A NEW RECORDED SPECIES Begonia wenshanensis C.M. Hu ex C.Y. Wu & T.C. Ku (Begoniaceae) FOR THE FLORA OF VIETNAM

Abstract

Vietnam is one of the richest areas in the diversity of Begonia (Begoniaceae) in Mainland Southeast Asia with more than 90 recorded species. In this study, we recorded an additional species of Begonia for the flora of the country. The specimens of newly recorded species, Begonia wenshanensis C.M. Hu ex C.Y. Wu & T.C. Ku were collected from 2019 to 2021 in Phia Oac – Phia Den National Park of Cao Bang Province, and Hoang Lien National Park of Lao Cai Province. The characteristics of morphology, phenology, distribution and ecology, collectively with colour illustrations of the newly recorded species were provided. The morphology characters of the plants in Phia Oac – Phia Den National Park show different with the type specimens, the origin description, and the plants in Hoang Lien National Park in glabrous outer petals, wider and cleft inner petals of the staminate flowers. This research has contributed to the diverse species of Begoniaceae in Vietnam up to 93 species.