BEGONIA CATBENSIS 2021

This species of begonia was discovered in the karst islands of Cat Ba National Park during a feld visit in 2019. It belongs to a group within the genus found on limestone karst formations, which currently has 21 accepted species in Viet Nam, compared to just four described until 2007. Although similar to other species within this group, it is distinguished by having hairs on the slender stems that support the leaves, truncated leaves and leaf-like structures found near the base of these stems, and dense conical blister-like structures on the upper surface of the leaf blade, as well as some diferences in the fower structure. Named after the park in which it was found, the population recorded in 2019 is the only one currently known. With fewer than 200 mature individuals and a very limited distribution range, this species is considered rare, and the researchers who described it have assessed its conservation status as Endangered. Luckily, being within the national park ofers protection, so the population is thought to have been stable for at least two decades. It fowers and fruits in August, and can be found on semi-shady tops of small rocks and steep slopes under the broad-leaved evergreen forest in lowlands of the karst hills.

“The discovery of this beautiful begonia is the result of a rich collaboration between many organizations for which I am very grateful,” said Lina Dong of the Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Chinese Academy of Sciences, who worked with researchers from several Vietnamese institutions. “It was a great experience working together and I hope the friendships that developed during our feld work will continue well into the future.”

Dong, L.N., Nguyen, K.S., Shui, Y.M., Nguyen, H.Q., Xu, W.B. and Nguyen, X.K. (2021) Begonia catbensis (sect. Coelocentrum, Begoniaceae), a new species from northern Vietnam. PhytoKeys 179: 1-12. doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.179.65812