Skip to main content

Begonia wuzhishanensis (sect. Diploclinium, Begoniaceae), a new species from Hainan Island, China

Abstract

Background

Hainan is the largest island of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot and has the best preserved and most extensive tropical forests in China. A recent study on distribution of endangered species in China identifies southern Hainan as one of eight hotspots for plant conservation in the country. In continuation of our studies of Asian Begonia, we report the discovery of an attractive undescribed species, B. wuzhishanensis C.-I Peng, X.H. Jin & S.M. Ku, from Hainan Island.

Results

Living plant of the new species, Begonia wuzhishanensis, was collected in 2009 and cultivated in the experimental greenhouse for morphological and cytological studies. It flowered consecutively in 2012 and 2013 in the experimental greenhouse, Academia Sinica. It was assigned to the large, heterogeneous sect. Diploclinium. The chromosome number of this new species was determined to be 2nā€‰=ā€‰26.

Conclusions

A careful study of literature, herbarium specimens and living plants, both in the wild and in cultivation, support the recognition of the new species Begonia wuzhishanensis, which is described in this paper. Begonia wuzhishanensis is currently known only from Fanyang, Wuzhishan Mountain in the center of the island. A line drawing, color plate, and a distribution map are provided to aid in identification.

Background

Hainan is the largest island of the Indo-Burma Biodiversity Hotspot and has the best preserved and most extensive tropical forests in China (Deng et al. [2008]; Zang and Ding [2009]). The island harbors the Hainan Island Monsoon Rain Forest Ecoregion, one of the 26 terrestrial habitats of China internationally recognized by the World Wildlife Fund for its global ecological importance (Francisco-Ortega et al. [2010]). A recent study on distribution of endangered species in China identifies southern Hainan as one of eight hotspots for plant conservation in the country (Zhang and Ma [2008]). In Hainan eight species of Begonia, four of which endemic (B. hainanensis Chun & F. Chun, B. howii Merr. & Chun, B. peltatifolia H.L. Li, and B. sublongipes Y.M. Shui) to the island, were documented (Gu et al. [2007]). In continuation of our studies of Asian Begonia (e.g., Chung et al., [2014]; Hughes et al. [2011]; Nakamura et al. [2013]; Peng et al. [2012][2013][2014]; Rubite et al.: Begonia chingipengii [sect. Baryandra, Begoniaceae], a new species from Luzon Island, Philippines, submitted), we report the discovery of an additional undescribed species, B. wuzhishanensis, endemic to the island.

Methods

Chromosome preparations

Somatic chromosomes of the new species, Begonia wuzhishanensis (Ku & Jin 2093) were examined using root tips. The methods of pretreatment, fixation and staining for chromosome observations followed Peng et al. ([2012]). Classification of the chromosome complements based on centromere position at mitotic metaphase follows Levan et al. ([1964]). Voucher specimens have been deposited in Herbarium, Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei (HAST).

Cryo scanning electron microscopy

A fresh leaf of Begonia wuzhishanensis (Ku & Jin 2093) was dissected and attached to a stub. The samples were frozen with liquid nitrogen slush, then transferred to a sample preparation chamber at āˆ’160Ā°C and etched for 15 min at āˆ’85Ā°C. After etching, the temperature reached āˆ’130Ā°C for sample fracturing and coating. After coating, the samples were transferred to the SEM chamber and observed at āˆ’160Ā°C with a cryo scanning electron microscope (FEI Quanta 200 SEM/Quorum Cryo System PP2000TR FEI).

Results and discussion

Species description

Begonia wuzhishanensis C.-I Peng, X.H. Jin & S.M. Ku, sp. nov. (sect. Diploclinium) ā€”TYPE: CHINA, Hainan Province, Wuzhishan City, Fanyang Township, Nanyi Village, on wet, mossy rocky slope by a stream in forest, elev. ca. 180 m, 18Ā°52'53"N, 109Ā°20'33"E, 10 October 2009. Type specimens pressed from plants brought back from the field and cultivated in the experimental greenhouse, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, 3 December 2013. Shin-Ming Ku & Xiao-Hua Jin 2093 (holotype: HAST; isotype: PE). äŗ”ęŒ‡å±±ē§‹ęµ·ę£  Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 1
figure 1

Begonia wuzhishanensis C.-I Peng, X.H. Jin & S.M. Ku. A, Habit; B1, Leaf adaxial surface; B2, Leaf abaxial surface; C, Stipule; D, Bract; E1, Staminate flower, side view E2, Staminate flower, face view; F, Androecium; G1, Carpellate flower, side view; G2, Carpellate flower, face view; H, Style and stigmas; I, Capsule. All from Ku & Jin 2093 (HAST).

