Keralam researchers discover a new species of genus Begonia in Western Ghats

Researchers have identified a new species of the genus Begonia from the Western Ghats region in Keralam’s Kollam district.

A research team of the Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute (JNTBGRI) in Thiruvananthapuram spotted the plant during an exploration for collecting wild ornamental plants from the evergreen forests of Rosemala in Kollam. The discovery has been reported at a time when the ghats region is back in the news in connection with the Keralam government’s recommendations regarding Ecologically Sensitive Areas (ESA).

On identifying it as a distinct species, they named it Begonia rajvikramanii after R. Raj Vikraman, former Head of the Garden Management Division, JNTBGRI, in recognition of his contributions to the development of the JNTBGRI garden and the management of ex situ plant conservation programmes at the institute, which functions under the Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE).

R. Raj Vikraman, after whom Begonia rajvikramanii has been named.
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Special arrangement

A paper on the discovery and the plant’s identification as a new species by E.S. Santhosh Kumar, S.M. Shareef, P.P. Anusha and Rejitha Joseph of JNTBGRI has been published in the latest issue of Phytotaxa.

On wet rocky cliffs

The plant was found growing on wet rocky cliffs. “This new species is currently known only from its type locality at Rosemala. It grows in wet habitats, particularly on rocky cliffs and road-cut walls, at elevations of approximately 200 metres-350 metres,” the paper said. Flowering and fruiting of Begonia rajvikramanii occurs between August and April.

Detailed comparison with available literature, type specimens and authenticated herbarium materials showed it to be morphologically most similar to Begonia tenera Dryander, a species distributed in India and Sri Lanka, but differing in several physical characteristics, warranting its recognition as a distinct species, according to the authors.

Begonia rajvikramanii
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Special arrangement

According to the JNTBGRI team, the observed population of this species comprises approximately 200 mature individuals, occupying an area of less than 5 km². Using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (IUCN, 2024), Begonia rajvikramanii has been assessed as ‘Data Deficient’ (DD), pending comprehensive assessment in the future.

The genus Begonia is one of the largest flowering plant genera with 2,200 accepted species, mainly distributed across the tropical and sub-tropical regions of Africa, Asia and America. In the Western Ghats, the genus is represented by 23 species.