Indonesia: Unearthed begonia unravels hidden flora treasure
They found 15 new species during three expeditions in Sumatra between 2008 and 2011.
A begonia species found in one limestone hill is usually not available in another limestone area because the tiny begonia seeds do not travel far. The presence of begonia, which grows on the forest floor, shows that the forests are still in good condition because the plant loves moisture and lots of shade.
Indonesia, a hotspot of diversity for begonia in Asia, is currently home to more than 200 begonia species. There are some 1,600 species spread across Africa, tropical America and tropical Asia.
The discovery of 15 new begonia species in Sumatra indicates that this genus is still underexplored.
Read more at The Jakarta Post