Figure 2
figure 2

Begonia wuzhishanensis C.-I Peng, X.H. Jin & S.M. Ku. A, Habit, leaf showing iridescence; B, Inflorescence; C, Elongate tuber (arrow); D, Erect stem; E, Stipules; F, Bracts; G, Leaf adaxial surface; H, Leaf abaxial surface; I, Male flower, face view; J, Male flower, side view; K, Female flower, face view; L, Female flower, side view; M, Cross-section of ovary; N, Plant with subterranean, branched, elongate tubers (arrow); O, Vegetative propagation. All from Ku & Jin 2093 (HAST).

Herbs, monoecious, deciduous perennial, with elongate tubers. Tubers prostrate on soil surface or underground, to 7 cm long, 0.9 cm across, branched or unbranched. Stems erect, succulent, 0.3ā€“0.5 cm across, to 20 (āˆ’25) cm high at anthesis, branched from lower nodes. Leaves alternate, petioles 2.5ā€“4 cm long, 0.4 cm across; stipules triangular, margin fimbriate; leaf blade nearly symmetric, cordate, 3.5ā€“8 cm long, 3ā€“7.5 cm wide, chartaceous, adaxial surface green, slightly bullate, hirtellous, venation dark green and impressed, iridescent; leaf abaxial surface pale, veins reddish or red, manifestly elevated and hirtellous, margin irregularly double-serrate. Inflorescences axillary, dichasial cymes branched 2ā€“3 times, peduncle 10ā€“18 cm long, ca. 0.3 cm in diameter, hirtellous; lower bracts ovate, ca. 0.5 cm long, 0.3 cm wide, margin fimbriate, abaxially densely hirtellous, eventually deciduous. Staminate flower: pedicel sparingly hirtellous to nearly glabrous, 2ā€“4 cm long, tepals 4, pinkish, outer 2 broadly ovate, ca. 1 cm long, 0.8 cm wide, abaxially glabrous to hirtellous, inner 2 lanceolate, ca. 0.8 cm long, 0.4 cm wide, glabrous; androecium zygomorphic, ca. 0.3 cm across; stamens ca. 25ā€“30; filaments free, 0.1ā€“0.2 cm long; anthers 2-locular, obovoid. Carpellate flower: pedicel sparingly hirtellous to subglabrous, 1.3ā€“1.6 cm long, tepals 3, outer 2 broadly ovate to suborbicular, ca. 0.8 cm long, 0.8 cm wide, inner 1 lanceolate, ca. 0.6 cm long, 0.4 cm wide; ovary trigonous-ellipsoid, ca. 0.7 cm long, 0.5 cm across, white, glabrous, 3-winged, 3-locular; placentas septal; styles 3. Capsule nodding, ca. 1.6 cm long, 1.2 cm wide, wings unequal, triangular, abaxial wing ca. 1.2 cm tall, lateral wings ca. 0.4 cm tall, styles persistent.

Additional specimens examined

CHINA. Hainan Province, Wuzhishan City, Fanyang, in forest, elev. ca. 200ā€“500 m, 15 October 2003, Xiao-Hua Jin 5208; ca. 300ā€“500 m, 20 October 2003, Xiao-Hua Jin 5284 (PE).

Chromosome cytology

Somatic chromosomes at metaphase of B. wuzhishanensis (Ku & Jin 2093, HAST) were determined to be 2nā€‰=ā€‰26 (Figure 3). The 26 chromosomes gradually varied from ca. 1.0 to 2.0 Ī¼m long in length. A pair of the longest chromosomes has centromeres at submedian; several chromosomes at median, however, those of smaller chromosomes could not be determined. Satellites were not observed.

