Begonia truncatifolia, endemic to San Vicente was described last Sept 4, by Botanists Rene Alfred Anton Bustamante, Mc Andrew K. Pranada, Yu Pin Ang of Philippine Taxonomic Initiative & Danilo N. Tandang from and the National Museum of the Philippines.
According to the paper published in Phytotaxa, the new species was first documented in 2011 by Rene Bustamante. It is the 22nd species of Begonia found in Palawan and the 69th for the Philippines, “The then unknown Begonia was quickly recognized as a member of sect. Baryandra because of its rhizomatous stem, protandrous inflorescence, 4-tepalled staminate flower and unequally 3-winged, 2-locular ovary. It is now the second species described from the town of San Vicente (after B. beijnenii also described by Philippine Taxonomic Initiative) and the latest addition to the species in the sect. Baryandra with bilocular ovaries,” as written in Phytotaxa journal. The article also stated that it is endemic only to San Vicente, in the island of Palawan, and is Endangered due to the decline to its population since its first documentation. Possible cause mentioned are illegal logging, slash and burn farming and construction of a resort on the river as some of the causes.
“The majority of the population of Begonia truncatifolia observed show a high degree of variegation on their leaves, varying from brown mottled patches to white/silvery streaks,” the report said.