhouse on 21 Jan 2005), 3360-B (HAST:

specimen pressed from plant grown in the greenhouse

on 5 Feb 2005).

Ecology. On limestone hills.

Distribution. Southwestern Guangxi, China (Figure 4).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from its

resemblance to Begonia daxinensis T.C. Ku.

Phenology. Flowering November to March; fruiting

February to June.

Notes. Begonia pseudodaxinensis is similar to B.

daxinensis T.C. Ku, differing in the leaves being entirely

green and without white maculation (vs. adorned with a

showy white ring); apex of stipules obtuse or emarginate

(vs. acute); and rhizome stout, nearly glabrous (vs.

less stout and moderately villous). They also differ in

phenology: B. pseudodaxinensis flowers from December

to March, whereas B. daxinensis flowers from March to

June. For a detailed morphological comparison see Table

1.

3.

Begonia pseudoleprosa C.-I Peng, Yan Liu & S. M.

Ku, sp. nov.¡XTYPE: China. Guangxi Zhuangzu

Autonomous Region, Chungzuo Shi, Daxin Xian,

Shuolong Zhen, Rendi Hydroeletric Power Station, 22

¢X49¡¦10¡¦¡¦N, 106¢X51¡¦16¡¦¡¦E, elevation ca. 250 m.14 Mar

2005, Ching-I Peng, Yan Liu, Shin-Ming Ku & Huan-

Yu Chen 20335 (holotype: HAST; isotype: IBK).

°²Ä¬î®ü´Å

Figure 7, 8

Similis Begoniae leprosae Hance, sed a qua

differt fructibus alatis trigono-obovoido-ellipsoideis,

placentatione parietali; etiam similis B. bonii Gagnep.,

sed a qua differt foliis subcoriaceis, subplanis, supra

sparissime setulosis, petiolis et costis subtus appresse

pilosis.

Herbs, monoecious; epipetric; perennial; rhizomatous.

Rhizome 20-60 cm or longer, 4-7.5 mm thick, internodes

3.5-5 mm long, brown, initially with sparely appressed

hairs, glabrescent. Stipules eventually deciduous,

triangular, narrowly triangular, 5-10 mm long, 3-4 mm

wide, weakly keeled near apex, glabrous or with sparse

minute subsessile brown glandular hairs on abaxial

surface, margin

entire and eciliate, apex

acute, aristate,

arista 1.5-3 mm long, hair-like. Leaves 5-12, alternate,

simple, asymmetric, unlobed or sometimes shallowly

lobed, broadly ovate to suborbicular, base shallowly

cordate, margin sparsely and weakly denticulate and

ciliolate, apex shortly acuminate or acute, (5-)7-9(-11)

cm long (basal lobes included), (4-)5-7(-8.5) cm wide,

adaxial surface entirely green, abaxial surface pale green,

subcoriaceous, surface nearly flat, adaxially sparsely

setulose (trichomes 0.2-0.5 mm long) or nearly glabrous,

abaxially appressed hairy along major veins; venation

basally palmate, veins 5 or 6, midrib distinct, with 1-3

major lateral veins on each side, other primary veins

branching dichotomously or nearly so, tertiary veins

weakly percurrent and reticulate, forming a divergence

angle of 65-80¢X to major veins, minor veins obscure or not

seen, major veins slightly raised or flat on adaxial surface

and raised on abaxial surface; petiole terete, (5-)7-13(-20)

cm long, 2-3 mm thick, brownish or brownish red, with

appressed hairs. Inflorescences axillary, 1-3, arising

directly from rhizome, dichasial cymes, branched 2 or 3

times, flowers 5-15; staminate flowers 3-11, carpellate

flowers 1-4; peduncle well developed, terete, erect or

ascending, 4-14 cm long, 1.5-2 mm thick, glabrous.

Bracts caducous, lanceolate, ligulate or oblong, margin

denticulate and ciliate or ciliolate, 3-7 mm long, 1.5-2.5

mm wide. Staminate flowers: pedicel 8-20(-30) mm long,

glabrous or with few minute subsessile glandular hairs;

tepals 4, outer 2 suborbicular, rarely oblong-ovate, base

rounded or slightly cordate, margin entire, eciliate, apex

rounded, 10-13(-20) mm long, 10-11(-12) mm wide,

white or pinkish, glabrous or outer surface sparsely pilose;

inner 2 tepals oblong, 5-13 mm long, 2.5-4.5 mm wide,

white; androecium zygomorphic, subglobose, stamens

(15-)20-30(-40), golf club-shaped; filaments subequal,

0.8-1.5 mm long, nearly free; anthers ¡Ó ascending, locules

2, slightly compressed, oblong-obovoid, connective

apex slightly emarginate, 0.9-1.3 mm long, 0.6-0.8 mm

wide, yellow. Carpellate flowers: pedicel 6.5-13 mm

long, bracteole absent; tepals 3, caducous, if persistent

not thickened in fruit, outer 2 tepals suborbicular, margin

entire, 10-12 mm long, 12-14 mm wide, white or pinkish;

