Tabon Man refers to remains discovered in the Tabon Caves in Lipuun Point in Quezon, Palawan in the Philippines. They were discovered by Robert B. Fox, an American anthropologist of the National Museum of the Philippines, on May 28, 1962. These remains, the fossilized fragments of a skull of a female and the jawbones of three individuals dating back to 16,500 years ago, were the earliest known human remains in the Philippines, until a metatarsal from the Callao Man discovered in 2007 was dated in 2010 by uranium-series dating as being 67,000 years old. However, some scientists think additional evidence is necessary to confirm those fossils as a new species, rather than a locally adapted population of other Homo populations, such as H. erectus or Denisovan.
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 in size 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.
The Tabon Caves, dubbed as the Philippines' Cradle of Civilization, are a group of caves located on Lipuun Point, north of Quezon municipality, in the south western part of the province of Palawan on Palawan Island, in the Philippines. They are part of the Lipuun Point Reservation, which has been protected by the government of the Philippines as a museum reservation to protect the caves and immediate vicinity from deforestation and to preserve the cultural artifacts present there.
Saxifraga stolonifera is a perennial flowering plant known by several common names, including creeping saxifrage, strawberry saxifrage, creeping rockfoil, Aaron's beard, mother of thousands, roving sailor, wandering Jew, and strawberry begonia or strawberry geranium.
Nepenthes mantalingajanensis is a tropical pitcher plant known only from the summit region of Mount Mantalingajan, the highest point on the Philippine island of Palawan, after which it is named.
Nepenthes peltata is a tropical pitcher plant known only from the upper slopes of Mount Hamiguitan on the island of Mindanao in the Philippines. It is characterised by a peltate tendril attachment and conspicuous indumentum. The species typically produces ovoid pitchers with a prominent basal crest and large nectar glands on the lower surface of the lid.
The Micrantha is a wild citrus from the papeda group, native to southern Philippines, particularly islands of Cebu and Bohol. Two varieties are recognized: small-flowered papeda, locally known as biasong, and small-fruited papeda or samuyao.
Cleome viscosa, the Asian spiderflower or tick weed is an annual herb that grows up to a meter high. It belongs to the family Cleomaceae. It's considered an invasive species and it is widely distributed in warm and humid habitats across the Americas, Africa and Asia. It is commonly found during the rainy season.
Hypericum cuisinii is a perennial herb in the genus Hypericum, in the section Adenosepalum. The herb has pale yellow flowers and occurs in Greece and Turkey.
Passiflora quetzal is a species of flowering plant native to Mexico and Guatemala described in 2004. It is named after the quetzal, which inhabits the area.
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 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 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 adamsensis is an endemic species of Begonia discovered in Adams, Ilocos Norte province, Luzon, Philippines occurring at an altitude of 308 m above sea level. The species broad-based leaves that are peltate, with a glabrous peduncle, an acuminate tip and nearly entire margin, resembled that of Begonia hernandioides. However, there are differences, in that B. hernandioides had red-colored stipule that is broadly ovate, the petiole and abaxial lamina is pubescent, and the peltate leaves are elliptic.
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 located in Palawan.
