Begonia conipila Irmsch. ex 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 : 64-65

5. Begonia conipila Irmsch. ex Kiew

Gard. Bull. Singapore 53 (2001): 287; Kiew et al., Guide to Begonias of Borneo (2015) 84. TYPE — MALAYSIA. Borneo. Sarawak. Marudi District : Gunung Mulu NP [Mooloo], Low s.n. (Lectotype K!) .

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

Habitat: —Restricted to limestone habitats at 50–1200 m elevation on deeply shaded boulders, on steep screes, thick layers of moss or peat on limestone hills.

Additional specimens examined: — MALAYSIA. Borneo, Sarawak, Marudi District: Gunung Mulu NP – Basecamp 65 m, Carlo 102 (SAR); W side of Gunung Api, Stone 13693 (SAR); Basecamp, Kiew RK 535 (SAR), RK 537 (SAR); Gunung Api, Nielsen 502 (SAR), Chai 30054 (SAR), S 35700 (SAR), Anderson S 4287 (SAR), S 30732 (SAR); Sungai Melinau, Chew CWL 1055 (SAR), Yii & Talip S 58810 (SAR), S 58845 (SAR), Haegens & Klazenga 512 (SAR), Burtt & Wood s.n. (SAR), Stone 13598 (SAR); Gunung Mulu, Abang Mohtar S 49606 (SAR); Bukit Berar, Julia et al. S 99212 (SAR); Camp 5, Lewis 323 (SAR), Sirukit & Azam SFC 3003 (SAR); Deer Cave trail, Julia et al. S 99201 (SAR); Gua Angin, Argent et al. 871 (KEP); Lewis et al. 871 (SAR); Bukit Agung, Baie et al. SFC 2820 (SAR); Gunung Benarat, Baie et al. SFC 2834 (SAR), SFC 2836 (SAR), Sirukit et al. SFC 2840 (SAR), Julia et al. SFC 2802 (SAR), Long Bala, Yii & Talip S 58810 (SAR); Gunung Susu, Ling et al. SFC 6939 (SAR); Unspecified locality, Burtt B 8354 (SAR), Martin S 38257 (SAR), Abang Mohtar S 49606 (SAR).

Notes: —A very attractive species with small variegated leaves and creeping habit rooting at the nodes, its leaves are covered on the upper leaf surface by stiff hairs each raised on a small cone that give the leaf its rough surface. Leaves vary in colour from dark green or blackish purple above to pale green with dark green veins above. Its 2-tepaled male flower is sparsely hispid.