A revision and one new species of Begonia L. (Begoniaceae, Cucurbitales) in Northeast India Author Camfield, Rebecca Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, 20 a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH 5 3 LR, United Kingdom. RCamfield@rbge.org.uk Author Hughes, Mark Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh, 20 a Inverleith Row, Edinburgh, EH 5 3 LR, United Kingdom. MHughes@rbge.org.uk text European Journal of Taxonomy 2018 2018-01-19 396 1 116 journal article 10.5852/ejt.2018.396 2b95a851-e1bf-4bdd-9cce-441ddc4135d2 2118-9773 3787049 Identification keys for Begonia of Northeast India In order to make the account easier to use by non-specialists and to aid identification of sterile material, the species are divided into seven groups based on overall leaf similarity, and each group given a key. First choose a group by comparing leaf outlines in Figs 2–4 , and choosing one of the seven groups. Several species appear in more than one group due to variation in leaf morphology within species. Fig. 2. Leaf tracings. A . Group 1: scalloped, lobed or incised leaves. B . Group 2: ovate, asymmetric, and entire leaves. Fig. 3. Leaf tracings. A . Group 3: lanceolate, dentate and very asymmetric leaves. B . Group 4: linear to lanceolate, and entire to denticulate leaves. Fig. 4. Leaf tracings. A . Group 5: ovate and symmetric to slightly asymmetric leaves. B . Group 6: ovate, asymmetric and shallow dentate to denticulate leaves. C . Group 7: lanceolate (deltoid) and symmetric leaves. Group 1 – Leaves scalloped, lobed or incised ( Fig. 2A ) 1. Leaves peltate .......................................................................................................... B. josephi A.DC. – Leaves basifixed ................................................................................................................................ 2 2. Leaves deeply incised up to ¾ of way to petiole base ...................................................................... 3 – Leaves scalloped, lobed or shallowly incised up to ¼ of way to petiole base .................................. 6 3. Plant with main stem, leaves rarely over 20 cm long, inflorescence from leaf axils ........................ 4 – Plant stemless, leaves at least 20 cm long, inflorescence from rhizome ........................................... 5 4. Plant up to 100 cm high, generally hirsute, petiole 10–30 cm long, flowers and fruit red setose ..................................................... B. difformis (Irmsch.) W.C.Leong, C.I Peng & K.F.Chung – Plant up to 200 cm high, generally glabrous, petiole 5–15 cm long, flowers and fruit glabrous ................................................................................................................ B. sikkimensis A.DC. 5. Petiole with sparse hairs, lobes branched with acuminate tips, male flowers with 4 tepals, female flowers with 4–6 tepals, main wing up to 3 cm long, oblong side wings 3–5 mm long that do not extend along pedicel .......................................................................... B. koelzii R.Camfield sp. nov. – Petiole with dense hairs, lobes linear with caudate tips, male flowers with 2 tepals, female flowers with 2 tepals, main wing up to 2 cm long, curved side wings 1–2 mm long that extend along pedicel ........................................................................ B. shilendrae Rekha Morris & P.D.McMillan 6. Stem, petioles and tepals glabrous .................................................................................................... 7 – Stem, petioles, and tepals with hairs ................................................................................................. 8 7. Leaves broadly dentate (scalloped), anther connective not extended, styles 2 .. B. megaptera A.DC. – Leaves acutely dentate, anther connective extended, styles 3 ......................... B. sikkimensis A.DC. 8. Stipules < 15 mm long, flowers yellow, styles 3, fruit capsule < 1 cm long ..... B. flaviflora H.Hara – Stipules> 15 mm long, flowers white to pink, styles 2, fruit capsule> 1 cm long .......................... 9 9. Leaf upper surface hispidulous on veins only, outer tepals red setulose on reverse, fruit capsule red setulose, longest wing curved and up to 3 cm long ............................................................................ ................................................................ B. difformis (Irmsch.) W.C.Leong, C.I Peng & K.F.Chung – Leaf upper surface hirsute/strigose or verrucose all over, outer tepals tomentose on reverse, fruit capsule glabrous or with tomentose, longest wing oblong and up to 2 cm long .. B. palmata D.Don Group 2 – Leaves ovate, entire/undulate and asymmetric ( Fig. 2B ) 1. Leaves glabrous above (or with very sparse microscopic hairs) ...................................................... 2 – Leaves hairy above ........................................................................................................................... 6 2. Plant with a main stem, up to 120 cm high, leaves not variegated, primary peduncle 2–5 mm ........ ................................................................................................................ B. roxburghii (Miq.) A.DC. – Plant rhizomatous, up to 30 cm high, leaves variegated or not, primary peduncle 5–20 cm .......... 3 3. Leaves broadly ovate, smoothly bullate, styles 2, winged fruit ........................................................ 4 – Leaves narrowly ovate, not bullate, styles 4, wingless fruit ............................................................. 