Begonia pulchrifolia D.K.Tian& C.H.Li, 2015

Begonia pulchrifolia D.K.Tian& C.H.Li View in CoL , sp.nov. ( Fig.1 View FIGURE 1 & 2 View FIGURE 2 ).

Type:— China. Meinvfeng , Leshan, Sichuan, 29°20′57′′N, 103°31′47′′E, 1160 m, 14 September 2014, D.K. Tian et al., TDK-2241 (holotype CSH! GoogleMaps ; isotype CSH! GoogleMaps ). Topotype:—at the same place, 29°21′26′′N, 103°32′00′′E, 800 m, 14 September 2014, D.K. Tian et al., TDK-2243 ( CSH!) GoogleMaps .

Begonia pulchrifolia D.K. Tian & C.H. Li can be easily separated from other Begonia species. Morphologically, it is only similar to the young or smaller individuals of B. dielsiana and B. emeiensis but clearly differs from them by its leaf color and usually deeper divided leaf lobes, small-sized flowers, hairy outer petals of male flowers, 5 petals of female flowers and longer abaxial fruit wings ( Table 2 View TABLE 2 , Fig. 5 View FIGURE 5 ).

Herb rhizomatous, perennial, deciduous in winter, 10–20 cm tall. Rhizome creeping, short, rarely branched, 3–10 cm long, 4–15 mm thick. Leaves 2–9 (12) per plant, basal or occasionally on 1–3 nodal stem during inflorescence development. Petiole green or pinkish, cylindrical, glabrous without ditches and spots on surface, (3) 7–30 cm long, (2) 3–7 mm thick. Blade nearly oval, 6–25 cm long, 4–20 cm wide, both sides sparsely short gray or red rigid hairy, hair less than 0.5 mm long; adaxial surface dark green with light-green areas particularly at base; abaxial surface red to deep red with light-green areas, rarely entire deep-red; base oblique, cordate, near overlapped to slightly overlapped; margin usually triangular, shallow lobed to rarely deep divided in large individuals, with denticulate, rigid hairs; venation palmate, 9–11 veined, adaxial slightly impressed, abaxial distinctly prominent.

Inflorescences 1–4, basal or occasionally terminal on short stem with 1–2 internodes, 6–30 cm long. Primary peduncle green or pinkish, glabrous, 5–21 cm long, 2–5 mm in diameter. Bracts ovate-lanceolate, deciduous, glabrous, margin entire. Flowers 5–15 per inflorescence; male flowers open earlier at the same node, about 1.5 folds of female flowers in number.

Staminate flower: pedicel green or slightly pink, glabrous, 20–27 mm long and up to 1 mm in diameter; corolla 32–36 × 26–31 mm; tepals 4, outer 2 larger, color uneven, upper pink, lower near white, broadly ovate, 15–18 × 12–19 mm, stripes distinct on adaxial surface, sparse hairs on abaxial surface around axis; inner 2 smaller, white-pinkish, oblanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 12–15 × 4.5–7 mm, stripes distinct. Androecium 3–4 mm long, 4–5 mm in diameter; stamens about 40–60, filaments about 3 mm long, upper 1/3 free, lower 2/3 fused; anthers yellow, obovate, nearly 1 mm long, apex slightly depressed, fewer obtuse.

Pistillate flower: pedicel pink, glabrous, 13–20 mm long, 1 mm in diameter. Corolla 18–27 mm in diameter; tepals 5, nearly ovate, grabrous, upper pink, lower nearly white, 8–15 × 3–12 mm, inner smaller, stripes distinc on adaxial surface. Styles 2, free, 1.5–2 mm long; stigma 2, golden yellow, U-shaped, 1–2 mm long, 2 circles spiralled. Ovary 3-loculed, placentae axile, bifid. Capsule nodding, ovoid, glabrous, unequally 3-winged; abaxial wing nearly roundrectangular, 12–16 × 8–11 mm; lateral wings shorter, 1.5–5 × 9–12 mm. Seeds numerous, brown, ellipsoid, ovoid to ovoid-conical, 0.3–04 × 0.20–0.25 mm. Flowering July to Sept., fruiting Aug. to Nov.

Etymology:—The epithet is named for its beautiful foliage color and elegant plants.

Phenology:— The plants bloom between July and September, the fruits ripe from August to November.

Distribution and habitat:— In Meinvfeng, Leshan City, at an elevation of 800–1160 m, and in Jiushijiudaoguai, Emeishan City at an elevation of 1235–1420 m, both in Sichuan Province, China ( Fig. 3 View FIGURE 3 ). Growing on hilly slopes under forest cover or on rocks in moist valleys. In both sites, no other Begonia species have been found to occur together with this new taxa.

Additional specimens examined:— China. Mount Emei , Emeishan City, Sichuan Province, 29°33′00.59′′N, 103°22′00.11′′E, 1230–1420 m, 20 Sept. 2014, C.H. Li 14001 ( CSH; CDBI) GoogleMaps ; Emei , Emeishan City, Sichuan Province, anonymous and unknown date (1980?), collection No. 80061, herbarium specimen routing number as PEM-15460 ( PEM) .

Proposed IUCN Conservation assessment: — VN. Based on the area of occupancy estimated to be <500 km 2 (EN: B2), species existing at two separated locations (EN: B2a), and quality of habitat continuing decline due to increasing tourism and potential exploitation for ornamental and medicinal uses (EN: B2b(iii)), B. pulchrifolia should be considered Endangered (EN: B2ab(iii)) according to the IUCN red list criteria ( IUCN 2014). Therefore, a sustainable conservation strategy should be made.