Che-Wei Lin

• Taiwan Forestry Research Institute

A detailed description and illustrations are provided for the new species, Aschistanthera phucanhensis, from Phu Canh Nature Reserve in Hoa Binh province, Northwest Vietnam, are presented in this work. This marks the second known species within the genus. The novel species is differentiated from its related species, the type species of this genus,...

Begonia triquetra, a new species endemic to the limestone karst regions of Son La province in Northwestern Vietnam, is described and illustrated here. This new species resembles B. xenos in its suberect habit, subpeltate lamina, 4-tepaled staminate flowers, and 2-locular ovary. However, B. triquetra differs significantly from B. xenos in having tri...

A new species of Begonia sect. Platycentrum, Begonia nahauensis, is described based on morphological characters. The new species is morphologically similar to B. auritalata, however, it is clearly distinct from the latter due to its petioles and ovary, which are densely covered with gland-tipped hairs (vs. non-glandular hairs), capsule with three c...

Begonis laxiflora is described as a new species endemic to Vietnam from granite boulder habitats in the Dakrong district. It is most similar to B. abbreviata in its creeping habit, broadly ovate leaves, persistent bracts, and the number of tepals in both staminate and pistillate flowers. The new species is different in its inflorescence having inte...

Oreocharis hapii, a new species endemic to Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam, is described and illustrated here. This species bears a superficial resemblance to O. cotinifolia in its elliptic leaves, campanulate corolla tube, and the stamens protruding from the tube. However, the new species differs in its stoloniferous habit (vs. absent stolon...

Sonerila quangnamensis, a new species from Truong Son Mountain Range, Vietnam, is described and illustrated here. Like S. plagiocardia, S. quangnamensis has obliquely ovate leaves, which are unequal in size within each pair. However, S. quangnamensis is obviously distinct in several characters: the cross-section of its stems and petioles is terete...

Sonerila dongii, a new species from Lam Dong province in South Vietnam, is described and illustrated here. The morphological characteristics of this new species distinguish it from any previously documented species in the Indochina region because it lacks a tuber and likely adapts to periodic drought seasons by utilizing its fleshy stems. Sonerila...

Primulina hoangmongii, a new species from Yen Bai Province of northern Vietnam, is described and illustrated. It is similar to P. albicalyx in its robust rhizome, rosette leaves, and yellow flowers. However, P. hoangmongii is clearly distinguished by its linear to narrowly-lanceolate bracts, 8–12 × 2–3 mm (vs. narrowly ovate to ovate, 18–25 × 9–14...

A new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae), B. dakrongensis, from Central Vietnam is described and illustrated. B. dakrongensis resembles B. abbreviata in its rhizomatous habit, short cymose-paniculate inflorescence with congested bracts, 4-tepaled staminate flowers, and 5-tepaled pistillate flowers. However, the new species markedly differs by having...

Begonia dakrongensis (Begoniaceae), a new species from Dakrong Nature Reserve, Quang Tri province in Central Vietnam

Four new species of Medinilla from Borneo, M. campana, M. flammea, M. purpureoviridis and M. rangkong are described and illustrated based on morphological characteristics. Medinilla campana most resembles M. rubicunda but differs from it by having campanulate hypanthium that thickens significantly towards the distal end (vs. cupuliform and not thic...

Thismia (Thismiaceae), whose distributions are currently known from Asia, Australia, and South America, is newly recorded in the Solomon Islands. Through extensive field explorations, three new species of Thismia were discovered in the rainforest of the Solomon Islands and are herein delineated as T. occasa, T. chicoreoides, and T. solomonensis, al...

A new monotypic genus, Quangnamia (Hamamelidaceae), and its species, Q. syncarpa, discovered in central Vietnam are described and illustrated. Quangnamia syncarpa is evergreen treelet or tree with non-stellate in-dumentum on vegetative and floral parts, glabrous twigs and leaves, axillary inflorescences in form of spadix-like many-flowered heads, h...

