Notes on Vietnamese Begonia (Begoniaceae),

including three new species

Ruth KIEW
Forest Research Institute Malaysia,
52109 Kepong, Selangor (Malaysia)
ruth@frim.gov.my

Kiew R. 2007. — Notes on Vietnamese Begonia (Begoniaceae), including three new species.
Adansonia, sér. 3, 29 (2) : 229-238.

Abstract
Several extra-Vietnamese names have been misapplied to Vietnamese Begonia
species. For those included by Gagnepain in Flore générale de l’Indo-Chine, Be-
gonia aptera is B. acetosella Craib and B. rex is B. sizemoreae Kiew; B. rupicola and
B. wallichiana are new species, here named B. phamiana Kiew and B. glutinosa
Key words Kiew, respectively. Four included by Hô. in Cây Cô Viêt Nam whose identity
Begoniaceae, cannot be verified, namely, B. decora, B. grandis, B. martabanica and B. masoni-
Begonia,
Vietnam, ana are excluded from the checklist of begonias from Vietnam. Begonia poilanei
new species. Kiew, a striking new species with ornamental potential, is also described.

Résumé
Notes sur les Begonia (Begoniaceae) du Vietnam, incluant trois nouvelles espèces.
Plusieurs noms de taxons non vietnamiens ont été utilisés de façon erronée
pour des Begonia vietnamiens. Concernant les espèces inclues par Gagnepain
dans la Flore générale de l’Indo-Chine, Begonia aptera est B. acetosella Craib et
B. rex est B. sizemoreae Kiew ; B. rupicola et B. wallichiana sont de nouvelles
espèces, nommées ici B. phamiana Kiew et B. glutinosa Kiew, respectivement.
Mots clés Concernant les espèces inclues par Hô. dans Cây Cô Viêt Nam, B. decora,
Begoniaceae, B. grandis, B. martabanica et B. masoniana sont exclues de la liste des bégonias
Begonia,
Vietnam, du Vietnam. Begonia poilanei Kiew, une nouvelle espèce ayant un potentiel
espèces nouvelles. ornemental est décrite.

ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2007 • 29 (2) © Publications Scientifiques du Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris. www.adansonia.com 229
 Kiew R.