inner tepal oblong or narrowly obovate, 5-8 mm long,

2.5-4 mm wide, white; ovary trigonous obovoid-ellipsoid,

7-8 mm long, 3.5-4.5 mm thick (wings excluded), with

or without few pilose trichomes (0.4-0.8 mm long)

and sparse, minute, subsessile, brown glandular hairs,

3-winged; wings unequal or subequal; lateral wings

1-2 mm tall; abaxial wing crescent-shape, 1.5-3 mm

tall; locule 1, placentation intruded parietal from lower

1/4 of ovary to summit; placentae 3, each 2-branched;

styles 3, fused in lower 1/4, yellow, ca. 3.5-4 mm long,

apically C-shaped; stigmatic band slightly spiraled.

Capsule nodding, stipe 6-11 mm long, fruit body 10-12

mm long, 4.5-5.5 mm thick, greenish when fresh, apex

KU et al. ¡X Four new species of

Begonia

sect.

Coelocentrum

in China

215

Figure 7. Begonia pseudoleprosa C.-I Peng, Yan Liu & S.M. Ku. A, Habit. B, Cross section of leaf. C, Leaf margin, adaxial

surface; C¡¦, abaxial surface. D, Stipules, abaxial side. E, Petiole, showing appressed pilose or villous hairs. F, Bracts. G,

Staminate flower, face view; G¡¦, side view

.

H, Stamen, side view; H¡¦, dorsal view; H¡¦¡¦, ventral view

.

I, Carpellate flower, face

view; I¡¦, side view. J, Pistil.

K, K¡¦, Fruits. L, Serial cross sections of ovary. M. Seeds. (A, B, C, E, F, K, K¡¦ from C.-I Peng et al.

20347; D, G, G¡¦, H, H¡¦, H¡¦¡¦, I, I¡¦, J, L, M from C.-I Peng et al. 20335. All at HAST).

216

Botanical Studies, Vol. 47, 2006

Figure 8. Begonia pseudoleprosa C.-I Peng, Yan Liu & S.M. Ku. A, Habit & habitat, the leaves unlobed. B, Habit & habitat, the

leaves shallowly lobed. C, Cultivated plant at anthesis. D, Leaf abaxial surface showing venation. E, Stipule. F, Portion of leaf

abaxial surface, showing appressed hair on the major vein. G, Staminate flower. H, Carpellate flower, face view. I, Carpellate

flower, side view. J, Middle cross section of ovary. K, Fruit. L, Seed SEM micrograph. (A, D, F, G, H from C.-I Peng et al.

20347; B, C, E, I, J, K, L from C.-I Peng et al. 20335. All at HAST).

KU et al. ¡X Four new species of

Begonia

sect.

Coelocentrum

in China

217

218

Botanical Studies, Vol. 47, 2006

with persistent styles; lateral wings 2-2.5 mm tall; abaxial

wing crescent-shaped or nearly so, 4-6 mm tall. Seeds

numerous, brown, ellipsoid or obliquely triangular with

obtuse apex, 0.35-0.53 mm long, 0.23-0.29 mm thick,

chalazal end rounded, micropylar end obtuse or slightly

constricted, outer periclinal walls of mature seeds

concave; collar cells elongate, straight, nearly rectangular,

11-13 cells in a ring, 1/4-1/2 of seed length.

Additional specimens examined. CHINA. Guangxi

Zhuangzu Autonomous Region, Chungzuo Shi, Daxin

Xian, Shuolong Zhen, Rendi Hydroeletric Power

Station, 22¢X49¡¦10¡¦¡¦N, 106¢X51¡¦16¡¦¡¦E, on concave

limestone face, N-facing, semishaded, abundant. Living

collection made on 14 Mar 2005; specimen pressed

from cultivated plant on 30 Nov 2005, C.-I Peng et

al. 20355-A (HAST); same locality, along cement trail

to a waterfall, on rock face, broadleaf forest margin,

semishaded, moist to dry, abundant, C.-I Peng et al.

20347 (HAST).

Ecology. On limestone hills in broad-leaved forests.

Distribution. Southwestern Guangxi, China (Figure 4).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from its

superficial resemblance to B. leprosa Hance.

Phenology. Flowering November to December;

fruiting December to March.