Begonia tui, a new species of sect. Coelocentrum, is described and illustrated here. It was collected during expeditions carried out on a limestone hill in Quang Binh Province, Central Vietnam. The new species is morphologically similar to B. mollissima in its rugose, widely ovate lamina. However, the new species can be distinguished by the margin...

Two new species of Begonia endemic to the Philippines are described from the province of Ilocos Sur, Northwestern Luzon: Begonia tiradpassensis (B. sect. Baryandra) from Tirad Pass, and Begonia bessangpassensis (B. sect. Petermannia) from the subsummit of Bessang Pass Natural Monument/Landmark. Based on IUCN Red List list criteria, B. tiradpassensi...

Begonia datii, a new species of B. sect. Coelocentrum from Central Vietnam is described. It resembles B. filiformis in its habit, leaf shape and texture, but it can be easily distinguished from the latter by its peduncle and inflorescence covered with villous hairs (vs. glandular-hispid), bracts caducous (vs. persistent or semi-persistent), tepals...

Two new species of Begonia endemic to the Philippines are described from the province of Ilocos Sur, Northwestern Luzon: Begonia tiradpassensis (B. sect. Baryandra) from Tirad Pass, and Begonia bessangpassensis (B. sect. Petermannia) from the subsummit of Bessang Pass Natural Monument/Landmark. Based on IUCN Red List list criteria, B. tiradpassensi...

A new species, Spatholirion cucphuongense (Commelinaceae) is described and illustrated from northern Vietnam. Morphologically it resembles to S. ornatum, but differs in its lamina with greyish-white markings on adaxial surface (vs. absent markings, sometimes ornamented when young with white markings), lower surface lateral veins glabrous (vs. dense...

Surveys in montane forests in northern Vietnam have revealed one new species and two new records of Begonia. The new species, B. saxifragoides resembles B. minhaniae but is distinguished by the orbicular to reniform (vs. broadly ovate) leaves with rounded (vs. acute to acuminate) apex, the petioles densely covered with pilose or villous (vs. subapp...

A new species Begonia wiformis, and a new record of B. filiformis (B. sect. Coelocentrum, Begoniaceae) from nothern Vietnam Abstract Begonia sect. Coelocentrum is a highly diverse section of the genus (87 species) with a Sino-Vietnamese distribution. A new species, Begonia wiformis, is described and illustrated herein, it is characterized by its rh...

Two novel species in Begonia sect. Platycentrum from northwestern Vietnam, B. minhaniae and B. dieuanhiae, are described and illustrated. Both species superficially resemble B. phouchomvoyensis in their rhizomatous habit, plain green ovary and leaves, 4-tepaled staminate flowers and 3-locular ovaries, but they can be clearly distinguished from the...

Begonia tuanii from Lao Cai Province of Vietnam is described and illustrated. The habit of B. tuanii is mostly similar with B. fordii, but it can be distinguished by its bracts glabrous (vs. pilose) abaxial surface, larger outer tepals of staminate flower by 25–40 × 24–35 mm (vs. 6–8 × 5–77 mm) that are whole glabrous (vs. abaxially hairy), inner o...

Two new species of Begonia from northern Vietnam, B. yentuensis and B. khaucaensis, are described. The first new species, B. yentuensis, is similar to B. asperifolia Irmsch., the two species share several characters such as tuberous habit, subsymmetric foliage, 4-tepaled staminate flowers and pistillate flowers with 5 tepals, but B. yentuensis is d...

Begonia is the world's fastest-growing genus and a focus of intense taxonomic research. To support this, a stable and useful sectional classification is needed. This paper reviews the feasibility and challenges of creating an infrageneric classification for Begonia based on phylogenetic data, and how to overcome phylogenetic and taxonomic conflict....