Introduction potential of most species has yet to be realized as

witnessed by the recent description of the Vietnam-
About 30 validly named Begonia L. species are re- ese hairy begonia, B. sizemoreae Kiew (2004); the
corded from Vietnam, probably representing less recently discovered but as yet undescribed begonia
than half the begonia flora of Vietnam. Gagnepain by Nguyen Quang Hieu (pers. comm.), which Hô.
(1921) wrote the first general account of begonias in misidentified as B. “massoniana”, and B. poilanei
the Flore générale de l’Indo-Chine, which included 19 Kiew, the striking new species described below.
species from Vietnam, of which nine he described
as new species. Hô. (1999) has provided the latest
overview of Vietnamese begonias and included il- Begonias to which extra-
lustrations of 37 native species. Since then a further Vietnamese species names were
four species have been described (Nguyen 2004; Kiew misapplied
2004; Truong et al. 2005; Nguyen & Tebbitt 2005).
Many more undescribed species have already been A. Species renamed or synonymised
collected and can be found unnamed in herbaria,
and certainly new species will be discovered as new 1. Begonia acetosella Craib
areas are botanically explored in Vietnam.
When regional floras were not so well known and Kew Bulletin Miscellaneous Information: 153 (1912);
Tebbitt Brittonia 55: 22, figs 1D, 2 (2003).
detailed descriptions of the species were not available,
a few Vietnamese species were identified as conspe- Begonia aptera auct. non Blume: Gagnepain in Lecomte,
cific with apparently similar extra-­Vietnamese ones. Flore générale de l’Indo-Chine 2: 1110 (1921); Hô., Cây
Cô Viêt Nam 1: 729, fig. 2023 (1991), Cây Cô Viêt
For example, Gagnepain named four Vietnamese Nam 1: 577, fig. 2305 (1999).
species as conspecific, two with Himalayan species
(B. rex Putz. and B. wallichiana A.DC.), and two Material cited. — Mt Ba Vi, Petelot 7084 (B, n.v.). — Sa
with Malesian (B. aptera Blume and B. rupicola Pa, Sino-Vietnam team & C.Y. Wu 379 (KUN, n.v.). —
Tam Dao, D’Alleizette s.n. (L, n.v.). — Lang Bian, Eber-
Miq.). Similarly, Hô. used B. martabanica A.DC., hardt (not located).
a species from Thailand, as well as names of some
cultivated Asian species, B. decora Stapf, B. grandis Remarks
Dryand. and B. masoniana Irmsch., for Vietnamese This is one of the wingless berry begonias in Viet­
species. These species therefore need, where pos- nam. Tebbitt (2003), in his revision of sect. Sphen-
sible, to be assigned to their correct species, thus anthera, has shown that Gagnepain’s taxon belongs
Begonia aptera is B. aceto­sella Craib, and B. rex is to Begonia acetosella. He recognised two varieties
B. sizemoreae Kiew; or else they need to be renamed, of B. acetosella, but only var. acetosella occurs in
thus B. rupicola is here named as a new species Vietnam.
B. phamiana Kiew and B. wallichiana as B. glutinosa
Kiew. Species names for which specimens were not Distribution
cited or the material is too poor for identification, Vietnam (Hà Tây [Mont Ba Vi], Lâm Dông [Mas-
namely, Begonia decora Stapf, B. grandis Dryand., sif du Lang Bian], Lào Cai [Sa Pa], and Vinh Phu
B. martabanica A.DC. and B. masoniana Irmsch., [Massif du Tam Dao]), Myanmar, N Thailand,
are excluded from the flora of Vietnam. Laos, and SW China.
Several Vietnamese begonias have ornamental
value principally because of their beautiful foliage.
Tebbitt (2005) drew attention to the beautiful net- 2. Begonia glutinosa Kiew, sp. nov.
veined leaves and showy pink flowers of B. balansana (Fig. 1)
Gagnep.; the velvety leaves and orange flowers
of B. cathayana Hemsl.; and the fragrant flowers Begonia wallichiana auct. non A.DC.: Gagnepain in Le-
of B. handelii Irmsch. However, the ornamental comte, Flore générale de l’Indo-Chine 2: 1115 (1921);

230 ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2007 • 29 (2)

 New Vietnamese Begonia (Begoniaceae)