Notes. Begonia pseudoleprosa bears a superficial

resemblance to B. leprosa Hance (sect. Leprosae),

differing in the fruits being winged, trigonous obovoid-

ellipsoid (vs. clavate and wingless) and in the parietal

(vs. axile) placentation. It also resembles B. bonii

Gagnep., but differs in the leaves being subcoriaceous,

nearly flat and the upper surface sparsely setulose (vs.

chartaceous, slightly rugose and sparsely to moderately

setulose); and petioles and main veins on the lower

leaf surface appressed hairy (vs. villous). Detailed

morphological comparison is shown in Table 1.

4.

Begonia semiparietalis Yan Liu, S.M. Ku & C.-I

Peng, sp. nov. ¡XTYPE: China. Guangxi Zhuangzu

Autonomous Region, Chungzuo Shi, Fusui Xian,

Bapen Xiang, Nongyixiu, 22¢X27¡¦46¡¦¡¦N, 107¢X52¡¦

39¡¦¡¦E, elevation ca. 120 m, on limestone rock

face, shaded, moist to dry, occasional. Associated

with Monocladus, Buxus, Cephalomappa sinense,

Diospyros siderophylla, Radermachera sinica,

Justicia, Callicarpa, Drynaria, Alocasia odora.

Living collection made on 12 Mar 2005; types pressed

from cultivated plant on 4 Oct 2005, Ching-I Peng,

Yan Liu, Shin-Ming Ku & Huan-Yu Chen 20327- A

(holotype: IBK; isotype: HAST). ¥b°¼½¬î®ü´Å

Figure 9, 10

Similis Begoniae bonii Gagnep., sed a qua differt foliis

ad costas albo-maculatis, supra sparse setoso-pilosis,

ovariis et fructibus longe glanduloso-pilosis, placentatione

parietali in superiore 1/2 parte, sed axili in inferiore 1/2

parte.

Herbs, monoecious; epipetric; perennial; rhizomatous.

Rhizome 10-30 cm or longer, 9-12 mm thick, internodes

4-17 mm long, nearly glabrous or sparsely villous near

petiole base and leaf scars. Stipules eventually deciduous,

triangular or ovate-triangular, 7-10 mm long, 5-9 mm

wide, scarcely keeled, margin

entire, apex aristate, arista

2-4 mm long, hair-like. Leaves 4-8, alternate, simple,

asymmetric, unlobed, broadly ovate or suborbicular, base

deeply cordate, margin denticulate and ciliolate, apex

shortly acuminate or acute, rarely obtuse, (3.5-)8-12(-15)

cm long (basal lobes included), (3-)6-10(-13) cm wide,

green, dark green or dark brown on adaxial surface,

adorned with white maculation (these areas pale green

abaxially) along major veins, sometimes dark brown

with pale green major veins (without white maculation),

rarely entire green, abaxial surface reddish or pale green

with reddish venation, texture thinly herbaceous, surface

rugose, adaxially sparsely pilose-setose (trichomes

0.7-1 mm long), abaxially shortly villous or tomentose,

particularly pronounced on veins; venation basally

palmate, veins 5-7, midrib distinct, with 1-3 major

lateral veins on each side, other primary veins branching

dichotomously or nearly so, tertiary veins percurrent

and loosely reticulate, divergence angle 90-120¢X to

major veins, minor veins reticulate, all veins on abaxial

surface raised; petiole terete, (4-)12-20(-25) cm long,

3.5-4(-6) mm thick, villous. Inflorescences axillary, 1-6

or more, arising directly from rhizome, flowers 6-11(-25)

