Begonia obversa C.B.Clarke, 1890

Camfield, Rebecca & Hughes, Mark, 2018, A revision and one new species of Begonia L. (Begoniaceae, Cucurbitales) in Northeast India, European Journal of Taxonomy 396, pp. 1-116 : 65-67

Begonia obversa C.B.Clarke [sect. Platycentrum ]

Figs 41–42

Journal of the Linnean Society, Botany 25: 26 ( Clarke 1890). – Type: India, Manipur, West Manipur, Makui [Mookoo], 30 Nov. 1885, Clarke 42315A (holo-: K000634619).

Citations in other publications

Deb (1961: 285), Kumar (2002: 647), Uddin (2007: 594), Dash (2010: 39).

Other material

INDIA: Mizoram: Zotethlang, Singh 94594 (n.v.).

Description

Rhizomatous, monoecious herb, 15–25 cm high. Rhizome: 5–10 mm wide, tomentose. Stipules: not seen. Leaves: petiole 20–24 cm long, red tomentose; lamina broadly ovate to ovate, basifixed, base cordate with lobes not overlapping, 15–21 × 14 cm, slightly asymmetric, upper surface green, pilose all over, underside pale green, tomentose on veins, venation palmate, midrib ca 15.5 cm long; margin denticulate; very hairy, apex acuminate. Inflorescence: cymose, axillary, few; peduncle puberulous, branching twice, primary peduncle 13 –15 cm, secondary 5–10 mm, with 2– 4 female and 2– 4 male flowers; bracts lanceolate. Male flower: flowers not seen. Female flower: flowers not seen; ovary capsule oblate-obovoid, puberulous, with three subequal oblong wings; 2-locular, placentae bifid; stigma deciduous. Fruit: recurved; capsule oblate, 10–15 × 8–10 mm, puberulous; wings extending along the pedicel slightly, subequal, dorsal wing oblong rounded, 2–6 × 10–15 mm, side wings oblong, ca 4 × 10 mm.

Distribution and phenology

Manipur and Mizoram; ca 350 m. Flowering: September to October; fruiting: November.

Conservation status

Data Deficient. Type exact locality of the type collection at ‘Mookoo’ is not confirmed, and we have not seen the second specimen to confirm its identity.

Remarks

Begonia obversa is known from two collections; the type collection from Manipur and one recent record from Mizoram which we have not been able to confirm. The subequal wings and fruit shape are quite distinct from the other species in Begonia sect. Platycentrum , as depicted in Clarke (1890). We have interpreted Makui as being the type locality, spelt ‘Mookoo’ on the herbarium label.

This species name is wrongly applied in Chauhan (2000) as the specimens cited are the syntypes for B. adscendens .

Figures

Fig. 41. Map showing the location of B. obversa C.B.Clarke specimens.

Fig. 42. Illustration of B. obversa C.B.Clarke by J. Allen (Clarke 1890). a. Fruit dissection. b. Diagram of fruit cross-section. Image courtesy of RBGE library and Lynsey Wilson.