5 4. Lamina variegated with a broad ring, flowers white to pink ........................................... B. rex Putz. – Lamina variegated with markings between main veins, flowers yellow .............. B. xanthina Hook. 5. Leaves usually variegated, outer tepals 1–3 cm long and acute, stamens in a globose cluster, fruit 2 cm long and rhomboid-elliptic ............................................................................. B. burkillii Dunn – Leaves uniform pale green, outer tepals 2–5 cm long and rounded, stamens in loose rosette, fruit 1 cm long and obpyramidal ................................................................................. B. handelii Irmsch. 6. Leaves variegated ............................................................................................................................. 7 – Leaves not variegated ..................................................................................................................... 10 7. Plant 20–30 cm high, leaves ovate with ring/band markings .......................................................... 8 – Plant < 20 cm , leaves ovate-orbicular with spot/dot markings ........................................................ 9 8. Leaf surface bullate, peduncles, flowers and fruit glabrous, anther connective acuminate, wing rounded oblong ................................................................................................................ B. rex Putz. – Leaf surface with strigose/verrucose, peduncles, flowers and fruit with hairs, anther connective rounded, longest wing crenulated ...................................................................... B. annulata K.Koch 9. Leaves 4–10 cm long, upper leaf surface densely villose, 2–3 flowers, male outer tepals 15–20 mm long, 30–40 stamens, 3 styles ............................................................................ B. scintillans Dunn – Leaves 10–30 cm long, upper leaf surface sparsely puberulous, 10–20 flowers, male outer tepals 10 –17 mm long, 15–25 stamens, 2 styles ........................................................... B. iridescens Dunn 10. Plants> 40 cm .................................................................................................................................11 – Plants < 40 cm ................................................................................................................................ 12 11. Plant covered in long red hairs ( 5 mm long), peduncles 5–10 cm ....................... B. aborensis Dunn – Plant with sparse short brownish or red pubescence on petioles and under surface of leaf, peduncles 15 –25 cm ...................................................................................... B. silletensis (A.DC.) C.B.Clarke 12. Plant with sparse puberlous hairs, styles 4, fruit wingless ..................... B. tessaricarpa C.B.Clarke – Plant with dense tomentose or villose hairs, styles 2–3, fruit winged ........................................... 13 13. Leaves large, 15–20 cm long, apex acuminate, primary peduncle> 10 cm , fruit with equal wings, 2–6 mm long ................................................................................................. B. obversa C.B.Clarke – Leaves small, 5–15 cm long, apex acute, primary peduncle < 5 cm , fruit with unequal wings, longest wing 12 –30 mm long ........................................................................................ B. thomsonii A.DC . Group 3 – Leaves lanceolate, dentate and very asymmetric ( Fig. 3A ) 1. Leaves> 15 cm long, flowers white ................................................................................................. 2 – Leaves < 15 cm long, flowers usually pink ..................................................................................... 3 2. Plant with red hirsute hairs, fruit 2-locular, covered in red hairs ..................... B. cathcartii Hook. f. – Plant with puberulous hairs, fruit 3-locular, glabrous ......... Begonia × chungii C.I Peng & S.M.Ku 3. Leaves deltoid, male flowers with over 10 stamens .............................. B. lushaiensis C.E.C.Fisch. – Leaves lanceolate, male flowers with less than 10 stamens ............................ B. pedunculosa Wall . Group 4 – Leaves linear to lanceolate, entire to denticulate ( Fig. 3B ) 1. Plant small, up to 20 cm high, stipules 5–7 mm long, flowers with striped outer tepals ................... ................................................................................. B. hatacoa var. meisneri (C.B.Clarke) Golding – Plant large, up to 2 m high, stipules 5–15 mm , tepals not striped .................................................... 2 2. Plant pendent, petioles < 2 cm , peduncles branching many times, peduncle> 3 cm long, 20–40 stamens connective not extended, styles 2, fruit with 1 enlarged wing ............................................ 3 – Plant erect, petioles 2–10 cm long, peduncles branching only a few times, peduncle < 3 cm , around 60 or more stamens with connectives extended, styles 3–4, fruit wingless or ridged ..................... 4 3. Leaves 2–4 cm wide, male flowers with 4 tepals, pedicel on female flower 1 cm ............................ ............................................................................................................. B. griffithiana (A.DC.) Warb. – Leaves 4–11 cm wide, male flowers with 2 tepals, pedicel on female flower 2–3 cm ...................... .............................................................................................................. B. nepalensis (A.DC.) Warb. 4. Plant monoecious, styles 3, fruit spherical, with 3 locules ................................ B. longifolia Blume – Plant dioecious, styles 4, fruit rhomboid, with 4 locules ..................................... B. acetosella Craib Group 5 – Leaves ovate and symmetric to sub-symmetric ( Fig. 4A ) 1. Plant with an erect stem, peduncles arising from leaf axils .............................................................. 2 – Plant without an erect stem, peduncles arising from rhizome or tuber ............................................ 