Figure 3
figure 3

Somatic chromosomes at metaphase of B. wuzhishanensis (2 nā€‰=ā€‰26, from Ku & Jin 2093 , HAST).

Begonia wuzhishanensis belongs to the heterogeneous section Diploclinium, which comprises ca. 130 species (Doorenbos et al. [1998]; Hughes and Pullan [2007]). To our knowledge, 16 species of the section were cytologically studied. They exhibited a wide variation of chromosome numbers as 2nā€‰=ā€‰22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 36, 38, 46, 52, 82. Somatic chromosome number of 2nā€‰=ā€‰26 was previously reported in two species: B. acaulis Merr. & L.M. Perry (Papua New Guinea, Legro and Doorenbos [1969]) and B. grandis Dryand. (China and Japan, Nakata et al. [2012]).

Leaf anatomy and vestiture

Adaxial surface with scarce multiseriate trichomes (Figure 4A); cross section ca. 220 Ī¼m thick, epidermis single-layered on both surfaces, hypodermis absent, palisade tissue and spongy tissue both single-layered (Figure 4B); abaxial surface with multiseriate trichomes on nerves, stomata complex single, helicocytic, nearly flat (Figure 4C,D).

Figure 4
figure 4

Leaf SEM microphotographs of B. wuzhishanensis . A, Adaxial surfaces; B, Cross section; C, Abaxial surfaces; D, Stomata complex.

Ecology and distribution

Wuzhishan (1,876 m), located in the center of Hainan, is the highest mountain on the island. Begonia wuzhishanensis is a rare species found at lower part (ca. 200ā€“500 m altitude) of Wuzhishan (Figure 5). It occurs on wet mossy rocks by streams in tropical forest.

Figure 5
figure 5

Distribution of Begonia wuzhishanensis (ā˜…) in Hainan Island.

Etymology

The specific epithet is derived from the type locality, Wuzhishan ('Five-fingered Mountain', literally) of Hainan Island, China.

Phenology

Flowering from August to December; fruiting from October to December.

Cultivation

Begonia wuzhishanensis can be grown from seeds. Alternatively, they can be propagated by the elongate tubers or leaf cuttings with ease (Figure 2O).

Notes

Begonia wuzhishanensis has prominent elongate tubers that are rarely encountered in the genus. This feature resembles those observed in B. lithophila C.Y. Wu (sect. Reichenheimia; Li [2006]) from Yunnan, China and B. woodii Merr. (sect. Baryandra) from Palawan, the Philippines (Figure 6). The perennating tubers of B. woodii have been erroneously interpreted as short rhizomes in the past (Merrill [1925]; Hughes et al. [2010]).

Figure 6
figure 6

Elongate tubers of Begonia woodii Merr. (Philippines, Palawan, Taytay, Lake Danao, Peng 23479 , HAST).

Placentation of B. wuzhishanensis is noteworthy: its ovary is 3-locular with 2 placentas each growing from middle of the septa (Figures 1J, 2M, 7B). Such placentation was classified as 'septal' in African Begonia (Figure 7; Reitsma [1984]). Septal placentation was also observed in part of the ovary of some species in the Asian sect. Coelocentrum (e.g. B. aurantiflora; C.-I Peng, Yan Liu & S.M. Ku, Peng et al. [2008]: Figure one; B. bamaensis; Yan Liu & C.-I Peng, Liu et al. [2007]: Figure one; B. Ɨbreviscapa;C.-I Peng, Yan Liu & S.M. Ku, Peng et al. [2010]: Figure one; B. debaoensis;C.-I Peng, Yan Liu & S.M. Ku, Ku et al. [2006]: Figure one; B. semiparietalis;Yan Liu, S.M. Ku & C.-I Peng, Ku et al. [2006]: Figure nine). With 3-locular ovaries, bifid placentas and perennating tubers, etc. but without axile placentation in B. wuzhishanenis (Figure 7B), we have tentatively placed it in the polymorphic and 'dust-bin' sect. Diploclinium (Rubite et al. [2013]). Further molecular phylogenetic studies to clarify its placement are underway.

