Begonia lushaiensis C.E.C.Fisch., 1928

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 : 60-61

Begonia lushaiensis C.E.C.Fisch. [sect. Diploclinium ]

Fig. 38

Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information Kew 1928: 273 ( Fischer 1928). – Type: India, Mizoram, Lushai Hills, Sialsuk, Jul. 1927, Parry 39 (lecto-: K000761472).

Citations in other publications

Fischer (1938: 98), Kumar (2002: 645), Uddin (2007: 594), Hughes (2008: 83).

Other material examined

INDIA: Mizoram: Lushai Hills, Nov. 1927, Parry 700 ( K); Lushai Hills, Aijal, Sep. 1927, Parry 39 ( K 000761471).

Description

Tuberous, erect, monoecious herb, 10–30 cm high. Stem: slender, 2–5 mm wide, sparsely to densely pilose, internodes 3–10 cm long. Stipules: ovate, ca 10 × 5 mm, puberulent on the reverse, semipersistent. Leaves: petioles 2–5 cm long, pilose; lamina deltoid-ovate, basifixed, base cordate with lobes not overlapping, 2–8 × 1–4 cm, asymmetric, upper surface green, sparsely puberulous, underside green, sparsely pilose on veins mostly, venation palmate, midrib 1.5–5 cm long; margin crenate to dentate, with sparse hairs; apex short acuminate. Inflorescence: racemose, axillary to terminal, several; peduncle densely pilose, central axis 5–12 cm long, branching up to 15 times, secondary cymes branching ca 3 times, primary 3–11 mm long, secondary 1–4 mm long, with 2– 4 female flowers and 4– 10 male flowers, protandrous, becoming male towards the apex of the inflorescence; bracts sub-orbicular, 7–8 × 5–7 mm, densely puberulous, margin dentate, semi-persistent. Male flower: pedicel 10 mm long, sparsely puberulous to glabrous; tepals 4; outer tepals orbicular, 5–10 × 5–10 mm, dark pink, pilose on reverse near base, margin entire; inner tepals lanceolate, ca 5 × 3 mm, dark pink, glabrous; androecium with 10–15 stamens, symmetric; filaments 1 mm long, unequal, slightly fused at base; anther oblongelliptic, 2 mm long, not hooded, connective not extended. Female flower: pedicel 10–15 mm long, glabrous; bracteoles absent; tepals 4–5, equal, rounded to oblong-ovate, outer tepals 5–10 × 4–6 mm, dark pink, pilose on reverse near base, margin entire, inner tepals similar yet smaller and glabrous; ovary 3-locular, placentae bifid; capsule oblong-ellipsoid, ca 5 mm long, glabrous, with one long triangular wing and two short triangular-oblong wings; styles 3, shallowly forked, U-shaped, deciduous. Fruit: pendulous; capsule oblong-ellipsoid, 7–10 × 3–4 mm, glabrous; wings extending along the pedicel, subequal; longest wing triangular, 5–15 × 5–10 mm; shortest wings triangular-oblong, 4–8 × 7–10 mm.

Distribution and phenology

Mizoram; also in Myanmar; 1200–1300 m. Flowering: July to September; fruiting: September to October.

Conservation status

Least Concern. The species has an EOO of 4,360 km 2 and an AOO of 32 km 2 potentially categorising this species as endangered. However, it is found in two national parks and has had several recent collections made in Myanmar. The specimens are split between two locations along the Arakan Mountains which has ample suitable habitat for this species suggesting it is under collected. The species has also been collected from the Natma Taung National Park of Myanmar and the Blue Mountain National Park of Mizoram.

Remarks

This species is endemic to the Arakan mountain range which borders India and Myanmar. The description is also based on specimens from Myanmar. Begonia lushaiensis is most closely allied to B. pedunculosa , but can easily be distinguished by its deltoid-ovate rather than lanceolate leaves.

The species is here reinstated as a separate species from B. modestiflora Kurz ( Kurz 1871) after being erroneously synonymised ( Hughes 2008). Begonia lushaiensis is quite distinct in having larger flowers that are dark pink, and more conspicuous broader dentate bracts.

Figures

Fig. 38. Map showing the location of B. lushaiensis C.E.C.Fisch. specimens.