Sonerileae is a diverse Melastomataceae lineage comprising ca. 1000 species in 44 genera, with more than 70% of genera and species distributed in Asia. Asian Sonerileae are taxonomically intractable with obscure generic circumscriptions. The backbone phylogeny of this group remains poorly resolved, possibly due to complexity caused by rapid species...

The Sonerileae are a pantropical clade that comprises 1080 species (44 genera) typically occupying shaded and humid habitats in forests. This group is morphologically diverse, including herbs, shrubs, and treelets with 3–6-merous flowers, isomorphic or dimorphic stamens, various connective appendages, and fruits as berries or capsules. The diagnost...

Begonia kimlongii is described as a new species endemic to Vietnam, from the montane forests of Dak Lak Province. It is mostly similar with Begonia cucphuongensis but can be distinguished by the oblanceolate to obovate leaves, terminal inflorescence with dimorphic bracts and 5-tepaled pistillate flowers. Using IUCN criteria, B. kimlongii is propose...

A new genus, Nephoanthus, is established based on morphological and molecular data. It comprises two species distributed in montane forests of central to southern Vietnam and Hainan Island: the type species N. prostratus and a new species N. nubigenus. Nephoanthus is morphologically similar to Phyllagathis but phylogenetically remote from the type...

This study provides an updated list of Begonia occurring in Laos, and a new species is added to the checklist. The new taxon, Begonia xenos C.W.Lin, Phonep. & Rahm is similar to B. sinofloribunda Dorr in habit and leaf shape, but the new species differs in its staminate flowers having 4 tepals (vs. 2) with slightly crenulate (vs. entire) margins, p...

Begonia ngocbonii, a new species from North Vietnam is here described and illustrated. It resembles B. pellionioides Y.M.Shui & W.H.Chen, but is distinguishable by its hairy (vs. glabrous) stem, shorter inflorescence up to 1 cm (vs. ca. 5 cm or longer), 2-tepaled staminate and pistillate flowers (vs. 4-tepaled staminate flowers and 5-tepaled pistil...

The Solomon Islands in Melanesian region of South Pacific lie in an equatorial climate and harbour diverse habitats covered by forests. Based on field surveys and specimens examination, six Begonia species were confirmed from the Solomon Islands, and a key of the species is provided for identification. Besides the two widespread species, B. somervi...

The geographic location, climatic, and soil conditions of Samar Island render a mosaic of varied habitats which harbor numerous endemic, rare, and endangered species of plants. The island province is one of the centers of plant endemism in the Philippines. Included in this rich biodiversity of flora are members of genus Begonia of the family Begoni...

In 2011 and later in a 2018 field survey, an unknown Begonia species allied to taxa in section Petermannia was found in Bucas Grande Island. After thorough studies of the living plant, literature, and herbarium specimens we name the new species Begonia benitotanii, to honor Dr. Benito C. Tan, the internationally known Filipino muscologist. In 2011,...

A new species and record of Begonia L. from the central highlands is described and illustrated. The new species, B. mangdenensis is assignable to Begonia sect. Platycentrum based on the axillary inflorescence, 4-tepaled staminate flower and 5-tepaled pistillate flower with ovary two locules each with two placentas. B. mangdenensis is most similar t...

Two new species of Begonia L., namely Begonia villosula T.S.Hoang & C.W.Lin and B. lophura T.S.Hoang & C.W.Lin, from the Central Highlands of Vietnam, are described and illustrated. They are assigned to Begonia sect. Platycentrum based on several characters including axillary inflorescence, 4-tepaled staminate flower and 5-tepaled pistillate flower...

Vietnam is an important hotspot for Begonia in Southeast Asia. Due to its broad latitudinal range and varied terrain, it has developed a rich biodiversity of flora, of which the genus of Begonia is one of the most striking taxa. In this study, we provide a checklist of Begonia found in Vietnam, including a new species: B. jubar V.T.Pham & C.W.Lin,...

