Begonia melanobullata

Begonia melanobullata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Cucurbitales
Family: Begoniaceae
Genus: Begonia
Species:
B. melanobullata
Binomial name
Begonia melanobullata
C.I Peng & C.W.Lin

Begonia melanobullata, the Vietnamese black peak begonia or Vietnam ferox, is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, native to Vietnam.[1] It was first documented in limestone karst areas across the Sino-Vietnamese border.[2]

Begonia melanobullata is noteworthy for having hair-tipped, dark-colored conical bullae across the upper leaf surface. It has red flower stalks, and red-streaked, green tinted flowers and seed capsules. It is very similar to Begonia ferox and Begonia nahangensis but differs in size and leaf shape.[2]

Comparison of Begonia melanobullata with B. ferox and B. nahangensis[2]
B. melanobullata B. ferox B. nahangensis
Stipule Length 1.4–2.5 cm 1–1.7 cm 0.4–0.6 cm
Leaf Apex Acuminate Acuminate Obtuse to nearly rounded
Shape Widely ovate to widely elliptic Ovate Broadly oblique-ovate or oblique-reniform
Conical bullae on upper surface Present on all leaves; erect hairs tipping bullae persistent Progressively developed on leaves as the plant matures; hairs on bullae soon deciduous Unknown
Inflorescence Peduncle length (cm) 15–38 5–13 (8–) 10–12 (−14)
Male flower Tepal color Greenish Pale pinkish-yellow White to light pink
Tepal size (mm) Outer 6–9 × 7–9, inner 5–7 × 3–4 Outer 9–11 × 6–11, inner 7–11 × 4 Outer 8–9 in diam., inner 8–9 × 2.5–3.5
Anther length (mm) 0.5–0.8 Ca. 1 Ca. 0.5
Female flower Tepal color Yellowish-pinkish Pinkish-white Light olive-green
Tepal size (mm) Outer 7–8 × 7–8, inner 4–6 × 2–3 Outer 8–11 × 7–11 mm, inner 8–9 × 3–4 Outer (4.5) 5–6 (7) × (8) 9–11 (12) mm, inner 5–6 × 3–3.
Capsule Size 1.2–1.9 cm long; abaxial wing crescent-shaped, 0.5–0.7 cm wide 1–1.5 cm long; abaxial wing crescent-shaped, 0.6–0.9 cm wide 0.8–1 cm long; abaxial wing oblique-triangular, 0.4 cm wide
Distribution Northern Vietnam Guangxi, China Northern Vietnam

References

  1. ^ "Begonia melanobullata C.I Peng & C.W.Lin". Plants of the World Online. Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Peng, Ching-I; Lin, Che-Wei; Yang, Hsun-An; Kono, Yoshiko; Nguyen, Hieu Quang (May 2015). "Six new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from limestone areas in Northern Vietnam". Botanical Studies. 56 (9): 9. Bibcode:2015BotSt..56....9P. doi:10.1186/s40529-015-0089-3. PMC 5430323. PMID 28510818.

Other references