in a dichasial cyme branched 2-3(- 5) times; staminate

flowers 5-10(-20), carpellate flowers 1-5; peduncle well

developed, terete, erect or ascending, 12-30 cm long,

1.5-2 mm thick, glabrous. Bracts caducous, ovate, oblong

or rounded, margin denticulate and ciliate, 3-11 mm

long, 2.5-5 mm wide, reddish. Staminate flowers: pedicel

13-42 mm long, glabrous or pilose with few glandular

hairs; tepals 4, outer 2 suborbicular, base rounded, margin

entire, eciliate, 8-13 mm long, 6.5-12 mm wide, reddish or

pinkish, abaxially glandular pilose; inner 2 tepals narrowly

obovate or oblanceolate, apex obtuse, 7-10 mm long, 3-4.5

mm wide, white; androecium zygomorphic, subglobose,

stamens 13-40, golf club-shaped; filaments subequal,

2.5-3 mm long, nearly free; anthers ¡Ó ascending, locules

2, slightly compressed, oblong-obovoid, connective

apex slightly emarginate, 1.5-2 mm long, 0.7-0.9 mm

wide, yellow. Carpellate flowers: pedicel 12-14 mm

long, bracteole absent; tepals 3, caducous, if persistent

not thickened when fruiting, outer 2 tepals suborbicular,

margin entire, eciliate, 6.5-8.5 mm long, 7-9.5 mm wide,

pinkish or reddish, abaxially glandular pilose; inner tepal

oblanceolate or narrowly obovate, 6-7 mm long, 2.5-3 mm

wide, pinkish white, glabrous; ovary trigonous ellipsoid,

5.5-7 mm long, 3-4 mm thick (wings excluded), reddish,

with long glandular pilose trichomes (0.6-2.4 mm long),

3-winged; wings unequal or subequal; lateral wings 1-2

mm tall; abaxial wing crescent-shaped or nearly so, 2.5-4

mm tall, 6-7 mm wide; locule 1, placentation intruded

parietal from lower 1/2 of ovary to summit; placentae 3,

each 2-branched; styles 3, fused in lower 1/5 or nearly

KU et al. ¡X Four new species of

Begonia

sect.

Coelocentrum

in China

219

Figure 9. Begonia semiparietalis Yan Liu, S. M. Ku & C.-I Peng. A, Habit. B. Portion of leaf upper surface, showing trichomes. C,

Stipules. D, Bracts. E, Staminate flower, face view; E¡¦, back view; E¡¦¡¦, side view. F, Stamens. G, Carpellate flower, face view; G¡¦,

side view. H, Serial cross sections of ovary. I, Fruit, side view; I¡¦, back view. J, Seeds. (All from C.-I Peng 20327, HAST).

220

Botanical Studies, Vol. 47, 2006

Figure 10. Begonia semiparietalis Yan Liu, S. M. Ku & C.-I Peng. A, B, Habit and habitat. C, Leaf, abaxial surface of leaf.

D, Leaf, cross section, showing trichomes. E, Leaf margine. F, Cross section of leaf in LM, showing trichome morphology on

adaxial surface. G, Stipule. H, Bracts, left to right, showing one of the first to third bracts. I, Staminate flower. J, Carpellate

flower, side view. K, Carpellate, face view. L, M, Fruits. N, Cross sections of ovary. O, Seed SEM micrograph. (All from C.-I

Peng 20327, HAST).

KU et al. ¡X Four new species of

Begonia

sect.

Coelocentrum

in China

221

free, yellow, 3-4.8 mm long, apically C-shaped; stigmatic

band slightly spiraled. Capsule nodding, stipe 11-15 mm

long, fruit body 7-10 mm long, ca. 4 mm thick, reddish

when fresh, apex with persistent styles; lateral wings

1.5-2.3 mm tall; abaxial wing crescent-shaped or nearly

so, 4-5 mm tall. Seeds numerous, brown, ellipsoid or

broadly so, 0.45-0.5 mm long, 0.26-0.3 mm thick, chalazal

end rounded, micropylar end obtuse or slightly constricted,

outer periclinal walls of mature seeds concave; collar

cells elongated, straight, nearly rectangular, 10-14 cells

in a ring, occupying 1/4-2/3 of seed length. Somatic

chromosome number, 2n = 30 (Figure 3).

Additional specimens examined. CHINA. Guangxi

Zhuangzu Autonomous Region: Chungzuo Shi, Fusui

Xian, Bapen Xiang, Bapen Reserve, limestone hill,

valley or hill slope, sparse forest, elev. ca. 110 m, 18

Aug 2004, Comprehensive Expedition Team of White-

headed Langur Reserve B0095 (IBK); Chungzuo Shi,

Fusui Xian, Bapen Xiang, Nongyixiu, 22¢X27¡¦46¡¦¡¦N, 107

¢X52¡¦39¡¦¡¦E (type locality), Ching-I Peng et al. 20327,

20327-B (HAST).

Ecology. On limestone hills in broad-leaved forests.

Distribution. Southwestern Guangxi, China (Figure 4).

Etymology. The specific epithet is derived from its

semi-parietal placentation.

Phenology. Flowering August to December; fruiting

October to February. In cultivation, B. semiparietalis

just started to flower in late March at the time this

manuscript was sent to the printer.

Notes. Begonia semiparietalis is somewhat similar

to B. bonii Gagnep., differing in the leaves having white

maculation along the main veins and the upper surface

sparsely setose-pilose; ovaries and fruits long glandular-

pilose; placentation parietal on upper half of ovary and

axile on lower half of ovary. Detailed morphological

comparison is shown in Table 1.

Acknowledgments. We thank David E. Boufford (A/GH)

for improving the manuscript; Qiner Yang (PE) for the

Latin diagnosis; Wai-Chao Leong and Huan-Yu Chen

(HAST) for field assistance. This study was supported in

part by the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation to Yan

Liu (IBK) and grants from the National Science Council

and Academia Sinica, Taiwan, to Ching-I Peng (HAST).

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