Begonia rigidifolia Aver. ssp. sonhungii C.W.Lin (sect. Petermannia, Begoniaceae) from Central Vietnam is hereby described and illustrated as new. It resembles B. rigidifolia ssp. rigidifolia, but differs in its very sparsely puberulous (vs. glabrous), darker toned lamina that is embellished with a pale green broad band (vs. emerald green lamina wi...

The Begonia species occurring in Bidoup-Nui Ba National Park (Lam Dong Province, southern Vietnam) are reviewed based on recent floristic field surveys. Five species were recognized from the montane forests, and two of which are new to science. The new species belong to Begonia sect. Platycentrum and are named as B. hongiaoensis C.W.Lin, T.C.Hsu &...

Background: With currently 1980 described species, the mega-diverse Begonia is now perhaps the 5th largest flowering plant genus, expanding rapidly from ca. 900 species in 1997 to its current size in merely two decades. In continuation of our studies of Asian Begonia, we report six additional new species from Guangxi, the region/province harboring...

Two new species, Begonia dinhdui and B. bacmeensis are described from Vietnam. Begonia dinhdui is somewhat similar to B. austrovietnamica C.-I Peng, C.W. Lin, D.D. Nguyen & N.D. Truong, a limestone tuberous species also occurring in southern Vietnam. Both species have a periodically dormant habit and silvery variegated lamina, however, the new spec...

Medinilla vexillifer C.W. Lin & Rubite (Melastomataceae) from the Philippines is a new species described and illustrated. It most resembles M. calcicola Merr., but differs in its shorter petioles that are 0.2−0.8 (vs. 1−2) cm long, lanceolate to ovate (vs. obovate) leaf lamina, cordate (vs. acute to acuminate) leaf base, upper leaf surface that is...

Two new species, Begonia dinhdui and B. bacmeensis are described from Vietnam. Begonia dinhdui is somewhat similar to B. austrovietnamica C.-I Peng, C.W. Lin, D.D. Nguyen & N.D. Truong, a limestone tuberous species also occurring in southern Vietnam. Both species have a periodically dormant habit and silvery variegated lamina, however, the new spec...

Background Melastoma has undergone rapid species radiation during the last one million years, and circumscription of some species in the genus has remained controversial. Melastoma kudoi, an erect species narrowly endemic to central Taiwan was previously treated as a synonym of M. intermedium, a semicreeping hybrid between the erect species M. cand...

Sonerileae/Dissochaeteae (Melastomataceae) comprises ca. 50 genera, two thirds of which occur in Southeast Asia. Phylogenetic relationships within this clade remain largely unclear, which hampers our understanding of its origin, evolution, and biogeography. Here, we explored the use of chloroplast genomes in phylogenetic reconstruction of Sonerilea...

Bredia (Melastomataceae) is an Asian genus that extends from central and southern mainland China to Taiwan and the Ryukyu islands. Molecular phylogenetic analyses reveal that the type of Bredia is nested in a clade of 20 species, while Tashiroea, a genus previously synonymized in Bredia, falls in another distantly related clade of 10 species. Our m...

Two new species of Begonia, B. inggitiae and B. dracopelta, are described from Borneo. Begonia inggitiae is endemic to Kalimantan, and B. dracopelta is found in both Kalimantan and Sarawak, and both belong to Begonia section Petermannia.

Another Begonia is discovered from the northwestern tip of the Island of Luzon, Philippines. Begonia palemlemensis is a vigorous Begonia growing in the tropical montane rainforest of Kalbario Patapat Natural Park in the municipalities of Adams and Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. The species resembles Begonia droseroides in having a hirsute indumentum. It i...

In this paper, five new species of Begonia from western Sarawak are described and illustrated: B. cruentospirituna species belong to section Petermannia. The materials studied were mainly from plants cultivated in nurseries and measurements made in the description were mostly taken based on images of living plants in the field. In addition to the t...

A new species, Driessenia phasmolacuna C.W. Lin, from Batang Ai, southwestern Sarawak, is described and illustrated. It belongs to a distinct group of Driessenia that have subequal or unequal leaves in each pair, often congested cymose inflorescence with many tiny flowers. Morphologically, it is similar to D. sessiliflora, but differing in its stem...

