Begonia postarii Kiew
국표에 없다.
- Gard. Bull. Sing. 50: 165, pl.1. (1998)
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This name is reported by Begoniaceae as an accepted name in the genus Begonia (family Begoniaceae).
The record derives from WCSP (data supplied on 2024-11-15) which reports it as an accepted name (record 362708)
Diagnostic Description
NOTES. It is a striking species in its broad softly hairy leaves with long inflorescences held above the leaves with many tiny deep red male flowers. It is the most commonly collected species from DVCA. Previously it was known only from limestone hills along the Kinabatangan River. Compared with the Kinabatangan population that has fruits 1 × (0.9–)1.3 cm, the DVCA population has broader fruits 1–1.2 × 1.4–1.7 cm but otherwise there are no significant differences between the two populations.
NOTES. It is a striking species in its broad and softly hairy leaves with long inflorescences, held above the leaves with many tiny deep red male flowers.
Morphology
Cane-like begonia, 40–60 cm tall, beginning to flower at 20 cm tall, hispid with white (sometimes red) hairs 1–3 mm long on the stem, stipules, petioles, lamina (both upper and lower surfaces), bracts, inflorescence, and ovary. Stems erect, reddish, c. 8 mm diameter. Stipules foliaceous, broadly elliptic, c. 25 × 15 mm, keeled, margin entire with a dense fringe of hairs, apex rounded or slightly acute, persistent. Leaves alternate, distant, oblique; petiole reddish, (4–)6–8 cm long; lamina plain pale green above and beneath, soft and thin in life, thinly papery when dry, ovate, asymmetric, (8–)11(–17) × 7–9(–12.5) cm, broad side 4–9 cm wide, base cordate, basal lobe rounded, (2.7–)6–8 cm long, margin minutely dentate, apex cuspidate, acumen 1.25–1.5 cm long; venation pinnate, 4–5 veins on each side of the midrib, branching twice, 2 pairs veins at base, 1 vein in basal lobe, veins slightly impressed above, prominent beneath. Inflorescences protogynous, racemose, erect and reaching above the leaves, 9.5–26.5 cm long, peduncle 5.5–7 cm long, lowest 1–2 branches, 1.5–3.5 cm long with 2–3 female flowers, upper branches reddish, 1.5–3 cm long with many male flowers. Bracts pale green, broadly oval, c. 15 × 10 mm, margin minutely toothed. Bracteoles pale green tipped red, broadly ovate, c. 3 × 4 mm with dentate margin each tooth tipped by a long glandular hair. Male flowers: pedicel to 8 mm long; tepals 4, outer two white tinged pink merging to cherry red towards centre or deep pink or red with a white margin, elliptic, 7–8 × 4.5–5 mm, entire, apex rounded, conspicuously hirsute outside, inner pair glabrous, narrowly lanceolate, 7 × 1.3–2 mm; stamens 23–35, cluster conical, stalk c. 2 mm long, filaments c. 0.5 mm long, anthers yellow, c. 1 × 0.5 mm, apex emarginate. Female flower: pedicels reddish, 7–10 mm long; ovary broadly ovate, c. 3 × 4 mm, wings crimson, c. 2 mm wide, locules 3, placentas bilamellate with many ovules on both surfaces; tepals 5, pink, margin entire, apex rounded, outer broadly ovate, c. 8 × 4 mm, inner narrower, c. 4.5 × 2.5 mm; styles c. 3 mm long, divided to base, bifurcating, stigma papillose forming a continuous twisted band. Capsules broadly ovate, (0.8–)1.2 × (0.9–)1.3(–1.7) cm, wings 3, equal, rounded proximally, 3 mm wide, thinly papery, dehiscing between the locule and wing, pendent, pedicel thin, thread-like, 1–2 cm long. Seeds ovoid, c. 0.4–0.3 mm.
Habitat
Lowland mixed dipterocarp forest, particularly common on banks above rivers at low elevations but also widespread and collected from rocky areas, ultramafic soils (Gunung Nicola) and lower montane forest to 800 m elevation; elsewhere in deep shade at the base of limestone hills at about 100 m elevation.
Lowland mixed dipterocarp forest. Previously, it was known only from limestone hills along the Kinabatangan River (Kiew, 1998).
Distribution
Borneo. Endemic to Sabah.
Borneo. Endemic to Sabah. Found in the Kinabatangan District (Bukit Panggi); Lahad Datu District (Danum Valley Conservation Area); and Tawau District.
Begonias 3 | Vertical Garden Patrick Blanc