Taxonomic studies on Begonia (Begoniaceae) in Myanmar I: three new species and supplementary description of Begonia rheophytica from Northern Myanmar
Author
Maw, Mya Bhone
Author
Ding, Hong-Bo
Author
Yang, Bin
Author
Win, Pyae Pyae
Author
Tan, Yun-Hong
text
PhytoKeys
2020
138
203
217
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.138.38721
journal article
http://dx.doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.138.38721
1314-2003-138-203
37174C2A6257592B83BED9D2E2CAA79B
Begonia rheophytica M. Hughes, Edinb. J. Bot. 76(2): 2. 2019
Figure 5
Type.
Myanmar. Hills east of the Mali Hka, 2000-3000 ft, xii 1930,
Kingdon-Ward 9067
(holotype: BM000896328; isotypes: BM000896327, NY02652766).
Description.
Herb, rhizomatous, firmly rooted to rock.
Rhizome
2.5-4.0 cm long and 0.5-1.0 cm in diam., internode 0.2-0.7 cm long.
Stipule
reddish brown, eventually deciduous, narrowly triangular, 0.7-1.0
x
0.3-0.5 cm, keeled, margin entire, glabrous.
Leaf
petiole deep red or deep red to green, turns to brown in mature leaves, sparsely or densely white pilose, 4-17 cm in length, deeply grooved above;
blade
symmetric, narrowly lanceolate, 13.4-18.2(-21)
x
2.2-4.0 cm, base attenuate, sometimes unequal, margin red, toothed, teeth tipped by a short ciliate, sometimes undulate, apex elongate; adaxially dark green, glabrous; abaxially pale green, veins densely or sparsely white pubescent; venation pinnate, 5-7 pairs of veins, reddish green in young leaves, red in mature leaves.
Inflorescence
axillary, cymose, peduncle erect, 14-20 cm long, reddish green or pale reddish brown, sparsely hairy;
bract
caducous, broadly ovate-triangular (or ovate-lanceolate), 6-8
x
3-5 mm, purplish red to dark yellow-green, margin entire, hairless.
Staminate flower
: pedicel 1.9-2.1 cm, pale pink (or) pinkish white, sparsely hairy; bracteoles ca. 3 mm, narrowly ovate, dark yellow green, margin entire, hairless, soon falling,
tepals
4, unequal, inner 2, elliptic, 1.4-1.7
x
0.8-1.0 cm, pure white to pinkish, margin entire, outer tepals 2, broadly ovate, 1.1-1.8
x
1.1-1.5 cm, pure white or pinkish, tip rounded, margin entire; androecium actinomorphic; stamens numerous, filaments fused at base; anther golden yellow, narrowly oblong, apex rounded.
Pistillate flower
: pedicels 2-3 cm, reddish or purplish red, hairless;
bracteole
narrowly ovate 6-8
x
3-5 mm, dark yellow green (sometimes crystal white), soon falling;
tepals
5-6, unequal, outer 2, equal, broadly ovate, tip rounded, 0.7-1.2
x
0.8-1.2 cm, pure white or white to rosy pink, inner 3 or 4, unequal, 3 larger, 0.8-1.2
x
0.7-1.0 cm, elliptic, pure white or pinkish, tip rounded, 1 smaller, ca. 0.8
x
0.3 cm, pure white, crescent, styles 2, free, stigma bifid with twisted bands, greenish yellow, 4-5 mm long, ovary purplish red, ca. 9-15 mm long, 2-4 mm in diam., wings 3, unequal, placentation axile, locules 2, placentae 2 per locule.
Capsule
nodding, 3-winged, unequal, major wing 8-12 mm long, lateral wings 2-3 mm long.
Figure 5.
Begonia rheophytica
M. Hughes (photographed by H.B. Ding and Y.H. Tan)
A
habitat
B
staminate flower (front view)
C
pistillate flowers
D
inflorescences
E
staminate flowers (front and back view)
F
single leaf (back view)
G
single leaf (front view)
H
pistillate flower
I
ovary with gynoecium, pedicel and bracts
J
ovary with gynoecium
K
bracts
L
pedicel
M
androecium with pedicel
N
tepals of staminate flower
O
tepals of pistillate flower
P
capsule
Q-R
cross section of ovary.
Distribution.
Only found in Putao District, Kachin State, Northern Myanmar.
Additional specimens examined.
Myanmar, Kachin State, Putao District, Camp 1 to Namti (Camp 2), understory herbs in tropical rain forest,
27°24'36.80"N
,
97°39'24.38"E
, 801 m, 12 December 2018,
Myanmar Exped. M3427
(HITBC!; RAF!); Kachin State, Putao District, near around Camp 1, understory herbs in tropical rain forest,
27°24'18.70"N
,
97°36'24.18"E
, 850 m, 11 December 2018,
Myanmar Exped. M3334
(HITBC!; RAF!); Kachin State, Putao District, humid rocks near streams or near caves by waterfall of tropical montane forest,
27°24'46.31"N
,
93°39'36.28"E
, 808 m, 16 December 2017,
Myanmar Exped. M3747
(HITBC!, RAF!).
Note.
This species was originally described by
Hughes et al. (2019)
from the male flowering plant only. Here, we provide a supplementary description of
B. rheophytica
with a detailed monograph of female flowers from Putao, Kachin State, Northern Myanmar.