Begonia pedunculosa Wall., 1830

Camfield, Rebecca & Hughes, Mark, 2018, A revision and one new species of Begonia L. (Begoniaceae, Cucurbitales) in Northeast India, European Journal of Taxonomy 396, pp. 1-116 : 73-76

Begonia pedunculosa Wall. [sect. Diploclinium ]

Figs 46–47

Plantae Asiaticae Rariores: 82 ( Wallich 1830). – Type: India, Meghalaya, Khasi Hills, Cherrapunji ‘Chura Poonji’, Aug. 1836, Smith 653, Wallich Cat. No. 3672A (lecto-: K-W, barcode K001110761, here designated; isolecto-: K000761406).

Citations in other publications

Wallich (1831: 129, 3672), Clarke (1879: 639), Clarke (1881: 118), Fischer (1938: 98), Grierson (1991: 243), Kumar (2002: 648), Uddin (2007: 594), Dash (2010: 38), Das et al. (2013: 236), Verma et al. (2013: 179).

Other material

INDIA: Meghalaya: Jaintia Hills, 20 Nov. 1872, Clarke 18328 ( E); Khasi Hills, Sep. 1885, Mann s.n. (ASSAM n.v.); Khasi Hills, Cherrapunji, 15 Jul. 1952, Koelz 30572 ( MICH); ibid., 6 Jul. 1952, Koelz 30457 ( MICH); ibid., 28 Sep. 1868, Clarke 5141 ( BM); ibid., 28 Jul. 1946, Ward 16026 ( BM 000075861, E); ibid., Aug. 1828, Smith 202 ( K 001110762); Khasi Hills, Dumpep, 23 Aug. 1949, Ward 18794A ( BM); Khasi Hills, Laitlyngkot, 28 Jul. 1949, Koelz 23280 ( MICH); Khasi Hills, Mairang, 30 Oct. 1872, Clarke 19154A ( BM); ibid., Oct. 1855, Schlag. s.n. ( BM); Khasi Hills, Mansmai, 23 Sep. 1886, Clarke 45100 ( BM); Khasi Hills, Mawphlang, 20 Sep. 1953, Chand 7235 ( MICH); ibid., 20 Oct. 1952, Chand 6497 ( MICH); ibid., 21 Aug. 1952, Chand 6436 ( MICH); ibid., 24 Aug. 1954, Chand 8042 ( MICH); ibid., 10 Sep. 1949, Chand 2201 ( MICH); ibid., 17 Sep. 1952, Chand 6465 ( MICH); ibid., 17 Jul. 1953, Koelz 33319 ( MICH); ibid., 18 Aug. 1952, Koelz 31154 ( MICH); ibid., 8 Aug. 1949, Ward 18728 ( BM); ibid., Aug. 1973, Yandell 279 ( K); Khasi Hills, Mawryngkneng, 24 Sep. 1951, Koelz 28599 ( MICH); ibid., 18 Oct. 1951, Koelz 28882 ( MICH); ibid., 31 Oct. 1951, Koelz 28966 ( MICH); ibid., 31 Oct. 1951, Koelz 28962 ( MICH); Khasi Hills, Sohra Rin, 17 Nov. 1872, Clarke 19034 ( K); Khasia, Hooker & Thomson s.n. ( BM 000075871, E, K); Shillong, 12 Jul. 1949, Ward 18647 ( BM). Mizoram: Lumtai, Jun. 1926, Parry 43 ( K); ibid., Parry 44 ( K n.v.).

Description

Tuberous, erect, monoecious herb, (5–) 10–20 cm high. Stem: slightly woody at the base, slender, 1–3 mm wide, sparsely pilose, internodes 2–6 cm long. Stipules: lanceolate, 2–5 × 1–3 mm, glabrous, semi persistent. Leaves: petiole 5–18 mm long, pilose; lamina lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, basifixed, base truncate to shallow cordate or cuneate on one side cordate on the other, 4–12 × 2–5 cm, asymmetric, upper surface green, sometimes with a red centre along the midvein, sparsely pilose all over or on veins only, underside red-purple, pilose all over, denser on veins, venation palmate-pinnate, midrib 3.5–11 cm long; margin double-dentate or dentate, with hairs; apex acuminate. Inflorescence: cymose, axillary to terminal, many; peduncle puberulous, branching 2–4 times, primary 6–13 cm, secondary 4–9 mm, tertiary 3–8 mm, quaternary 3–4 mm, with 4– 8 female and 4– 6 male flowers; bracts lanceolate, 2–8 × 1–2 mm, margin with hairs, deciduous. Male flower: pedicel 3–16 mm long, puberulous to glabrous; tepals 4; outer tepals oblong-elliptic to orbicular, 4–8 × 3–6 mm, white to dark pink, glabrous, margin entire; inner tepals oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 3–6 × 1–2 mm, white to dark pink, glabrous, entire; androecium with 10–13 stamens, symmetric; filaments 0.5–1 mm long, unequal, fused at base into a short column; anthers oblong elliptic, 1 mm long, dehiscing through slits longer than half the length of the anther, not hooded, connective not extended. Female flower: pedicel 6–10 mm long, puberulous to glabrous; bracteoles absent; tepals 4–5, equal, oblong elliptic to obovate- orbicular, outer tepals 4–6 × 2–4 mm, pink to dark pink, glabrous, margin entire, inner tepals similar yet smaller; ovary 3-locular, capsule oblong-ellipsoid, 2–5 × 2–4 mm, glabrous, with three unequal triangular wings; styles 3, shallowly forked once and twisted once, persistent. Fruit: pendulous; capsule oblong-ellipsoid, 3–9 × 3–7 mm, glabrous; wings extending along the pedicel, subequal, rounded at the tips, longest wing rounded triangle, 7–12 × 5–9 cm, shortest wings oblong, 4–6 × 5–9 mm.

Distribution and phenology

Arunachal-Pradesh, Mizoram and Meghalaya; also in Bhutan; 400–1850 m. Flowering: June to October; fruiting: July to October.

Conservation status

Data Deficient. More data is required on the populations of the Khasi Hills where there has been extensive deforestation, although there is still some remaining habitat in this area due to several national parks and reserved forests.

Remarks

This species has a characteristic leaf shape and is relatively easily identifiable vegetatively. Its closest ally in the study area is B. lushaiensis which has leaves that are glabrous below and more triangular in shape. Begonia lushaiensis differs further in having a distinctive terminal paniculate inflorescence.

Figures

Fig. 46. Map showing the location of B. pedunculosa Wall. specimens.

Fig. 47. Illustration of B. pedunculosa Wall. by Vishnupersaud (Wallich 1830). 1. Male flower, front view. 2. Male flower, reverse view. 3. Female flower, front view. 4. Female flower, reverse view. Image from the Biodiversity Heritage Library, digitized by the Peter H. Raven Library.