Begonia amparoi Blasco, Alejandro, Tandang & Rubite, 2022

Blasco, Freddie A., Alejandro, Grecebio Jonathan D., Tandang, Danilo N., Vales, Marianita B. & Rubite, Rosario R., 2022, Begonia amparoi (Begoniaceae, section Baryandra) a new species from Linungaw Twin Islands, Surigao del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines, Phytotaxa 549 (2), pp. 136-140 : 137

Begonia amparoi Blasco, Alejandro, Tandang & Rubite , sp. nov. § Baryandra ( Figs. 1 & 2 )

Type:— PHILIPPINES: Mindanao, Surigao del Sur, Tandag City, Linungaw Twin Islands (main island), elevation ca. 170 m, on limestone rocks in semi-shaded broadleaf forest at seashore, 30 May 2013, Freddie A . Blasco 13–945 (holotype PNH, isotype STCH) .

Diagnosis:— Begonia amparoi resembles B. calcicola Merr. in habit and having thick rhizomatous brown stems but differs in petioles with 3 mm red hairs from the top near the junction of lamina becoming glabrous down the base (vs. with numerous, scattered, brown, fimbriate 3mm palea); glabrous and longer leaves 33−35 cm (vs. hairy 10–20 cm); long peduncles, 68 cm (vs. 45 cm) and larger capsules 15−17 × 17−19 mm, broadly ovate, apex roundly acute, base obtuse (vs. 8 × 12 mm, obovoid, apex truncate, base rounded).

Lithophytic, rhizomatous, perennial, monoecious herb. Rhizome brown, rhizomatous, ca. 10 cm or longer, 2.5−3 cm in diameter, glabrous, internodes 1 cm long. Stipules persistent, asymmetric, red, triangular, 22−25 × 12–15 mm, adaxially glabrous, abaxially puberulous, keel attached near the right side with fleshy red hairs from the base to the apex, margin entire, apex aristate, arista 5−8 mm long. Leaves on curved petioles; petiole red, terete 40−43 cm long, 12−15 mm in diameter, with 3 mm red hairs from the top near the junction of lamina becoming glabrous down the base; lamina thick and fleshy, broadly ovate, glabrous, 33−35 × 26–28 cm; base cordate and overlapping, margin repand, shallowly denticulate almost entire, reddish brown with tiny bristles, apex mucronate; adaxially dark green, abaxially pale green; venation palmate, primary veins ca. 10. Inflorescence axillary, arising directly from the rhizome, erect, ca. 72 cm long; dichasial cymes branching 4−6 times; peduncle greenish when young reddish when mature, ca. 68 cm long, glabrous. Bracts caducous, broadly ovate, glabrous, margin entire, apex obtuse, 5−6 × 4–5 mm. Staminate flower: pedicel 10−12 mm long, glabrous, 4 tepals, uniformly very pale pink or white, outer tepals orbicular, 10−11 × 8–9 mm; inner tepals obovate 6−7 × 4–5 mm, stamen 30−35, filaments ca. 1 mm long, united at the base; anthers yellow, obovate, apex rounded, ca. 1 mm long. Pistillate flower pedicel 15−17 mm long, glabrous; ovary green, glabrous, 12 × 15 mm (wings included), 3 locular, placentae bifid; wings 3 unequal surrounding the ovary, pale pink to light green; tepals not found. Capsule nodding, 15−17 × 17−19 mm (wings included), pedicel 20−22 mm long, drying pale brown, glabrous, broadly ovate, apex roundly acute, base obtuse, straight with 3 unequal wings, apex truncate, base rounded; abaxial wing 15−18 × 10–12 mm, angular to rounded; lateral wings 10−11 × 5–6 mm shallowly angular.

Additional specimen examined:— PHILIPPINES. Mindanao: Surigao del Sur, Tandag City, Linungaw Twin Islands (grotto island), 30 May 2013, Freddie A. Blasco 13–931 ( PNH, STCH) .

Phenology:— Observed flowering and fruiting in May (dry season) to December (wet season).

Etymology:— The specific epithet “ amparoi ” is derived from Dr. Amparo A. Perez to honor her 50 years of unending service to Saint Theresa College of Tandag. Educator, dean, haciendera, philanthropist, and a dear friend.

Distribution and Ecology:— Endemic to the province of Surigao del Sur, Mindanao, Philippines. It grows on limestone rocks in semi-shaded broadleaf forest at the seashore of Linungaw Twin Islands, where it is found on both the main island (which is the type locality) and the grotto island.

Proposed IUCN category:— Vulnerable (VU) under D1 & D2 (<1000 individuals and <5 locations). At the moment it is only known from two sites on Linungaw Twin Islands. The species is locally known as iba-iba due to its sour taste and is quite uncommon. Hence, we can consider any collection for consumption would cause a potentially harmful reduction in the number of individuals of the species ( IUCN, 2019).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Begonia amparoi Blasco, Alejandro, Tandang & Rubite. A, Rhizome; B, Habit; C, Habitat; D, Leaf abaxial view; E, Leaf margin; F, Inflorescence; G, Staminate flower side view; H, Staminate flower front view; I, Young fruits (Photos of the type collection).

FIGURE 2. Begonia amparoi Blasco, Alejandro, Tandang & Rubite.A, Habit; B, Staminate flower front view; C, Staminate flower side view; D, Stamens; E, Pistillate flower bud; F, Young fruit with style and stigma; G, Young fruits; H, Cross section of the ovary. (Illustration by Danilo N. Tandang, based on the type collection).