Begonia austrovietnamica C.-I Peng, C.W. Lin, D.D. Nguyen & N.D. Truong, a new species from Binh Thuan provice, southern Vietnam, is hereby described and illustrated. B. austrovietnamica resembles B. alicida C.B. Clarke in being a tuberous species with a dormant period, having 4-tepaled staminate flowers and 3-locular ovaries. However, the new spec...

Reknowned for its high biodiversity and endemism, over one third of the Bornean species of Phyllagathis were discovered in Sarawak over the past two years. In this study, we report an addition of a new species of Phyllagathis, namely P. stellata from southwestern Sarawak. In addition to the taxonomic account, color plates, line drawings, a distribu...

Begonia qingchengshanensis H.Z. Li, C.-I Peng & C.W. Lin, a new species of sect. Reichenheimia from Qingchengshan, an important centre of Daoist religion in Sichuan Province, China and a World Heritage Site, is here described and fully illustrated. Begonia qingchengshanensis resembles B. wilsonii Gagnep., also a member of sect. Reichenheimia occurr...

The Philippine island of Palawan is highly biodiverse. During fieldwork there in 2011 & 2014 we found five unknown species in the large genus Begonia. The species are similar in their rhizomatous stems, four-tepaled flowers, inferior two- or three-locular ovaries with bilamellate placentas, and are assignable to Begonia sect. Baryandra. Our observa...

A majority rule consensus tree based on both nuclear and plastid phylogenies. The consensus combines all the post burn-in trees resulting from both the Bayesian phylogenetic analyses (chloroplast and ITS data). The nodes are labelled with internode certainty (IC) values. (TIF)

Genbank accession numbers and voucher information for the DNA sequences used in the phylogenetic analyses. Samples newly sequenced for this study are highlighted with an asterisk. (PDF)

Luzon is the largest island of the Philippines, and because of its isolation from other landmasses it has developed a unique diversity of flora and fauna. Included in this rich biodiversity of flora are members of genus Begonia of the family Begoniaceae. In a joint expedition to the island, botanists from Taiwan and the Philippines found three unkn...

Sonerila aiensis C. W. Lin (Melastomataceae) from southwestern Sarawak is described and illustrated as new. It resembles S. hirtella Cogn., but differs in being appressed sericeous on the midrib and lateral veins on the adaxial surface (vs. hirtellous), of the lamina, pedicel ca. 1.5 (vs. 2–4) mm long and sparsely glandular hairy (vs. densely hirte...

Background The flora of Panay Island is under-collected compared with the other islands of the Philippines. In a joint expedition to the island, botanists from Taiwan and the Philippines found three unknown Begonia species and compared them with potentially allied species. Results The three species are clearly assignable to Begonia sect. Baryandra...

A peltate-leaved species of Begonia was recently collected from a limestone hill in central Guangxi, China. Based on a careful study of literature, herbarium material, and plants both in the wild and in cultivation reveals that it is a new species of Begonia sect. Coelocentrum, which we hereby describe as B. ufoides. In addition to a full taxonomic...

Diverse geological formations resulted in diverse terrains and varied microhabitats in Borneo where over 200 species of Begonia are currently known. The majority of Begonia species in Sarawak have a very narrow to moderately restricted distribution, and are often confined to a particular geology. An overwhelming number of new species were reported...

Most species of Begonia in Borneo, like those of other areas, are narrowly distributed and site-specific. In this study we report three new species of Begonia, namely B. felis C. W. Lin & C.-I Peng, B. kuchingensis C. W. Lin & C.-I Peng (sect. Petermannia) and B. serianensis C. W. Lin & C.-I Peng (sect. Reichenheimia) from the Padawan-Serian limest...