Hô., Cây Cô Viêt Nam. 1: 743, fig. 2065 (1991), Cây slightly rhomboid in outline, 12-16 × 12-13 mm,
Cô Viêt Nam. 1: 588, fig. 2351 (1999). densely downy, styles 3, free, bifurcating and lyre-
Species in fructu Begonia bonii Gagnep. optime congruens, sed shaped, spirally twisted at the apex. Fruits downy,
habitu erecto (nec rhizomato), foliis minoribus 4-8 × 3‑5 cm oval in outline, 12-16 × 12-13 mm; wings 3, equal,
(nec 7-11 × 5-7 cm) et inflorescentiis brevioribus 2-3 cm 3-4 mm wide or sometimes slightly unequal with
longis (nec usque 20 cm) differt. Sect. Reichenheimia. the longer wing c. 5 mm wide, very thinly fibrous
Typus. —Vietnam, Lang Son (Massif du Cai Kinh, route with a conspicuous network of veins, locules 3,
de Thanh-moi au col de Dao-ben), 5.X.1917, Bois s.n. placentas 1 per locule with two short side branches,
(serres du Muséum) (holo-, P barcode P00539150; iso-, dehiscing between the locules and wings.
P barcodes P00539151, P00539152).
Other material examined. — Vietnam. Lang Son Remarks
(Thanh Moi), 18.VII.1916, Bois s. n. (P). The name “Begonia wallichiana” has had a tortuous
history and is in fact correctly applied to a Brazilian
Description species (Doorenbos 1975). The Himalayan species
Annual, cane-like herb densely covered in downy to which this name was also applied is now cor-
viscid hairs on stems, petioles, lower leaf surface, rectly known as B. minicarpa H.Hara (Hara 1972),
upper and lower surface of the midrib and veins, but the latter species bears no resemblance to the
inflorescences and pedicels, in the dried state appear- Vietnamese one. It is a small begonia that grows to
ing minutely and densely pubescent. Rhizome short, 22 cm tall, has lanceolate triangular leaves attenu-
erect stems to 50 cm tall, robust and 3-6 mm thick, ate to the apex with a short petiole to 2 cm long.
internodes 2.5-5.2 cm long, nodes constricted, pale The capsule too is small (to 4 mm long) and it has
green, becoming reddish; branches c. 4.5 cm long, unequal wings, the larger 4-5 mm wide and the
pale green, zigzag. Stipules caducous, lanceolate, smaller two 2-3 mm wide. The Vietnamese taxon
c. 2 mm long. Leaves oblique; petioles 3-7 cm long; is clearly not this species. It is a new species.
laminas more or less asymmetric, broadly ovate, This is a very distinct species by the combination
4‑8 × 3-5 cm, basal lobe c. 2 cm long, bright green of its cane-like habit, its relatively small leaves and
above, pale beneath, base cordate, margin shallowly fruits with three more or less equal, rounded wings.
dentate-crenate, apex shortly acuminate; venation It is the only Vietnamese begonia reported to have
palmate-pinnate with 2 pairs of veins at the base, 2 viscid hairs, hence the species epithet. The type
pairs along the midrib and 2 veins in the basal lobe, was grown from seed collected by D. Bois from
veins very fine, in dried state scarcely prominent “Cai Kin route de Thanh-moi au col de Deo-ben”
beneath. Inflorescences axillary, cymose, 2-3 cm in December 1908 (last digit not clearly legible).
long, erect, few-flowered (with up to 3 male flowers Among the Vietnamese species with short stems
and one female flower), protandrous, male flowers to 50 cm tall that are not succulent (i.e. that ex-
above, with a single female flower below; peduncle cludes species in sect. Parvibegonia), it superficially
downy. Bracts like the stipules, lanceolate, 1-3.5 × resembles Begonia boisiana Gagnep., but its leaves
1.5 mm long. Flowers pale pink, pedicels 5-20 mm are much more oblique and unequal and, more
long. Male flowers with pedicels 10-15 mm long, importantly, it differs in its fruits that have three
tepals 4, outer two oval, c. 8 × 7 mm, outside downy equal wings (in B. boisiana they are conspicuously
with viscid hairs; the interior two narrowly obo- unequal). In addition, Gagnepain (1921) consid-
vate-linear, c. 5 × 3 mm, androphore c. 1 mm long, ered differences in stigma morphology important
stamens c. 20, filaments longer than the anthers, – his B. wallichiana has lyre-shaped stigmas while
anthers elliptic, c. 1 mm long, locules lateral, not B. boisiana has suborbicular ones. Begonia boisiana,
reaching the top of the connective. Female flow- which has fruits with three locules each with two
ers with pedicels 7‑12 mm long, tepals 5, slightly placentas, belongs to sect. Petermannia.
glandular outside, 5-6 × 2.5-3.5 mm, the inner In its fruits with three equal wings, three locules
ones smaller than the outer ones; ovary orbicular or each with a single placenta, it falls within sect.

ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2007 • 29 (2) 231

 Kiew R.

