SYNOPSIS OF BEGONIA (BEGONIACEAE) FROM THE NORTHERN ARM OF SULAWESI AND SANGIHE ISLAND, INDONESIA, INCLUDING THREE NEW SPECIES

Abstract

The Begonia diversity of the northern arm of Sulawesi and the adjacent Sangihe Talaud Islands, Indonesia, is reassessed, and distribution maps, proposed IUCN conservation category categories, and an identification key to 22 recognised species are presented. Three new species, namely Begonia kinhoi, B. pitopangii and B. sojolensis, are described and photographs provided. Newly available material allowed a reassessment of the morphological variability of several species that were originally described from very limited material (Begonia carnosa, B. cuneatifolia, B. gemella, B. hispidissima, B. masarangensis, B. mendumiae and B. strachwitzii), and revised descriptions and photographs of these species are provided. Begonia heteroclinis is reduced to synonomy of B. carnosa, and both names are lectotypified. Additionally, recircumscription and revised  synonymy of Begonia rieckei are presented.