By bringing a wide range of papers focused on Begonia together, we hope to inform and encourage further work.
To support this, a stable and useful sectional classification is needed – the work by the Begonia Phylogeny Group will aim to provide this. Guest editors, Dr Mark Hughes and Dr Catherine Kidner concluded: “Begonia is the world’s fastest-growing genus and a focus of intense research. The publication of many new species of Begonia from Sarawak reflects our gradually expanding knowledge of the diversity and distribution of the genus in Borneo.” In such circumstances - and without meticulous observations and complete materials of flowers and fruits - these superficially appear to be the same species and can be wrongly identified or are often overlooked in the field. “A few species described here are very similar in vegetative characters to species previously described but are conspicuously different in reproductive characters. Even species growing closely together have different growth habits and may possibly be reproductively isolated. In the forests, more than one species of Begonia often coexist, but they usually occupy different microhabitats or elevations. Ms Sang explained the significance of the journal and the formation of the new group: “Despite continuous exploration of forests in Borneo, the percentage of hyperendemic and rare species remains high among Begonia species. This lays out a flavour of the enhanced understanding resulting from focused studies in a particular geographic region.
“Thanks to the work of Begoniaceae researchers in this special edition of the Journal, we now have the real and exciting possibility of revealing untold levels of information about evolutionary relationships between thousands of species.”Īdvances in Begonia research are reflected in papers such as ADDITIONS TO THE BEGONIA FLORA OF SARAWAK, BORNEO, I: TWELVE NEW SPECIES AND A NEW RECORD by Malaysian taxonomists Julia Sang, R Kiew and CY Ling. The time is right for the journal to publish a special issue highlighting these developments and international collaborations. With its pantropical distribution and amazing species diversity, recent developments have greatly improved our understanding of its genome evolution and tropical diversity. Featuring research papers by 61 authors from 21 countries it includes papers ranging from descriptions of species new to science, to characterisation of new methods for sequencing genetic diversity across the genus using synthetic probes or “baits”.ĭr Peter Wilkie, the Journal’s Editor-in-Chief explained: “Begonia is a large genus of more than 2000 species and collaborative research has significantly accelerated over the past two decades. Introduced in the internationally recognised and open access academic journal Edinburgh Journal of Botany, the group’s formation is announced in a special edition focusing on Begonia. This is seen as a strong starting point for the new Begonia Phylogeny Group of experts from 18 countries set to tackle the challenges of understanding the sheer diversity of characteristics in this large and complex plant genus. With scientific research methods and partnerships advancing considerably since the turn of the century, significant new evidence is unfolding about the Begonia in its natural habitats. Yet, an international scientific taskforce intent on cracking the genetic codes of this most abundant group has been launched with ambitions of solving mysteries of global biodiversity. Popular as ornamentals and bedding plants the world over, the apparently humble Begonia might be deemed to hold few secrets.