Cortes, officially the Municipality of Cortes, is a municipality in the province of Surigao del Sur, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 17,924 people.
Begoniaceae is a family of flowering plants with two genera and about 2040 species occurring in the subtropics and tropics of both the New World and Old World. All but one of the species are in the genus Begonia. There have been many recent discoveries of species in the genus Begonia, such as Begonia truncatifolia which is endemic to San Vincente, Palawan. B. truncatifolia is smaller than other species of the genus Begonia and this new species is proposed Critically Endangered by standards set by the IUCN. The only other genus in the family, Hillebrandia, is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands and has a single species. Phylogenetic work supports Hillebrandia as the sister taxon to the rest of the family. The genus Symbegonia was reduced to a section of Begonia in 2003, as molecular phylogenies had shown it to be derived from within that genus. Members of the genus Begonia are well-known and popular houseplants.
Nepenthes barcelonae is a tropical pitcher plant native to the Philippine island of Luzon. It is known from a single mountain in the Sierra Madre range of Aurora Province, where it grows in stunted submontane forest.
Begonia elnidoensis is an endemic species of Begonia discovered in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines. The species was compared to Begonia wadei, in that both species have thick-trunked stem, differing in the widely to very widely ovate or subtriangular leaves, with the latter having obliquely ovate leaves, 3-4 secondary leaf veins where the latter has 6 on each side of the midrib, with glabrous petioles compared to latter having puberulous to tomentose, an inflorescence measuring 20–40 cm in length compared to only 6–20 cm, and the differently-sized bracts and capsules.
Begonia balangcodiae is an endemic species of Begonia discovered in Sagubo, Kapangan, Benguet, Philippines. The species was allied to B. esculenta Merr., from which it is distinguished by its cordate leaf base and white tepals, while the latter's leaf base is not cordate and has a vermilion-colored tepals. On the same hand, this species resembles that of B. leucosticta Warburg, differing from the latter on cordate leaf base versus subcordate leaf base, and larger tepals ranging in size from 12 to 18 mm long in pistillate flowers versus the latter's 3–5 mm. Additionally, this species is similar to B. negrosensis Elmer, in that it has lanceolate, glabrous leaf compared to that of latter's obovately oblong and sparsely hairy leaves, and white to greenish tepals, versus that of latter's pinkish tepals.
Begonia gironellae is an endemic species of Begonia discovered in Tanabag, Puerto Princesa, in northern Palawan, Philippines. The species resembled Begonia cleopatrae, in that both species have widely ovate, variegated leaves, and fleshy hairs fused into a ring at the base of the leaf petiole. However, Begonia gironellae differed from B. cleopatrae due to its rosette habit with rhizome shorter to 5 cm long, with very congested internodes, widely triangular stipules, differently-sized lamina and bracts, and capsule with wider abaxial wing. Additionally, B. gironellae is a lowland species occurring in broadleaved seaside forests, while B. cleopatrae grows on hill forest at ca. 400m.
Begonia quinquealata is an endemic species of Begonia discovered in Salakot Falls, Napsan, Puerto Princesa City, in northern Palawan, Philippines. This species, along with B. suborbiculata Merr., are the only two known species in the Philippines with 5-winged capsules. Unlike any other member of Begonia sect. Baryandra, B. quinquealata is very distinctive for being a densely hairy herb with long creeping rhizomes. It differs also from B. suborbiculata in that it has thickly chartaceous, widely ovate leaves that have uniformly green upper leaf surface, densely velutinous, with denticulate leaf margin, outer tepals, and red scabrous ovary and capsules.
Begonia tabonensis is an endemic species of Begonia discovered in Tabon Cave, Lipuun Point, Municipality of Quezo, in Palawan, Philippines. This species resembles B. mindorensis Merr., widely ovate and uniformly green leaves, and inflorescence with sessile glands. However the two species differs on several characteristics: Begonia tabonensis have shorter petioles(10 cm long), smaller leaves(4-8 x 4–6.4 cm); deciduous, chartaceous, glabrous or very sparsely glandular bracts; and slightly pointed, crescent-shaped ovary wing; whereas, B. mindorensis have longer petioles(25 cm long), larger leaves(10-15 x 6-10 cm); persistent, coriaceous, densely glandular bracts; and acute, triangular ovary wing.
Begonia tenuibracteata is an endemic species of Begonia discovered in Salakot Falls, Napsan, Puerto Princesa City, in northern Palawan, Philippines occurring on mossy boulders along road cut in shaded, wet lowland forest. This species, along with B. mindorensis, produces the unusual, conspicuous, persistent bracts on the inflorescences. However, it sharply distinct from the latter due to its ovate to lanceolate bracts, which are hyaline, membranaceous, glabrous or with very sparse sessile glands where the latter have widely to depressed ovate bracts that are coriaceous, densely clothed with sessile glands. Additionally, B. tenuibracteata differs by the congested rhizomes with internodes only to 3 mm long; with shorter petioles ; velvety upper leaf surface; shorter inflorescence ; and fewer stamens (40–50); whereas B. mindorensis have 20 mm long rhizome internodes, petioles 10–25 cm long, glossy upper leaf surface, inflorescence over 35 cm long, and up to ca. 70 stamens
Begonia beijnenii is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, native to the island of Palawan in the Philippines.
Begonia cabanillasii is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, native to the island of Palawan in the Philippines.
Begonia caramoanensis is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, native to the island of Luzon in the Philippines.
Begonia truncatifolia is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, native to the island of Palawan in the Philippines.
The Philippine Taxonomic Initiative (PTI) is a private Philippine research institute and non-profit organization founded in 2018, located in the Philippines.
Dipankar Borah is an Indian field botanist from Assam.
Alocasia heterophylla is a plant in the family Araceae. It is endemic to the islands of Luzon, Mindanao, and Polillo in the Philippines.
Begonia amphioxus is a species of flowering plant in the family Begoniaceae, section Petermannia, native to Sabah state, Malaysia. There it is found growing in light shade on limestone, either at the base of cliffs or on top of outcrops. A shrub reaching 40 cm (16 in), its upright peltate leaves are 5 to 12 cm long, lance-shaped and pointed at both ends. The highly ornamental leaves are olive to mid-green, with red spots and a red border around the margin.
Begonia noraaunorae is an endemic species of Begonia found in Surigao del Sur, Mindanao Island, Philippines. The species was compared to B. negrosensis Elmer, from which it resembled by its glabrous stems, leaves that are obovately oblong in shape and with sparse hairs, the lamina with glossy surface adaxially and light green abaxially, the staminate flowers having 2 tepals, the pistillate flowers having 5 tepals, and the green ovaries. However, this species differed from B. negrosensis by its larger leaves with scattered light green patches, shorter stems, a much larger, serrated lamina, shape of tepals of staminate flower, and longer ovary with no subtending bracteoles. The species is named after the Filipina actress and National Artist, Nora Aunor. The species is classified under IUCN Red List criteria as Vulnerable.
