Begonia vulgare S.Julia & Kiew

Sang, Julia, Kiew, Ruth & Yiing, Ling Chea, 2018, The Begonia flora of Gunung Mulu and Gunung Buda National Parks, Sarawak, Borneo, including five new species, Phytotaxa 381 (1), pp. 58-79 : 73-74

17. Begonia vulgare S.Julia & Kiew

Phytotaxa 99(1) (2013) 26; Kiew et al., Guide to Begonias of Borneo (2015) 278. Type: — MALAYSIA. Borneo. Sarawak. Marudi District: Gunung Mulu NP, Deer Cave , 2 Oct 2007, Julia et al. S 99208 (holotype SAR!) .

Distribution: — MALAYSIA. Borneo. Sarawak. Endemic in Gunung Mulu NP where it is very common and widespread.

Habitat: —In both limestone and non-limestone lowland forests to 460 m elevation in deeply to lightly shaded areas.

Additional specimens examined: — MALAYSIA. Borneo. Sarawak. Marudi District: Gunung Mulu NP – Near boardwalk to Deer Cave, Julia et al. S 99209 (SAR), S 99210 (SAR), SFC 6677 (SAR); Trail to Kuala Litut, Julia et al. S 99211 (SAR), SFC 6692 (SAR); Melinau Gorge, Sub-camp 5, Lewis 315 (K, SAR); Bukit Agung, Julia et al. SFC 2815 (SAR); Lobang Cina, Julia et al. SFC 3012 (SAR), Julia et al. SFC 2806 (SAR); Camp 4, Ling et al. SFC 6913 (SAR); Camp 1, Ling et al. SFC 6933 (SAR); trail to Clearwater Cave, Julia et al. SFC 6669 (SAR); Camp 5, below Melinau Gorge, Julia et al. SFC 6683 (SAR); trail from Kuala Terikan to Camp 5, Julia et al. SFC 6686 (SAR); Sungai Lansat, Julia et al. SFC 6805 (SAR); Subcamp 2, downstream of Sungai Paku, Lewis 292 (K, KEP); path from subcamp 5, Lewis 304 (K).

Notes: —Bushy cane-like begonia to 2 m tall with a dense paniculate inflorescence that is longer than the petiole, male flowers with 2 tepals, and large glabrous fruits, 35–45 mm long, 17–27 mm wide with rounded wing tips. The leaves are slightly oblique, narrowly ovate, 13.5–18 × 6.5–12.5 cm, broad side 4–6.5 cm, asymmetric with a small basal lobe 1–1.5 cm long, and range in colour from dull green or yellowish green or sometimes bronzy above, are covered on both surfaces by very sparse stiff short hairs, and have pinnate venation.