Currently, we have succeeded in conserving more than 100 types of Begonias from various regions in Indonesia.

Jakarta Researchers from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) have identified seven new plant species by the end of 2021, the head of the agency’s Research Center for Plant Conservation and Botanical Gardens has informed.

“The discovery has increased Indonesia’s biodiversity. It also provides information for further research on sustainable use of the biodiversity,” Sukma Surya Kusumah said in a written statement issued here on Saturday.

The research center will continue to explore and identify plants in their natural habitat to conserve endangered plants, he added.

Most of the plants classified by BRIN, such as Hoya batutikarensis, Hoya buntokensis, Dendrobium dedeksantosoi, Rigiolepis argentii, Begonia robii, Begonia willemii, and Etlingera comosa, are ornamental plants, he informed.

In addition, the agency has also found a subspecies of Zingiber ultralimitale identified as mataromeoense, Kusumah said.

Begonia robii is endemic to Sumatra Island, he informed. Its stem resembles a rhizome with highly asymmetrical leaves, he said. It has a very attractive leaf color pattern, and thus holds the potential to be an ornamental plant, he added.

Meanwhile, Begonia willemii can only be found in lowland limestone hills in Sulawesi Island, he said.

A sample of the species was collected from a forest in Luwuk Banggai district, Central Sulawesi province, he revealed. Its discovery was a collaboration between BRIN and researchers from the Singapore Botanic Gardens, he added.

A researcher at BRIN’s research center, Wisnu Handoyo Ardi, said that Begonia is one of the largest genera of flowering plants. Currently, 2,052 Begonia species have been identified from pantropical regions around the world, he informed.

Source: Antara News