{"paper_id":"01e4d0c6-fdae-4776-be05-5dddbfcefbdd","body_text":"Begonia shenzhenensis, a new species of Begoniaceae from Guangdong of China \n \nDAI-KE TIAN1,2,*, BIN CHEN1,3, YAN XIAO1,2 , MIN-MIN ZHENG1,2,4, BIN-JIE GE1,3 \n \n1Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 3888 Chenhua Road, \nSongjiang, Shanghai 201602,China \n2Shanghai Key Laboratory for Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical \nGarden, 3888 Chenhua Road, Songjiang, Shanghai 201602, China \n3Eastern China Conservation Center for Wild Endangered Plant Resources, Shanghai 201602, China  \n4The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China \n \nDai-Ke Tian: dktian@cemps.ac.cn, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5387-5300 \nBin Chen: chenbin@csnbgsh.cn，https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1822-4486 \nYan Xiao: xiaoyan881002@163.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7913-1024 \nMin-Min Zheng: 854446713@qq.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1103-9360 \nBin-Jie Ge: gebinjie123@163.com; https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4232-3567 \n \n*Author for correspondence, e-mail: dktian@cemps.ac.cn \n \nAbstract \nBegonia shenzhenensis D.K.Tian & Xiao -Yun Wang sp. nov., a new species in Begonia sect. \nPlatycentrum of Begoniaceae from Shenzhen of Guangdong province, China, is described and \nillustrated. Morphologically, it is mostly similar to Begonia coelocentroides in the same section , but \nclearly differs by its denser hairs on leaf, petiole and pedicel, abtuse anther apex, hairy ovary and \nnarrower adaxial fruit wing. Based on only one small population ever found so far, its conservation \nstatus is assigned to Critical Endangered according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. \n \nKey words : Conservation status, deciduous, morphology, rhizomatous begonia, southern China, \ntaxonomy. \n \nIntroduction \nGuangdong province is located at southern China and it borders with Macau and Hongkong, \ntwo Chinese special administration regions. In the past, the numerous surveys on plant diversity of \nthis province were widely conducted by a number of botanists mainly from sever al research \ninstitutions, including South China Botanical Garden of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sun Yat -sen \nUniversity, Guangdong Academy of Forestry, South China Agricultural University, etc. However, \nsome new species and new records still have been rece ntly discovered (Huang et al., 2020; Zhou et \nNot peer-reviewed, not copy-edited manuscript posted on March 25, 2021. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e66480\n\nal., 2020), including two begonia species (Ding et al., 2018; Tu et al., 2020). Here we described and \nillustrated a new species of Begonia, Begonia shenzhenensis  D.K.Tian & Xiao -Yun Wang, which \nincreased the spe cies number of begonias to 14 in Guangdong province. Other 13 species are B. \ncircumlobata Hance, B. coptidifolia H.G.Ye, F.G.Wang, Y .S.Ye & C.-I Peng , B. cucullata Willd. \n(naturalized), B. edulis Léveil., B. ehuanzhangensis Q.L.Ding, W.Y .Zhao & W.B.Liao, B. \nfirmbristipula Hance, B. fordei Irmscher, B. grandis Dryander, B. guangdongensis  Wen-Hui Tu, \nBing-Mou Wang & Yu-Ling Li, B. handelii Irmscher, B. leprosa Hance, B. longifolia Blume, and B. \npalmata D.Don. \n \n \nTaxonomic treatment \nBegonia shenzhensis D.K.Tian & Xiao-Yun Wang, sp. nov. 深圳秋海棠, Fig. 1 to Fig. 2 \nType: CHINA. Guangdong: Shenzhen (深圳), Pinshan (坪山) District, Tiantou Mountain (田头山) \nNatural Reserve, on shallow humus soil above the rocky surface under the forest along stream, \n22°43’29’’N, 114°24’2’’E, elev. 70 m, 6 June 2020, Dai-Ke Tian, Xiao-Yun Wang, Bin Chen & \nShi-Pin Zhong, TDK4160 (holotype, CSH! CSH0182483). \n \nSpecimen examined: Same locality as type, 21 September 2019, Xiao-Yun Wang, TDK3981 \n(paratype, CSH); Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, cultivated plants under 25℃ \nroom temperature, 7 November 2020, Dai-Ke Tian, TDK4832 (paratype, CSH).  \n \nDiagnosis: The new species is mostly similar to B. coelocentroides Y .M.Shui & Z.D.Wei in the same \nsection, but clearly differs by its densely (vs. sparsely) hairy petioles and blades, hairy (vs. glabrous) \novaries, abtuse ( vs. concave) anther apex, and narrower (vs. wider) adaxial fruit wing. It is also close \nto the small-sized individuals (before mature) of B. edulis in appearance, but differs by its short and \nsmall (vs. tall and large) and none -stemmed (stemmed) plants, and hairy (vs. glabrous) pedicels, \nflowers, and fruits (Table 1, Fig. 2). \n \nHerb perennial, rhizomatous, 7–15 cm tall, monoecious, epiphytic on rock with moss or humus soil. \nRhizome creeping, 5–10 cm long, internodes unclear to 10 mm long, 5–13 mm thick, unbranched to \nNot peer-reviewed, not copy-edited manuscript posted on March 25, 2021. