Raphiocarpus begoniifolius (H.Lév.) B.L.Burtt

Nguyen, Cuong Huu, Wen, Fang, Pham, Toai Minh, Nguyen, Yen Thi, Bui, Thanh Minh, Bui, Doi The, Nguyen, Khang Sinh & Averyanov, Leonid V., 2023, The checklist of Raphiocarpus species (Gesneriaceae, Didymocarpinae) in the flora of Vietnam with the description of a new species, R. bicallosus, Phytotaxa 616 (3), pp. 223-234 : 225

3. Raphiocarpus begoniifolius (H.Lév.) B.L.Burtt in Weber & Burtt (1998: 173), Nguyen & Wen (2018: 1424), Vu (2018: 46)

≡ Didissandra begoniifolia Léveillé (1913: 495) , Wang et al. (1998: 282).

Type: — CHINA. Guizhou: Kouy-Tcheou, Route de Po-Mey-Tse-Hen , 1906, Esquirol 972 (holotype E00155134 photo!).

Distribution:—In Vietnam, it was found in the provinces of Ha Giang and Lao Cai ( Vu 2018) and in S China (Guizhou, Hubei, Guangxi, and Yunnan).

Ecology and phenology:—It grows in evergreen broad-leaved lowland forests on granite at elevations of 1600– 1700 m a.s.l. Flowers in September–October.

Conservation status:—According to available data, the area of this species includes large territories in southern China and northern Vietnam, which may reach more than 1 000 000 km 2. Meanwhile, the species is surely habitat dependent and can decrease its population fast under deforestation and degradation of primary plant communities. In this connection, species conservation status may be tentatively estimated as Near Threatened according to IUCN criteria (2023).

Additional specimens examined:— VIETNAM. Ha Giang: Quan Ba District, Cao Ma Po Commune, Vang Cha Phin Village , 1650–1700 m, around point 104º49´05.4´´E, 23º05´24.3´´N, 14 September 2017, K. S.Nguyen et al. NSK 977 , NSK 981 ( HN) . CHINA. Yunnan: Xichou County, Fadou , 1480 m, 3 October 2007, Liu Ende 1927 ( US photo).