Research Paper

Begonia salog (Begoniaceae, section Baryandra), a new endemic species from southeastern Luzon, Philippines

Cyrus Job P. Dela Cruz, Mark Angelo C. Bucay, Karen B. Corre, Judy Ann V. Valiente, Danilo N. Tandang, Kuo-Fang Chung

Published on: 10 August 2026

Page: 632 - 637

DOI: 10.6165/tai.2026.71.632

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    Abstract

    Begonia salog, a member of section Baryandra, is characterized by rhizomatous growth, axillary protandrous inflorescences with boat-shaped bracts, and ovaries with bifid placentae. While sharing glandular hairs on the inflorescence with B. caramoanensis, it is distinguished by puberulent petioles (vs. tomentose), broadly serrated, non-ciliate leaf margins (vs. shallowly undulate and ciliate), a glabrous abaxial leaf surface (vs. pilose), glabrous bracts (vs. glandular-hairy), and a glabrous ovary (vs. glandular-hairy). Begonia salog is described here as a new species from the karst landscapes of southeastern Luzon, Philippines, with notes on its ecology and habitat, and a preliminary IUCN-based conservation assessment.

    Keyword: Begonia caramoanensis, biodiversity conservation, comparative morphology, plant endemism, species delimitation

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