A Suspected novel species of begonia from Mt. Banahaw de Lucban, Quezon, Philippines

Abstract

Mt. Banahaw de Lucban in Quezon, Philippines, is part of the Banahaw mountain complex, known for housing a high diversity and endemicity of flora and fauna. During a recent attempt at a taxonomic update of the genus Begonia in the area, an unknown species was found. An analysis of the collected sample’s vegetative and reproductive parts was conducted to assess its identityas a potential novel species. It belongs to section Petermannia by the presence of upright stems, leaves having sparse, <1 mm white hairs at maturity, maroon leaf margin on a baxial surface, wide sinus (5-7 mm), pink flowers with fuchsia base, and pink orbicular ovary with subequal wings. The closest affinity of the unknown species in Petermannia is Begonia contracta, but is different in terms ofits habitat, phenology, and several morphological characters such as the stipuleapex and shape, petiole color, leaf blade shape, adaxial leaf surface, bractpresence, tepal color and shape, and ovary shape and color.