A new species of begonias flower believed to be found only in Myanmar was discovered on Kayin State’s Zwekabin mountain by Native Species Conservation and Identification in Myanmar (NSCI) in 2019 and verified to be a new species in 2023.
The peculiarity of the new species named Begonia kayinensis is that the colour of the leaf changes according to the colour of the limestone mountain where it grows. The flower comes out from the tip of the stem. There are more than 2,000 species of begonias flower in the world, and more than 90 species of the flower are identified in Myanmar, according to the research. The new species of the flower found on Zwekabin mountain was identified by a group of researchers from NSCI including Ma Myat Bhone Maw, Ko Khant Zaw Hein, Ko Min Khant Naing and a senior researcher, according to the organization.
“It is a unique species among the begonias flowers, so I am happy to have been able to record it. What makes it special is that it is a species included in the group that produces flowers from the top of the stem. Currently, more than 2,000 species of begonias flowers are identified in the world, but there are only five species including the new species from Myanmar that produce flowers from the top of the stem,” said researcher Ma Mya Bhone Maw.
NSCI employs local and expatriate experts to conduct on-ground works to record Myanmar’s biodiversity species and also to carry out services such as the identification of species and publishing articles on the conservation of biodiversity as well as myths and facts about some plants and animals. — ASH/TH