Figure 7
figure 7

Placentations. A. Typical axile placentation (Begonia ravenii C.-I Peng & Y.K. Chen, sect. Diploclinium); B. Septal placentation (B. wuzhishanensis); C. Schematic drawing of septal placentation (adopted from Reitsma, [1984]: Figure 1D).

Begonia wuzhishanensis somewhat resembles B. obsolescens Irmsch. and B. fimbristipula Hance. Comparison of salient features of the three species is provided in Table 1.

Table 1 Comparison of Begonia wuzhishanensis , B. fimbristipula and B. obsolescens

Conclusions

A careful study of literature, herbarium specimens and living plants, both in the wild and in cultivation, support the recognition of the new species Begonia wuzhishanensis. It is currently known only from Fanyang, Wuzhishan Mountain in the center of Hainan island, China. Begonia wuzhishanensis is unique in having elongate tubers and septal placentation. It is tentatively assigned to sect. Diploclinium. Further studies to clarify its phylogenetic position are underway.

References

  • Chung K-F, Leong W-C, Rubite RR, Repin R, Liu Y, Peng C-I: Phylogenetic analyses of Begonia sect. Coelocentrum and allied limestone species of China shed light on the evolution of Sino-Vietnamese karst flora. Bot Stud 2014, 55: 1. doi:10.1186/1999ā€“3110ā€“55ā€“1 doi:10.1186/1999-3110-55-1 10.1186/1999-3110-55-1

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Deng F, Zang R, Chen B: Identification of functional groups in an old-growth tropical montane rain forest on Hainan Island, China. Forest Ecol Manag 2008, 255: 1820ā€“1830. 10.1016/j.foreco.2007.12.004

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Doorenbos J, Sosef MSM, de Wilde JJFE: The sections of Begonia including descriptions keys and species lists. Studies in Begoniaceae VI. Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands; 1998.

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Francisco-Ortega J, Wang Z-S, Wang F-G, Xing F-W, Liu H, Xu H, Xu W-X, Luo Y-B, Song S-Q, Gale S, Boufford DE, Maunder M, An S-Q: Seed plant endemism on Hainan Island: a framework for conservation actions. Bot Rev 2010, 76: 346ā€“376. 10.1007/s12229-010-9055-7

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Gu C, Peng C-I, Turland NJ: Begoniaceae. In Flora of China, vol 13. Edited by: Wu Z-Y, Raven PH, Hong D-Y. Science Press, Beijing & Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis; 2007:153ā€“207.

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Hughes M, Coyle C, Rubite RR: A revision of Begonia section Diploclinium (Begoniaceae) on the Philippine Island of Palawan, including five new species. Edinburgh J Bot 2010, 67(1):123ā€“140. 10.1017/S0960428609990266

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Hughes M, Pullan M: Southeast Asian Begonia. 2007. Database. Electronic publication accessible via . Accessed 7 Feb 2014 http://www.rbge.org.uk Database. Electronic publication accessible via . Accessed 7 Feb 2014

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Hughes M, Rubite RR, Kono Y, Peng C-I: Begonia blancii (sect. Diploclinium , Begoniaceae), a new species endemic to the Philippine island of Palawan. Bot Stud 2011, 52: 203ā€“209.

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Ku S-M, Liu Y, Peng C-I: Four new species of Begonia sect. Coelocentrum (Begoniaceae) from limestone areas in Guangxi, China. Bot Stud 2006, 47: 207ā€“222.

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Legro RAH, Doorenbos J: Chromosome numbers in Begonia 1. Netherlands J Agric Sci 1969, 17: 189ā€“202.

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Levan A, Fredga K, Sandberg AA: Nomenclature for centromeric position on chromosomes. Hereditas 1964, 52: 201ā€“220.

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Li H-Z: Studies on conservation biology of Begonia sect. Reichenheimia in China. Ph. D. dissertation. Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming; 2006.

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Liu Y, Ku S-M, Peng C-I: Begonia bamaensis (sect. Coelocentrum , Begoniaceae), a new species from limestone areas in Guangxi, China. Bot Stud 2007, 48: 465ā€“473.

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Merrill ED: Additions to our knowledge of the Philippine flora I. Philipp. J. Sci 1925, 26(4):477ā€“483.

