Begonia siangensis

Begonia siangensis Latest News

Botanists recently discovered a new species of wild flowering plant growing along a secluded mountain stream in Arunachal Pradesh, named Begonia siangensis.

About Begonia siangensis

• It is a new species of wild flowering plant.
• It was found growing along the dense forests of the Siang River basin in Arunachal Pradesh.  
• It thrives at an elevation of around 600 metres in the Upper Siang District, between the towns of Bomdo and Jengging. 
• The plant’s scientific name, Begonia siangensis, honours the Siang River Valley, the river canyon where it was originally found and to which it appears to be native. 
• While it belongs to the diverse Begonia section Platycentrum and closely resembles another regional species called Begonia iridescens, Begonia siangensis boasts a suite of features that set it apart. 
  • It produces pale-pink flowers and creeping stems.
  • Unlike B. iridescens, whose leaves shimmer with a blue iridescence and large silvery spots, the new species has solid dark green, non-variegated leaves. 
  • On the underside, its leaves feature microscopic, blister-like bumps that create a distinctive corrugated, rough texture. 
  • The plant also stands out for its drooping female flowers, smooth or only sparsely hairy stalks, and three-winged seed chambers (ovaries) where the wings are nearly equal in size and taper downward along the stem, rather than being sharply unequal as seen in its closest kin.
  • Its male blossoms feature a distinctive, asymmetrical cluster of bright yellow stamens pointing upward. 
• Researchers have provisionally designated it as “Data Deficient” under International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines.

News: RM

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