Begonia ignita C.W.Lin & C.I Peng, a new species of Begonia sect. Petermannia from Sulawesi, Indonesia, is here described and illustrated. It is distinct from other species in Begonia section Petermannia by a character combination including a procumbent stem ascending only at the apex, symmetric or subsymmetric leaves, the presence of a pale band o...

Ten undescribed species of Phyllagathis from southwestern Sarawak, named P. bicolor, P. lii, P. millelunata, P. phyllioides, P. rivularis, P. rubrosetosa, P. ulu, P. violinifolia, P. wallacei and P. yodae are reported in this study. We describe and illustrate the ten new species after a careful study of the literature, herbarium specimens and livin...

Begonia polyclada, a new species of sect. Petermannia from Luzon, Philippines is here described and illustrated. The new species is apparently allied to a group of Begonia in the Philippines with axillary inflorescences and numerous, relatively small-sized sub-symmetric, ovate to lanceolate-ovate leaves, i.e. B. aequata A. Gray (1854: 658), B. binu...

Begonia fulgurata, a new species from northern Thailand, is here described and illustrated. Begonia fulgurata resembles B. integrifolia, a widespread species in Southeast Asia, in having tubers, erect stem with hairy leaves and a periodically dormant habit. However, the new species is sharply distinct in its lamina densely hirsute (vs sparsely pube...

Two new species of Pentaphragma (Pentaphragmataceae), P. bicolor and P. pendula, from Sarawak are described and illustrated. Pentaphragma bicolor resembles that of P. prostratum (Kiew, 1990) but is different in the stellate hairs (vs. glabrous) leaves, shorter petioles 0.5–2 cm long (vs 2.5–6(–13) cm long), erect (vs. deflexed) inflorescence with s...

Mount Kinabalu, reknowned for its high biodiversity and endemism, is a National Park in the State of Sabah on the northern end of the island of Borneo. Every year many visit the higher part of the Kinabalu National Park, while most lowland forests in the Park are under-explored. Two unknown species of Begonia were collected from a peridotic (ultram...

Species of Begonia are richly represented in limestone karst areas across the Sino-Vietnamese border. More than one hundred species were known, many of which were documented recently. In continuation of our systematic studies of Asian Begonia, we report six species of Begonia that are unknown to science, namely B. caobangensis [sect. Platycentrum],...

Recent exploration and field collections in Batang Ai, southwest Sarawak, Borneo, Malaysia, has resulted in the discovery of two new taxa, Phyllagathis rajah and Sonerila metallica (Melastomataceae). Taxonomic descriptions, detailed photographs, line drawings and a comparison table are provided to distinguish them from morphologically similar speci...

Article PHYTOTAXA ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition) ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition) Abstract Borneo is a hotspot for Begonia. About 140 species of Begonia have been described from Borneo, 75 of which occur in Sarawak. In this study we report the discovery of three undescribed species of Begonia, namely B. amidalae, B. darthvade-riana and B. anserina f...

Begonia hosensis, a new species of sect. Reichenheimia from Sarawak, Malaysia is here described and illustrated. Begonia hosensis resembles B. andersonii, differing in the stipule prominently keeled and female flower 5-(vs. 4-) tepaled. Ecologically, the two species are also separable: B. hosensis occurs on granitic cliffs ca. 400 km east of Kuchin...

Begonia natunaensis, a new species of sect. Reichenheimia from Natuna Island, Indonesia, is here described and illustrated. Begonia natunaensis resembles B. goegoensis N.E. Brown in having suborbicular, peltate leaves with an abruptly tapering tip, differing in the number of tepals in staminate flowers (2 vs. 4) and in pistillate flower (2 vs. 3) a...

Two new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae), B. baik and B. padawanensis, from Sarawak are described and illustrated. Begonia baik, a member of sect. Petermannia, resembles B. conipila, but is distinguishable by having glabrous ovary (vs sparsely hispid) and margins of bracts dentate and glandular hairy (vs entire). Begonia padawanensis (sect. Reichen...