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Nakamura K, Rubite RR, Kono Y, Callado JR, Peng C-I: Begonia tandangii (Begoniaceae, section Baryandra ), a new species from Luzon Island, the Philippines. Phytotaxa 2013, 145(1):27ā€“37. http://dx.doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.145.1.3 10.11646/phytotaxa.145.1.3

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Nakata M, Ueno T, Li J-X, Li H-Z, Wang Z-L, Lu Y-X, Shen Y-G, Guan K-Y: Chromosome number and pollen fertility of Begonia grandis (Begoniaceae) from Japan and China. Bull Bot Gard Toyama 2012, 17: 23ā€“29.

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Peng C-I, Liu Y, Ku S-M: Begonia aurantiflora (sect. Coelocentrum , Begoniaceae), a new species from limestone areas in Guangxi, China. Bot Stud 2008, 49: 83ā€“92.

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Peng C-I, Liu Y, Ku S-M, Kono Y, Chung K-F: Begonia ā€‰Ć—ā€‰ breviscapa (Begoniaceae), a new intersectional natural hybrid from limestone areas in Guangxi, China. Bot Stud 2010, 51: 107ā€“117.

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Peng C-I, Ku S-M, Kono Y, Liu Y: Begonia chongzuoensis (sect. Coelocentrum , Begoniaceae), a new calciphile from Guangxi, China. Bot Stud 2012, 53: 283ā€“290.

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Peng C-I, Yang H-A, Kono Y, Chung K-F, Huang Y-S, Wu W-H, Liu Y: Novelties in Begonia sect. Coelocentrum: B. longgangensis and B. ferox from limestone areas in Guangxi, China. Bot Stud 2013, 54: 44. doi:10.1186/1999ā€“3110ā€“54ā€“44 doi:10.1186/1999-3110-54-44 10.1186/1999-3110-54-44

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Peng C-I, Wang H, Kono Y, Yang H-A: Begonia wui-senioris (sect. Platycentrum , Begoniaceae), a new species from Myanmar. Bot Stud 2014., 55: (in press) (in press)

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Reitsma JM: Placentation in Begonias from the African continent. Meded. Landbouwhogeschool Wageningen 1984, 83ā€“9: 21ā€“53.

    Google ScholarĀ 

  • Rubite RR, Hughes M, Alejandro GJD, Peng C-I: Recircumscription of Begonia sect. Baryandra (Begoniaceae): evidence from molecular data. Bot Stud 2013, 54: 38. doi:10.1186/1999ā€“3110ā€“54ā€“38 doi:10.1186/1999-3110-54-38 10.1186/1999-3110-54-38

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Zang R, Ding Y: Forest recovery on abandoned logging roads in a tropical montane rain forest of Hainan Island, China. Acta Oecol 2009, 35: 462ā€“470. 10.1016/j.actao.2008.12.006

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

  • Zhang Y-B, Ma K-P: Geographic distribution patterns and status assessment of threatened plants in China. Biodivers Conserv 2008, 17: 1783ā€“1798. 10.1007/s10531-008-9384-6

    ArticleĀ  Google ScholarĀ 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank Ms. Victoria McMichael, serials librarian of the Missouri Botanical Garden for providing useful references. This study was supported in part by grants from National Science Council and Academia Sinica, Taiwan to Ching-I Peng (HAST).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Ching-I Peng or Hsun-An Yang.

Additional information

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authorsā€™ contributions

CIP discovered the new species from PE herbarium, brought living materials into cultivation, and prepared the final version of the manuscript; SMK, guided by XHJ, collected living plants from the field and prepared the distribution map; HAY carried out morphological studies, prepared the color plate, and drafted earlier versions of the manuscript; YK carried out the cytological study; HYH assisted with morphological studies and prepared the line drawing; XHJ collected the new species in 2003 and 2009, and provided field data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Authorsā€™ original submitted files for images

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Peng, CI., Jin, XH., Ku, SM. et al. Begonia wuzhishanensis (sect. Diploclinium, Begoniaceae), a new species from Hainan Island, China. Bot Stud 55, 24 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1186/1999-3110-55-24

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1999-3110-55-24

Keywords