Philippine Native Plants: Begonia bolsteri

MANILA, Philippines - Scientific name: Begonia bolsteri Merr.

Family: Begoniaceae

Distribution: Min-danao: Surigao. In damp, shaded places, at 75 m altitude. Endemic.

Description: Glabrous herb with unbranched stem, prostrate below and rooting at the nodes. End of branches erect or sub-erect; internodes elongated. Leaves oblong-ovate or narrowly-ovate, to 12 cm long and to 6 cm wide, obliquely inequilateral, the base cordate, the apex acuminate; margins finely toothed, with short fine hairs. Inflorescence axillary. Staminate flowers pink, Pistillate flowers with broad-ovate bracts. Fruit is a 3-winged capsule.

Conservation status: Endangered.

Conservation notes: This is an endemic species found only in the forests in Surigao. It is a highly localized species and prefers damp, shaded and humid places. It is highly ornamental and is readily propagated by stem cuttings. Because of overcollection for ornamental purposes the plants is now rarely seen in the locality.

Most Begonia species are endemic and have restricted distribution. It is important to conserve them in their original localities or take measures to propagate them in nurseries and gardens.

Acknowledgement: Photo by Ching-I Peng

For further information contact: Domingo A. Madulid, Philippine National Museum, Botany Division, P. Burgos St., Manila. Tel. 5271218. Email: [email protected]