­ eichenheimia. The three other Vietnamese spe-

R petioles grooved above, c. 3 cm long on the low-
cies in this section, B. bonii Gagnep., B. harmandii er leaves and c. 0.5 cm on the upper; laminas
Gagnep. and B. pierrei Gagnep. are different from asymmetric, ovate, 10-16 × 4-7 cm, broad side
this species in being stemless begonias that produce 2.7‑4.2 cm wide, basal lobe 1(‑2) cm long, pale
inflorescences with long peduncles from the pros- red beneath, in dried state thinly papery, base
trate rhizome. They also all have relatively larger and cordate, margin slightly crenate and rather sinu-
broader ovate leaves. In addition, they have different ous, apex acuminate; venation palmate-pinnate
fruits – those of B. harmandii are very hairy and with 1 or 2 pairs at the base and c. 4 pairs along
those of B. pierrei are inverted pyramidal in outline. the midrib and 1 or 2 veins in the basal lobe; in
Begonia bonii has similar fruits in that the wings the dried state veins slightly prominent above and
are narrow and rounded. Indeed, in Gagnepain’s beneath. Inflorescences terminal or lateral on short
account they key out together. He contrasted the branches, cymose panicles, 5-7 cm long, shorter
stemless, downy B. bonii without viscid hairs and than the leaves, lax, few-flowered, protandrous.
lacking an androphore with his B. wallichiana, a Flowers pink of various shades. Male flowers
downy viscid plant with a branching stem and a with pedicel c. 7 mm long; tepals 4, outer two
short androphore. orbicular, 5-7 mm diam., inner two obovate, 5 ×
3 mm; androphore c. 1 mm long, stamens many
Distribution (c. 80‑90), anthers narrowly lanceolate, apex slightly
Endemic in Vietnam: Lang Son (Massif du Cai emarginate, 0.7 mm long and longer than the
Kinh). filaments, dehiscing through longitudinal slits.
Female flowers with pedicels 7‑10 mm long; tepals
Habitat 6, the largest elliptic, c. 4 mm long, gradually de-
In a high valley, by streams on rocks inundated by creasing in size to 2.5 mm long in the inner ones;
the water flow. ovary 3-winged, locules 2, placentas 2 per locule;
styles short, joined for almost their entire length;
stigmas cauliflower-like, distinctly bilobed. Fruits
3. Begonia phamiana Kiew, sp. nov. pendent with pedicels 10-12 mm long, capsules
9-10 ×11-15 mm; wings unequal, the long wing
Begonia rupicola auct. non Miq.: Gagnepain in Lecomte, c. 8 mm wide, almost rectangular, apex obtuse;
Flore générale de l’Indo-Chine 2: 1106 (1921); Hô., Cây two shorter wings 2-3 mm wide.
Cô Viêt Nam 1: 739, fig. 2055 (1991), Cây Cô Viêt
Nam 1: 586, fig. 2341 (1999).
Remarks
A Begonia geoffrayi Gagnep. foliis brevioribus angustioribus The Vietnamese taxon is completely different from
usque 11 × 5.5 cm (nec usque 18.5 × 10 cm) et alis fructus the Miquel’s Javanese species in being a much
rotundato (nec acuto) differt. Sect. Parvibegonia.
taller plant with a stem 20-60 cm long as opposed
Typus. — Cambodia, Île du Pic, Gulf of Cambodia to about 15 cm long in Begonia rupicola and the
15.VIII.1905, Geoffray 483 (holo-, P barcode P00539153; leaves are larger and at least twice as long as wide
iso-, P barcode P00539154). (10-16 × 4-7 cm long) with a scarcely toothed
Other material examined. — Vietnam. Île de Côn margin whereas B. rupicola has smaller leaves that
Dao, Germain 105 (P); Harmand 689 (P); Talmy (P). are as wide as long (7-8 × 8 cm) and the margin is
distinctly toothed. Gagnepain’s taxon is a distinct
Description new species that requires to be named.
Glabrous herb with a stem 15-60 cm tall and This species is named in honour of Pham Hoang
1‑3 mm thick with internodes 3-6 cm long, pink, Hô. whose simple line drawings are an invaluable
succulent, unbranched or shortly branched, with first step towards identifying Vietnamese begonias.
an ovoid tuber at the base. Stipules persistent, Brummit & Powell (1992) assigned “P.H.Hô” as
7‑12 mm long, apex acuminate. Leaves oblique; his authority name when in fact correctly it should

232 ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2007 • 29 (2)

 New Vietnamese Begonia (Begoniaceae)

B A

Fig. 1. — Begonia glutinosa Kiew: A, habit; B, male flower; C, stigmas; D, transverse section of fruit. Bois s.n. Scale bars: A, B, 15 mm;
D, 5 mm.

have been H.H.Pham based on his family name, This group of succulent begonias in sect. Parvi­
Pham – hence the species epithet. However, for begonia includes extremely variable species, which
the sake of consistency in the scientific literature, vary both within a lifetime and between populations
he is cited as Hô. in the text and as the scientific (Kiew [2005] has detailed this for Begonia integri­
authority. folia Dalziell and B. variabilis Ridl. in Malaysia).

ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2007 • 29 (2) 233

 Kiew R.

The Vietnamese species in this section do not appear of B. rex (the difference in leaf shape between these
to be either common or widespread. For example, two species is clearly shown in Tebbitt 2005: pl. 89),
B. integrifolia, a widespread species distributed from and that have a very hairy leaf margin, hairy upper
India to Peninsular Malaysia, in Vietnam is known surface of the lamina with hairs 5-10 mm long and
only from Bà Ria-Vung Tâu, Mont Dinh (Pierre have conspicuous deep crimson tertiary venation in
s.n., P), Ban Hoa, Mont Chua (Pierre s.n., P) and the centre and outer part of the lower leaf surface – this
Île de Khon, Me Kong (Thorel s.n., P). last feature can be seen even in the dried leaf.
Begonia phamiana is readily distinguished from Balansa 3765 is a well-grown specimen (its laminas
Vietnamese specimens of B. integrifolia, the other measure 14 × 14.5 cm), which necessitates some
species in sect. Parvibegonia in Vietnam with asym- modification to the original description in Kiew
metric leaves, by its narrower laminas up to 11 × (2004) and also enables description of the fruit.
5.5 cm (compared with broadly ovate laminas 6‑7 × The ratio of petiole to lamina length is variable,
6-6.5 cm in B. integrifolia) and the attenuated leaf i.e. longer or shorter than the lamina and there
apex (compared with the broadly acute one in is also variation in whether the basal lobes of the
B. integrifolia). It is in fact more similar to B. geoffrayi lamina overlap or not (this can vary even on the
from Cambodia in leaf shape (narrowly ovate with same plant); and the inflorescence is either mono-
an attenuate apex), except that B. geoffrayi has much chasial or dichasial (the latter is seen in the Balansa
larger leaves (up to 18.5 × 10 cm) and the capsule specimen that has four fruits on a single infructes-
wings are pointed and the longest is up to 11 mm cence). These characters therefore cannot be used
long, compared with the rounded ones of B. phami- to distinguish B. sizemoreae from B. rex.
ana, where the longest wing is c. 7 mm long. The fruit is the typical splash cup of sect. Platy-
According to label data, this species flowers and centrum: the capsules are (8-)15-18 mm long and
fruits in June, July and August. (23-)30-37 mm wide with pedicels 13-20 mm long
and the large fibrous wing is 17-25 mm wide and
Distribution the two shorter, thinner wings (5-)7-9 mm wide.
Cambodia (Île du Pic) and South Vietnam (Bà The tips of the wings are rounded.
Ria-Vung Tâu [Île de Côn Dao]). Begonia sizemoreae is one of the most beautiful
Vietnamese begonias and it is becoming popular
Habitat in cultivation (Kiew 2004). Hô. (1991, 1999) cor-
Locally common, in shaded, humid conditions rectly noted Begonia rex Putz. only as cultivated in
below the tree canopy, on soil with humus, close Vietnam. Begonia rex should therefore be excluded
to the river bed. from the list of indigenous Vietnamese species.

Distribution
4. Begonia sizemoreae Kiew Endemic in Vietnam, known only from Hà Tây
(Mont Ba Vi).
Gardens Bulletin Singapore 56: 95 (2004).
Begonia rex auct. non Putz.: Gagnepain in Lecomte, Flore B. Names excluded from the begonia flora
générale de l’Indo-Chine 2: 1112 (1921). of Vietnam

Material examined. — Mt Ba Vi, Son-gi Village,

XII.1887, Balansa 3765 (P). 1. Begonia decora Stapf

Remarks Begonia decora auct. non Stapf: Hô., Cây Cô Viêt Nam
1: 579, fig. 2314 (1999).
Gagnepain (1921) based his description of Begonia
rex on Balansa 3765 (P). This specimen is typical of
B. sizemoreae in its leaves that have densely hairy peti- Remarks
oles and laminas that are more rounded than those Hô. (1999) recorded Begonia decora from Vietnam

