Begoniaparvibracteata, a new species in ﻿ Begonia sect. ﻿ Platycentrum (Begoniaceae) from Guangxi of China, based on morphological and molecular evidence

Xin-Xin Feng; Xiao-Feng Huang; Yu-Ni Huang; Zhi-Xian Liu; Ren-Kun Li; Jin-Ye Zhou; Wei Guo; Xiao-Yan Chen; Dai-Ke Tian

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.214.90004

Begoniaparvibracteata, a new species in Begonia sect. Platycentrum (Begoniaceae) from Guangxi of China, based on morphological and molecular evidence

PhytoKeys. 2022 Nov 22:214:27-38. doi: 10.3897/phytokeys.214.90004. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Xin-Xin Feng¹, Xiao-Feng Huang¹, Yu-Ni Huang¹, Zhi-Xian Liu¹, Ren-Kun Li², Jin-Ye Zhou³, Wei Guo⁴, Xiao-Yan Chen⁵, Dai-Ke Tian^{6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Dongguan Botanical Garden, Dongguan 523086, China Dongguan Botanical Garden Dongguan China.
² Enshi Dongsheng Plant Development Co. Ltd., Enshi 445000, China Enshi Dongsheng Plant Development Co. Ltd. Enshi China.
³ Flower Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530007, China Flower Research Institute, Guangxi Academy of Agricultural Sciences Nanning China.
⁴ Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering, Guangzhou 510225, China Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering Guangzhou China.
⁵ Guangdong Joco Eco-Environment Co., Ltd, Dongguan 523012, Guangdong, China Guangdong Joco Eco-Environment Co., Ltd Dongguan China.
⁶ Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 3888 Chenhua Road, Songjiang, Shanghai 201602, China Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai China.
⁷ Shanghai Key Laboratory for Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, 3888 Chenhua Road, Songjiang, Shanghai 201602, China Shanghai Key Laboratory for Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden Shanghai China.

Abstract

The previously reported begonias in a limestone forest of Guangxi mainly belong to Begoniasect.Coelocentrum Irmscher. In this article, we described and illustrated a new species in sect. Platycentrum (Klotzsch) A.DC., Begoniaparvibracteata X.X.Feng, R.K.Li & Z.X.Liu, which was discovered in a karst forest of south-western Guangxi. The begonia shows high morphological similarity to B.subhowii S.H. Huang and B.psilophylla Irmscher, but differs from the latter two in its narrower oblique-ovate asymmetric leaf blade, 4 (occasionally 6) tepals of pistillate flower and smaller membranous inflorescence bracts. Molecular phylogenetic analysis, based on ITS sequence data, supports the new species as monophyletic and distinct from B.subhowii and B.psilophylla. Considering its narrow distribution and the disturbance of human activities, the conservation status of new taxon is evaluated as "Vulnerable" (VU B1, B2 ab (i, iv, v), D2) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Keywords: ITS; morphology; new taxon; southern China; taxonomy.

Xin-Xin Feng, Xiao-Feng Huang, Yu-Ni Huang, Zhi-Xian Liu, Ren-Kun Li, Jin-Ye Zhou, Wei Guo, Xiao-Yan Chen, Dai-Ke Tian.