3 2. Leaves 2–7 cm long, tepals under 5 mm long, stamens 8–12 with a short connective, female flowers with 5–6 tepals, fruit wings oblong, straight edged .................................... B. wengeri C.E.C.Fisch. – Leaves 5–20 cm long, tepals 5–10 mm long, stamens ± 30 with a very long connective, female flowers with 4–5 tepals, fruit wings rounded oblong ....................................... B. brevicaulis A.DC. 3. Upper surface of leaves glabrous ...................................................................................................... 4 – Upper surface of leaves with sparse to dense hairs .......................................................................... 7 4. Stipules over 1 cm long, flowers with striped outer tepals,> 30 stamens, styles 2 ............................ ...................................................................................................... B. hatacoa Buch. -Ham. ex D.Don – Stipules under 1 cm , flowers without stripes, up to 20 stamens, styles 3 ......................................... 5 5. Leaves 3–10 cm long, tepals ca 5 mm long ....................................................... B. ovatifolia A.DC. – Leaves (5–) 10–20 cm long, tepals 5–20 mm long .......................................................................... 6 6. Leaves puberulous below, stipules 2 mm long, tepals with pale fine hairs, stamens 20, female flowers with 4–5 tepals, longest fruit wing 2.5–3 cm ......................................... B. adscendens C.B.Clarke – Leaves sparse pilose below, stipules 5–6 mm long, tepals with dark hairs, stamens 8–10, female flowers with 3–4 tepals, longest fruit wing 1–1.5 cm .......................................... B. labordei H.Lév. 7. Stipules> 5 mm long, fruit capsule glabrous ................................................................................... 8 – Stipules < 5 mm long, fruit capsule covered in hairs ....................................................................... 9 8. Leaves up to 25 cm long, tepals with dark hairs, stamens 8–10, styles 3, longest fruit wing curved ................................................................................................................... B. labordei H.Lév. – Leaves 3–15 cm long, tepals with pale fine hairs, stamens 15–40, styles 2, longest wing triangular ............................................................................................................... B. wattii C.B.Clarke 9. Leaves variegated, 3–16 cm long, petiole 5–12 cm , outer tepals serrate, pink, fruit with long fine white hairs, longest fruit wing triangular, 20–24 mm long ............................................ B. picta Sm. – Leaves uniform green, 5–30 cm long, petioles 2–8 cm , outer tepals entire, white, fruit with scattered simple hairs, longest fruit wing rounded, 8–16 mm long ................................. B. brevicaulis A.DC. Group 6 – Leaves ovate, shallowly dentate to denticulate and asymmetric ( Fig. 4B ) 1. Leaf margin denticulate .................................................................................................................... 2 – Leaf margin shallowly, broadly dentate ............................................................................................ 3 2. Plant with an erect stem, with coarse red hairs, tepals 15–25 mm long, stamens 60–80, styles 3, fruit with thick red hairs, longest wing oblong ......................................................... B. cathcartii Hook. f. – Plant stemless, with fine hairs, tepals 5–15 mm long, stamens 15–20, styles 2, fruit glabrous, longest wing triangular ................................................................................................... B. wattii C.B.Clarke 3. Leaves with short tomentose hairs above, 5–15 cm long .................................. B. annulata K.Koch – Leaves glabrous (may have very sparse microscopic hairs) above, 10–25 cm long ....................... 4 4. Plant caulescent, styles 2 .................................................................................. B. megaptera A.DC. – Plant acaulescent, styles 3–4 ............................................................................................................ 5 5. Leaves unvariegated, primary peduncle under 10 cm , outer tepals 2–5 cm long, female flowers with 4 tepals, styles 4, fruit wingless ........................................................................... B. handelii Irmsch. – Leaves variegated with pale spots, primary peduncle over 10 cm , outer tepals up 2 cm long, female flowers with 5–8 tepals, styles 3, fruit winged .................................................... B. beddomei Hook. Group 7 – Leaves lanceolate (deltoid), symmetric ( Fig. 4C ) 1. Plant with an erect stem, inflorescences arising from leaf axils or terminal ...................................... ................................................................................................................ B. lushaiensis C.E.C.Fisch. – Plant stemless, inflorescences arising from rhizome ........................................................................ 2 2. Plant hairy, tepals serrate, female flowers with 4–5 tepals, stamens 30 ........................ B. picta Sm. – Plant glabrous to slightly hairy, female flowers with 2–3 tepals, stamens <20 .............................. 3 3. Leaves 3–13 × 2–7 cm , stamens 15–20, dioecious, tepals glabrous, fruit with 3 equal rounded wings, tepals persistent ................................................................... B. dioica Buch. -Ham. ex D.Don – Leaves 9–20 × 6–16 cm , stamens 8–10, monoecious, tepals hairy, fruit with 1 long triangular wing and 2 short wings, tepals deciduous ..................................................................... B. labordei H.Lév.