234 ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2007 • 29 (2)

 New Vietnamese Begonia (Begoniaceae)

but did not cite a specimen or locality. Begonia decora Hô.’s drawing was based comprises a single detached
is a narrow endemic confined to a few mountains leaf and infructescence, which is too incomplete to
peaks in Peninsular Malaysia (Kiew 2005). It is identify with certainty.
extremely unlikely to occur in Vietnam. This spe-
cies should therefore be excluded from the begonia
flora of Viet­nam. Because Hô. does not cite speci- 4. Begonia masoniana Irmsch.
mens, it is not possible to know what he meant
by this taxon. Begonia masoniana auct. non Irmsch.: Hô. (B. “massoni-
ana”), Cây Cô Viêt Nam 1: 584, fig. 2333 (1999).

2. Begonia grandis Dryand. Remarks

Hô. (1999) figured this species as Begonia “masso-
Begonia grandis auct. non Dryand.: Hô., Cây Cô Viêt Nam niana” based on a specimen collected by Nguyen
1: 733, fig. 2035 (1991), Cây Cô Viêt Nam 1: 580, fig.
2318 (1999). — Begonia grandis Dryand. var. chinensis
Quang Hieu (pers. comm.). However, the leaves
Hô., Cây Cô Viêt Nam 1: 733, fig. 2035 (1991), Cây Cô illustrated are different in shape being narrowed to
Viêt Nam 1: 580, fig. 2318 (1999) invalid name. the apex whereas B. masoniana Irmsch. has more
rounded leaves. As yet B. masoniana is known only
Remarks from southern China. The Vietnamese plant is
Begonia grandis is an extremely variable Chinese likely to be an undescribed species. Begonia maso-
species. Hô.’s figure shows a geophyte with a distinct niana should therefore be excluded from the flora
tuber and short stem that superficially resembles of Vietnam.
plants belonging to ssp. sinensis (A.DC.) Irmsch.
Hô. called this plant “var. chinensis Irmsch.”, an
invalid name. The identity of the plant illustrated A New Vietnamese Begonia
cannot be confirmed as Hô. does not cite specimens with Ornamental Potential
nor does his sketch show flowers or fruits. Until
authenticated specimens of B. grandis from Vietnam Among the many unnamed and probably new
are located (there are none at P), this species should taxa of Vietnamese Begonia in the Paris collection,
be excluded from the Vietnamese flora. one – even in the dried state – stands out as an
exceptionally beautiful species on account of its
variegated foliage. Because it is such a distinctive
3. Begonia martabanica A.DC. begonia, it deserves to be named and is here de-
scribed as a new species.
Begonia martabanica auct. non A.DC.: Hô., Cây Cô
Viêt Nam 1: 737, fig. 2048 (1991), Cây Cô Viêt Nam 1:
584, fig. 2332 (1999).
Begonia poilanei Kiew, sp. nov.
Remarks (Fig. 2)
Hô. (1999) reported this species from Dà Lat,
Lâm Dông Province. However, his illustration and A Begonia sinuata Wall. ex Meisn. pilis uniseratis (nec
the specimen at P on which it was based do not stellatis) recedit. Sect. Diploclinium
resemble this species at all. Begonia martabanica
Typus. — Vietnam, Haut Donai District, Djijuih,
has symmetric leaves, whereas Hô.’s sketch and the 21.X.1931, Poilane 19824 (holo-, P barcode P00539147;
specimen have a strongly asymmetric one. Begonia iso-, P barcode P00539160, barcode P00539161).
martabanica should therefore be omitted from the
flora of Vietnam. Description
While it is clear that this specimen does not Herb stemless or with a short stem 1.5-3 mm long;
belong to B. martabanica, the specimen on which basal tuber cylindric 1.5-2.5 cm long and 5-7.5 mm

ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2007 • 29 (2) 235

 Kiew R.

