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New Begonia Species Found in Western Ghats
27 Sep
Summary
- New Begonia species named after R. Raj Vikraman discovered.
- Found on wet rocky cliffs in Rosemala, Kollam district.
- Assessed as 'Data Deficient' by IUCN criteria.
Researchers from the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) have identified a new species of Begonia in the Western Ghats, specifically within Keralam's Kollam district. This finding was made during an exploration of the Rosemala evergreen forests for wild ornamental plants.
The newly discovered species has been named Begonia rajvikramanii in honor of R. Raj Vikraman, a former Head of Garden Management Division at JNTBGRI, recognizing his contributions to the institute's garden development and plant conservation efforts. The discovery was published in Phytotaxa.
Begonia rajvikramanii was found growing on wet rocky cliffs and road-cut walls at elevations between 200 to 350 meters. Its flowering and fruiting period spans from August to April. Morphologically, it is most similar to Begonia tenera Dryander but differs in several physical characteristics.
Currently, the known population of Begonia rajvikramanii consists of approximately 200 mature individuals spread over less than 5 km². Based on IUCN Red List criteria, the species has been assessed as 'Data Deficient' (DD), awaiting further comprehensive evaluation.
