Begonia noraaunorae Blasco, Tandang, Alejandro & Rubite, 2023

Begonia noraaunorae Blasco, Tandang, Alejandro & Rubite , sp. nov. § Petermannia ( Figs. 1A View FIGURE 1 , 2 View FIGURE 2 & 3 View FIGURE 3 ).

Type:— PHILIPPINES: Mindanao, Surigao del Sur, Cortes, Crossing , elevation ca. 30 m asl., on limestone rocks in semi-shaded broadleaf forest along the national highway, 10 May 2022, Freddie A . Blasco 22-001 (holotype HNUL [ HNUL0021272 ], isotype USTH) .

Diagnosis: Begonia noraaunorae resembles B. negrosensis Elmer in having tall, erect and glabrous stems, obovately oblong leaves with sparse hairs, glossy surface adaxially, light green abaxially, apex acuminate, 2-tepaled staminate flowers, 5-tepaled pistillate flowers and green ovaries. However, B. noraaunorae differs in having larger leaves with scattered light green patches (vs. plain green), much shorter stems at ca. 90 cm tall (vs. 2–3 m tall), larger lamina 20–22 × 9–9.5 cm (vs. 10–20 cm long) with serrated margin (vs. denticulate) broadly ovate male tepals (vs. orbicular), and capsules longer than wide (vs. wider than long), without large bracteoles directly beneath (vs. with), on longer peduncles.

Monoecious perennial herb, ca. 90 cm tall. Stems erect, woody, greenish to reddish when young, dark green when mature, glabrous, 10–12 mm in diam., internodes ca. 14 cm long, nodes slightly swollen. Stipules persistent, obovately oblong, asymmetric, slightly keeled, green, 20–23 × 10–12 mm, apex roundly acute, margin entire, glabrous. Petioles terete, succulent red to brown, 50–52 mm long, 3–5 mm in diam., glabrous. Leaves alternate, lamina green, obovately oblong, 20–22 cm × 9–9.5 cm, apex acuminate, adaxial surface with evenly spaced simple trichomes ca, 0.5 mm, glossy, dark green with scattered light green patches and dark green veins, abaxial surface light green and glabrous, base obliquely cordate, margin broadly serrate, with slightly red tiny bristles and a red to brown stripe along its side; venation palmate, primary veins 5–6, veins glabrous. Inflorescences protogynous, terminal, male inflorescence peduncle 3–4 cm, on short cymes branching 2–6 times; female flowers borne in pairs, basal to staminate flowers, peduncle 5–7 mm. Bracts persistent, light green, basal pairs, narrowly triangular 6–8 × 3–4 mm, margin entire, apex acuminate. Staminate flowers: pedicel 10–12 mm long, tepals 2, light to dark pink, broadly ovate, 5–6 × 4–5 mm, margin entire, apex roundly acute, androecium actinomorphic 3–4 × 2–3 mm in diam, stamens 15–20 yellow, filaments 0.5–1 mm slightly fused at the base, anthers obovate, apex rounded, ca. 1mm. Pistillate flowers: pedicel 5–6 mm long; tepals 5, dark pink when young, light pink when mature, obovate to elliptic 10–11 × 5–6 mm, margin entire, apex sharply acute; ovary light green with pink wings when young and all green when mature, elliptic, locular part 12–13 mm × 4–5 mm, 19–20 × 10–12 mm including wings, 3-locular, placentation axile; wings 3, green, subequal surrounding and extending beyond the locules, 18–19 × 6–7 mm, triangular to narrowly triangular, apex acuminate; styles 3 yellow, ca. 3 mm long, apically two-cleft, stigmas in spiral band. Capsule upright, drying pale brown, glabrous, trigonous elliptic; 22–23 mm × 20–21 mm (wings included); pedicel 8–9 mm, wings 3, subequal, apex truncate to acuminate, base obtuse.

Phenology:— Observed flowering and fruiting in April to June.

Etymology:— The species is named after Nora Aunor, to honor her achievements in the entertainment industry. Born Nora Cabaltera Villamayor (1953–), ‘Ate Guy’ as fondly called by her colleagues, friends and fans is the only Filipino actor to have won international acting awards from five continents. Film producer, TV host, actor, singer, philanthropist and National Artist for Film and Broadcast Arts awardee (the highest national recognition given to a Filipino artist).

Distribution and Ecology:— Endemic to the province of Surigao del Sur, Caraga Region, Eastern Mindanao, Philippines. It grows on limestone rocks in semi-shaded broadleaf forest along the national highway of Crossing, Cortes, Surigao del Sur, elev. 30 m asl.

Vernacular name and uses:— The species is locally known as amampang or amamampang which is a local term from Bisaya and Subanen languages meaning growing on a cliff. Amampang or amamampang is derived from two Cebuano words kamang meaning crawl and pangpang which means cliff, referring to the habit and habitat of the species where locals commonly see them ( Naive et al, 2022). According to the locals living in the area, the younger leaves of this plant are edible. It has been used to treat coughs and as a spice for cooking paksiw (fish with vinegar).

Proposed IUCN category:— Vulnerable (VU) under criterion D1 (<1000 individuals in 4 locations). Based on our field survey estimates, populations consists of 150–200 plants in each of the four locations including both mature and young individuals. At the moment, B. noraaunorae is only known from the type locality. The location site is not classified as a protected area and is beside a national highway. The collection for consumption and the proximity of the species to the national highway makes it vulnerable to future anthropogenic activities ( IUCN, 2022).