thick, covered in a network of fibrous roots. Leaves stem and produces one or two broadly ovate leaves,
one per plant, sometimes two, not oblique; peti- a basal tuber, and fruits with three unequal wings.
oles densely hairy when young, 6.5‑12 cm long, Begonia poilanei differs from B. sinuata in its larger
slender to 2 mm diam. in the dried state; laminas leaves with a cordate base and in its uniseriate hairs.
symmetric, broadly ovate, 6.5-14.5 × 7-17 cm, in In contrast, B. sinuata has leaves up to 8 × 8 cm
the dried state with a conspicuous reddish band with a rounded or truncate base and its hairs are
c. 3-5 mm wide along the secondary and tertiary stellate. Among Vietnamese begonias, stellate hairs
veins, with scattered uniseriate hairs 0.75-1 mm are unique to B. sinuata. Begonia sinuata belongs to
long, thinly papery in the dried state, base equal, sect. Parvibegonia and has ovaries with two locules
cordate, sinus wide, basal lobes 1.75-4 cm long, each with two placentas.
margin denticulate and ciliate, apex shortly acumi- Begonia harmandii Gagnep. is also similar in habit
nate, acumen to 7.5 mm long, venation palmate in that it is stemless and has tubers and sometimes
with 4 pairs of veins, tertiary veins conspicuous and has only one leaf. However, it differs in its oblique
perpendicular or at 45° to the secondary veins, on leaf that is longer than wide, its inflorescences that
the lower surface secondary veins with uniseriate are racemose and its fruits with three equal, hairy,
hairs c. 3-4 mm long and even the smallest veins rounded wings. It is placed in sect. Reichenheimia
with hairs 1-1.5 mm long, in the dried state veins on account of its single placenta per locule.
slightly impressed above and slightly prominent be- Begonia poilanei that has a three-locular ovary with
neath. Flowers not known. Infructescences axillary, two placentas per locule belongs to sect. Diploclin-
cymose panicles, erect, above the leaves, 12‑26 cm ium and conforms to the Doorenbos et al. (1998)
long, peduncles 11.5-23 cm long, branching 3 Group III of this section in the plant being tuber-
or 4 times, distally with up to 4 fruits. Bract pair ous, having a reduced stem with one or two sym-
ovate, c. 2 × 1 mm, persistent. Fruits with slender metric leaves, an axillary inflorescence and styles
hair-like pedicels 12-14 mm long, capsules 6-12 × persisting in the fruit. Begonia cavaleriei H.Lév. is
16‑23 mm, glabrous, wings 3, unequal, thinly fi- the only other Vietnamese begonia in this section
brous, dehiscing between the locules and wings, but it differs in having peltate leaves.
longer wing 10-13 mm wide, slightly falcate and Two specimens, one from Cambodia (Martin
tapering to a point, smaller two wings rounded, M244, P, sterile) and the other from Thailand (Larsen
sometimes broadly acute, 4-5 mm wide, locules et al. 1003, P, with male and female flowers) are
3, placentas 2 per locule, styles 3, free to base, very similar to B. poilanei in having one symmetric
bifid, branches lyre-shaped and spirally twisted, ovate leaf with the same dimensions, coloration and
1.5-2 mm long, persistent. Seeds broadly barrel- indumentum. They differ in that both these speci-
shaped, c. 0.25 mm long, collar cells c. ¾ of the mens have leaves with the base without a wide sinus,
seed length. the margin being deeply serrate, the apex strongly
acuminate with an acumen to 2 cm long, and the
Remarks venation being palmate-pinnate. The fertile Thai
As Poilane noted on the herbarium label, this is a specimen has a similar inflorescence and ovary, the
very pretty plant (“très jolie”) with foliage as attrac- latter with unequal, thinly fibrous wings, the longer
tive as any in cultivation. He described the leaves one being slightly falcate, and with three styles with
as tawny brown along the veins against a green lyre-shaped branches. However, the Thai specimen
background and being darker green beneath, the has one placenta per locule, which would place it
peduncles are sable yellow with flowers varying in sect. Reichenheimia; in contrast, B. poilanei, has
from pale to bright pink. two placentas per locule and so belongs to sect.
Very few Asian begonias have symmetric, non- Diploclinium (though one placenta may be poorly
oblique leaves. The only one in Vietnam is Begonia developed). Until more material from these three
sinuata Wall. ex Meisn., which in common with countries is available, it is uncertain whether they
this new species is stemless or has only a very short belong to one or two taxa. Presently, B. poilanei is

