Begonia x malipoensis S.H.Huang & Y.M.Shui, 1994

Tian, Dai-Ke, Xiao, Yan, Li, Yan-Ci & Yan, Ke-Jian, 2020, Several new records, synonyms, and hybrid-origin of Chinese begonias, PhytoKeys 153, pp. 13-35 : 13

Begonia x malipoensis S.H.Huang & Y.M.Shui Fig. 12

- Begonia malipoensis S.H.Huang & Y.M.Shui, Acta Bot. Yunnanica 16:333, 1994.

Note.

Begonia malipoensis was described for the first time in 1994 and its type locality is Douchidian of Malipo Xian, Yunnan Province ( Huang and Shui 1994). In the wild, it grows closely with B. hemsleyana Hook.f. ( Curtis et al. 1899) (Fig. 12F ) and B. versicolor Irmsch ( Irmscher 1939) (Fig. 12E, F ). Later, Daike Tian ( Tian 1999) conducted field surveys on the diversity of B. versicolor in southeastern Yunnan and found a few plants of B. malipoensis in the same locality and at Daweishan National Nature Reserve of Pingbian County, Yunnan Province. Based on the very limited number of individuals and intermediate morphology between B. hemsleyana and B. versicolor , B. malipoensis is considered a natural hybrid and this supposition was confirmed by artificial cross experiments ( Tian 1999). From natural hybrids, one type, with densely white-spotted leaves, was selected as a new cultivar, B. × malipoensis 'White Snow’ ( Tian et al. 2001). The hybrid status of B. × malipoensis was further supported by molecular evidence ( Tian et al. 2018).

The hybrid B. × malipoensis is derived from either B. hemsleyana × B. versicolor or B. versicolor × hemsleyana . No significant differences were observed in the hybrid when either B. hemsleyana or B. versicolor acts as the mother plant. However, based on a presumed closer distance with mother plants and molecular data ( Tian et al. 2017), more wild hybrids occurred with B. hemsleyana as a mother plant in Malipo county, while more with B. versicolor as mother plant were observed in a hybrid zone in Pingbian county.

Distribution and phenology.

B. × malipoensis has only been seen in Malipo and Pingbian counties in Yunnan Province. Flowering June to July, fruiting July to September.

Conservation status.

Critically Endangered (C2a(i)). It is extremely narrowly distributed with less than 100 mature individuals and can only be found in the hybrid zones of two locations in China. The hybrid plants are continuously collected by horticultural researchers or plant enthusiasts, mainly for ornamental purposes.

Remarks.

B. × malipoensis is difficult to bloom under ex-situ cultivation. When the seeds from an artificial cross between B. hemsleyana and B. versicolor were sown, the plants produced had various types of leaf colour and colour patterns ( Tian 1999).

Figures

Figure 12. Begonia x malipoensis and its parents (B. hemsleyana and B. versicolor) (Photos by Daike Tian) A habitat of a natural hybrid zone of B. versicolor x B. hemsleyana B-E variation of B. x malipoensis F B. hemsleyana G, H B. versicolor with variegated and pure green leaves I, J comparison of B. x malipoensis (middle two leaves) and its parents B. hemsleyana (left) and B. versicolor (right two leaves) (I adaxial view J abaxial view).