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e66480\n\nrarely branched, greenish brown. aerial stem absent, or occasionally one very short internoded stem \nat anthesis, Leaves simple, basal, alternate, 4–8 each plant, deciduous in winter. Stipules persistent, \npale pink, long triangular, 5–8 × 4–6 mm, abaxially hairy, apex with short arista. Petioles, light-green \nto pink, 4–18 cm long, 1.5–5 mm thick, grooved in full-length, short greyish pubescent, less than 1.5 \nmm long, hair tips often curly. Leaf blades obliquely oval-cordate, 5–22 × 3.5–16 cm; adaxially \ngreen, rarely dark green, rough, short greyish strigose, less than 1 mm long; adaxial veins slightly \nconvex at base, concave upper part; abaxially greyish-green or lightly red-purple, veins convex, with \nshort greyish strigose, 1–1.5 mm long, leaf veins 7 to 6; Leaf base shallowly cordate, obtuse to \nnearly overlapping, decurrent part 1–4 cm long; leaf margins serrate, rarely double serrate, \noccasionally cleft-teethed, with arista; apex acuminate or short-caudate. Inflorescences 2–4, \nsuccessively growing from leaf axil of stem near shoot, 11–17 cm long; peduncle light green, 8–15 \ncm long, 2–3.5 mm thick, greyish-white villose, pedicel less hairy, each inflorescence 3–7 flowers, \n0–2 pistillate. Bracts and bracteoles greenish white, long triangular, bracts 5–12 × 3–7 mm; \nbracteoles 4–11 × 2–6 mm, both abaxially sparsely white pubescent, ca. 1 mm long, apex acuminate, \nwith sparse cilia. Staminate flower: pedicel white or light-green at low part, 1.8–3.4 (4.5) cm long, \n1–2 mm thick, short greyish white-pubescent (less than 1 mm long); flower white, 2.5–4.5 × 2.4–3.7 \ncm; outer 2, ovate, entire, 1.2–2.2 × 1.2–2.1 cm, central part thick and abaxial with shor tgrayish \nwhite or pink pubescent, indumentum same as pedicel; inner 2, long obovate–lanceolate, glabrous, \n10–19 × 5–9 mm. androecium, 3–4 × 4–5 mm, stamens 50–92, filaments basally connate into stamen \ncolumn, 2–3 mm × ca. 1 mm, free part 1–2 mm long, anthers yellow, 0.8–1.2 mm long. Pistillate \nflower: a pair of pale green bracteoles persistent near ovary, 3–10 × 1–4 mm; pedicel 9–18 mm long, \n1.2–2 mm thick, with extremely short greyish white pubescent, less than 0.5 mm long; flower 30–37 \n× 25–37 mm, tepals 5 (rarely 6), outer 4 (5), slightly large, 13–18 × 7–15 mm, sparsely greyish white \nshort pubescent, inner 1, small, glabrous, oblanceolate, 11–15 × 5–9 mm wide; gynoecium 3–4 × 3–7 \nmm, styles 2, stigmas 2, nearly U-shape branched, both sides spirally twisted nearly one circle; ovary \ngreenish-white, short hairy, placentation axile, 2-loculed, each placenta 2–branched; Peduncles \nlight-green, hairy, 15–32 cm long, ca 2 mm thick, hairy, a pair of green bracteoles often persistent \nnear ovary; Fruits capsule, green, densely short grayish-white pubescent, 6–10 × 5–8 mm, 3–winged, \nunequal, abaxial wing long rectangular or subtriangular, 18–28 × 8–10 mm; lateral wings narrow, \nsickle-shaped or cornice or auriculate triangular, ca. 4–8 × 8–10 mm. Flowering June–July Fruiting \nNot peer-reviewed, not copy-edited manuscript posted on March 25, 2021. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e66480\n\nJuly–October \n \nEtymology: The specific epithet refers to the name of Shenzhen, which includes the type locality of \nthe new species. \n \nTable 1 Comparison of Begonia shenzhenensis and B. coelocentroides \n B. shenzhenensis B. coelocentroides \nPlant height 7–15 cm 5–10 cm \nLeaf blade densely hairy sparsely pilose to nearly glabrous \nPetiole’s hair dense sparse \nPeduncle and pedicel hairy glabrous \nOuter staminate tepal hairy  sparsely hairy \nAnther apex obtuse concave \nFruit densely hairy glabrous \nAdaxial wing narrower, 8–10 mm wide wider, 9–14 mm wide \n \nNot peer-reviewed, not copy-edited manuscript posted on March 25, 2021. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e66480\n\n \nFigure 1 Plants and habitat of B. shenzhenensis D.K.Tian & Xiao-Yun Wang \nA. Plant at the earliest flowering time (6 June, 2020); B. Plants with the dried fruits matured in the \nprevious year; C. Habitat showing mature plants and se edlings of the new species growing together \nwith mosses and ferns above the rocks. (Photo by Dai-Ke Tian) \n \nNot peer-reviewed, not copy-edited manuscript posted on March 25, 2021. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e66480\n\n  \nFigure 2 Morphology of Begonia shenzhenensis D.K. Tian & Xiao-Yun Wang \nA. One of the largest plants with flowers (left corner: sections of leaf an d petiole showing hairs); B. \nStaminate flowers showing in different directions; C. Pistillate flowers, bracts (left: back view of \n6-tepalled flower; right: front view of 5 -tepalled flower); D. Inflorescence, stipules (left) and bracts \n(right); E. Fruits (top: fresh, bottom: dried) and ovary dissection. (Photo by Dai-Ke Tian) \n \nDistribution and habitat: The new species is only known from its type locality in Tiantou Mountain \nNot peer-reviewed, not copy-edited manuscript posted on March 25, 2021. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e66480\n\nNatural Reserve of Pingshan District of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China ( Fig. 3 ). It grows \ntogether mainly with the mosses, ferns and other herbs on shallow humus soil above the rocks along \na small stream under forest. \n \n \nFigure 3 Distribution of Begonia shenzhenensis (red dot) from Shenzhen, Guangdong of China \n \nConservation status: Begonia shenzhenensis is only observed in its type locality with a very small \npopulation containing less than 50 individuals. Due to relatively low ornamental value of plants, it is \npossibly less chance of being collected by plant hunters. However, there are  no suitable places \nnearby for spreading of its population. Therefore, this species should be considered as Critical \nEndangered (CE) according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN, 2019) based on \nthe current data. \n \nNote: The new species was f irst discovered by Mr. Xiao-Yun Wang, a plant fan working at Hechang \nWeilai Science and Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. in Guangdong province of China. On 21 \nSeptember 2019, Xiao-Yun Wang posted the photos of a wild begonia from Shenzhen of Guangdong \nNot peer-reviewed, not copy-edited manuscript posted on March 25, 2021. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e66480\n\nprovince, China. By the request of Dr. Dai -Ke Tian, the living plants were collected and introduced \nto Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden for further study. The introduced plants grow well in two \nplastic pots placed in a squared polymethyl box at 25℃ room temper ature and bloom from \nNovember to June. On 6 June of 2020, with the help of Xiao-Yun Wang, Dr. Dai-Ke Tian and Dr. Bin \nChen conducted a field survey on this species and further confirmed that it is new to science. \n \nAcknowledgments \nThe study was supported by  the funds from National Natural Science Foundation of China \n(31570199), and Shanghai Administration Bureau of Landscape and City Appearance (F122416). \nThe authors thank Mr. Shi -Ping Zhong from Shenzhen of Guangdong province for his help on field \nsurvey, and Mr. Xiao-Chen Li for mounting specimens.  \n \nReference \n \nHuang CY , Meng KK, Guo JQ, Chen F, Liao WB, Fan Q (2020) Primulina huangjiniana  \n(Gesneriaceae), a new species from Guangdong, China. Guihaia, 10:1429–1437. \nIUCN (2019) Guidelines for using the IUCN R ed List Categories and Criteria. Version 14. Prepared \nby the Standards and Petitions Subcommittee.  \nhttps://www.iucnredlist.org/resources/redlistguidelines (accessed on 15 March, 2021)  \nDing QL, Zhao WY , Yin QY , Ye HG, Song HZ, Liao WB (2018) Begonia ehuangzhangensis (sect. \nDiploclinium, Begoniaceae), a new species from Guangdong, China. Phytotaxa 381 (1): 107 –115. \nhttps://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.381.1.14. \nTu WH, Wang BM, Yao G, Huang JX, Li YL (2020) Begonia guangdongensis, a new species \nof Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Guangdong, China. PhytoKeys, 162: 29–36. \nhttps://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.162.51913. \nZhou W, Song CF, Wu BC (2020) New records of Apiaceae distributed in Guangdong and Guangxi. \nJournal of Plant Resources and Environment, 29(2): 78–80.  \n \n \nNot peer-reviewed, not copy-edited manuscript posted on March 25, 2021. DOI:  https://doi.org/10.3897/arphapreprints.e66480","source_license":"CC-BY-4.0","license_restricted":false}