236 ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2007 • 29 (2)

 New Vietnamese Begonia (Begoniaceae)

Fig. 2. — Begonia poilanei Kiew: A, habit; B, fruit with persistent stigmas; C, transverse section of fruit. Poilane 19824. Scale bars:
A, 15 mm; B, 3 mm; C, 2 mm.

known from a single fruiting specimen. (more than 40 000 specimens).

This new species is named in honour of M.
Poilane, who discovered and collected this beau- Distribution
tiful begonia, in recognition of his extensive Endemic in Vietnam, Haut Donai District, Djijuih
­contribution to botanical collecting in Vietnam (Dalat). Known only from the type.

ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2007 • 29 (2) 237

 Kiew R.

Habitat Gagnepain F. 1921. — Begoniacées, in Lecomte M.

At 250 m altitude, growing on bare, vertical rock H. (ed.), Flore générale de l’Indo-Chine 2 (8). Masson,
Paris: 1095-1120.
surfaces. Hara H. 1972. — Begonia minicarpa H.Hara. Journal
of Japanese Botany 47: 112.
Hô.P. H. 1991. — Begoniaceae, in Hô.P. H., Cây Cô Viêt
Acknowledgements Nam 1. Tre Publishing House, Vietnam: 728-743.
I am most grateful to the Director of the Paris Hô. P. H. 1999. — Begoniaceae, in Hô. P. H., Cây Cô
Herbarium for permission to examine specimens Viêt Nam 1. 2nd ed. Tre Publishing House, Vietnam:
in his care; and most particularly I am indebted to 577-588.
Kiew R. 2004. — Begonia sizemoreae Kiew (Begoniaceae),
Mrs Dr Sovanmoly Hul for answering my many a handsome new begonia from Vietnam. Gardens’
queries, especially for identifying the modern names Bulletin Singapore 56: 95-100.
and provinces for old locality names and for help Kiew R. 2005. — The Begonias of Peninsular Malaysia.
in translation; to Mr Alain Jouy for preparing the Natural History Publications, Kota Kinabalu, Ma-
botanical illustrations; to Dr Mark J. E. Coode laysia, 308 p.
for correcting the botanical Latin and to Dr Mark Nguyen Q. H. 2004. — A new species of a peltate-
leaved Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Vietnam. Novon.
Hughes for drawing my attention to specimens 14: 105-107.
from Cambodia and Thailand. Nguyen Q. H. & Tebbitt M. C. 2005. — An unusual
new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Vietnam.
Gardens’ Bulletin Singapore. 57: 247-251.
References Tebbitt M. C. 2003. — Taxonomy of Begonia longifolia
Blume (Begoniaceae) and related species. Brittonia
Brummit R. K. & Powell C. E. (eds) 1992. — Authors of 55: 19-29.
Plant Names. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 732 p. Tebbitt M. C. 2005. — Begonias: Cultivation, Identi-
Doorenbos J. 1975. — How Begonia wallichiana got fication and Natural History. Timber Press, Portland,
its name by mistake. The Begonian 42: 213-215. Oregon, 336 p.
Doorenbos J., Sosef M. S. M. & de Wilde J. J. F. E. Truong Q T., Kiew R. & Vermeulen J. J. 2005. — Be-
1998. — Studies in Begoniaceae VI. The sections of Be- gonia bataiensis Kiew, a new species in Section Lep-
gonia including descriptions, keys and species lists. Wage- rosae (Begoniaceae) from Vietnam. Gardens’ Bulletin
ningen Agricultural University Papers 98 (2): 1-266. Singapore 57: 19-23.

Submitted on 19 February 2007;

accepted on 5 September 2007.

238 ADANSONIA, sér. 3 • 2007 • 29 (2)