Suggestion for Reference citation: Nurul Izzati, A., Meekiong, K., Rohaiza, D., Nurul Amanina M.R., Syauqina, M.Y., Aimi Syazana, S. & Nor Azieya, B. 2017. Comparison on Occurrence of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Two Limestone Hills in the North Western of Sarawak. In: Forest Department Sarawak & Faculty of Resource Science and Technology (UNIMAS). [Meekiong, K., Azahari, O., Pungga, R.S., Wasli, M.E., Freddy, Y.K.S. & Marconi, S.J., (eds.)]. Proceedings of Colloquium on the Dered Krian National Park – Scientific Expedition 2016. Kuching, Sarawak. 109 – 114. Colloquium on the Dered Krian National Park – Scientific Expedition, 2017 COMPARISON ON OCCURRENCE OF BEGONIA (BEGONIACEAE) FROM TWO LIMESTONE HILLS IN THE NORTH WESTERN OF SARAWAK Nurul Izzati, A.1, Meekiong, K.1, Rohaiza, D.2, Nurul Amanina M. R.1, Syauqina M. Y.1, Aimi Syazana S.1 & Nor Azieya, B.1 1 Faculty of Resource Science & Technology Universiti Malaysia Sarawak 93400 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak 2 Pusat Pengajian Pra-Universiti Universiti Malaysia Sarawak 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak Abstract The genus Begonia is belonging to the Begoniaceae family and considered as one of the largest flowering plant families that is having numerous species in one massive genus. About 60% of described Begonia species from Borneo are recorded from the limestones and adjacent areas. This showed that the limestones habitat is the richest spot for Begonias in Borneo. Many of them are recorded from very few localities and quite a number recorded as hyper-endemic, from a single limestone hill. A comparison study on the occurrences of Begonia in the limestone habitat, however, received less attention by the ecologists. Therefore, the objective of this study is to compare the occurrence of Begonia in two limestone hills; Gunung Doya in the Dered Krian National Park (Bau limestone areas) and Gunung Payang in the Serian-Tebedu Limestone areas. The studies were conducted at the foot of limestone hills of Gunung Doya and Gunung Payang that includes microhabitats such as limestone pocket, boulder, crevices and cave mouth. The surveys were conducted in August-September 2016. A total of nine species were recorded from two localities (B. andersonii, B. congesta, B. corrugata, B. lailana, B. paoana, B. pendula, B. sarawakensis, B. speluncae), five species from Gunung Payang and six species from Gunung Doya. However, B. speluncae and B. lailaina was the only species found in both limestones hills, while the others B. andersonii, B. corrugata and B. paoana were recorded from Gunung Payang and B. congesta, B. pendula, B. rubida and B. Sarawakensis from Gunung Doya. Keywords: Begonia, Begoniaceae, Gunung Doya, Gunung Payang, north western Sarawak Introduction Genus Begonia is a member of Begoniaceae family that placed under the Order Cucurbitales. The family is representing by only two genera namely, Begonia and a monotypic Hillebrandia. Hillebrandia sandwicensis Oliv. is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The genus Begonia (with approx. 1,500 species) is considered as one of the largest flowering plant family that has numerous species in one massive genus. It is expected that the 109 Colloquium on the Dered Krian National Park – Scientific Expedition, 2017 species of Begonia in Borneo is exceeding 600 species and it is among the largest plant genus in Borneo (Kiew & Sang, 2014). According to Kiew et al. (2015), there are approximately 96 species of Begonia recorded in Sarawak. Fewer species occur in Peninsular Malaysia which is 52 native species. However, none of the species has overlapped distribution among the two regions. Begonia can be easily identified because of their very unequal sided leaf, from their inferior ovary, completely closed ovary and fruits dehisce between wings (Jacques & Couto, 2009). Many of Begonia species are sensitive to humidity and temperature where they are adversely affected when tree canopy disturbed or removed. Borneo is a paradise for Begonia to flourish because of the warm temperature about 32°C at noon and cooling to 22°C at night. It cannot withstand freezing weather (Kiew et al. 2015). Begonias are particularly common on the limestone rocks. About 60% of described Begonia species from Borneo are recorded from the limestones and adjacent areas. This showed that the limestones habitat is the richest spot for Begonias in Borneo. However, comparison study on the occurrences of Begonia in the limestone habitat received less attention by the ecologists. Thus, the objective of this preliminary study is to compare the occurrence of Begonia in two selected limestone hills which are Gunung Doya in the Dered Krian National Park (Bau limestone areas) and Gunung Payang in the Serian-Tebedu Limestone areas. Two selected limestone hills were both limestone in northwestern of Sarawak. According to Banda et al. (2004), limestone in northwestern is divided into three areas which are Bau, Padawan and Serian. The surveys were conducted in August - September 2016 and a total of eight species were found from both localities. Materials and Methods Field surveys Wide-ranging surveys of natural populations of the genus Begonia at two selected limestone hills areas from the northwestern of Sarawak were conducted. The surveys were carried out at two selected limestone hills viz. Gunung Payang in the Serian-Padawan-Tebedu limestone and Gunung Doya of Dered Krian National Park. The diversity of species from both localities were identified and recorded. 110 Colloquium on the Dered Krian National Park – Scientific Expedition, 2017 Data Collecting Plant collections were made with field notes and photographs. Herbarium specimens were processed following methods recommended in Bridson and Forman (1992). Voucher specimens are deposited in the Herbarium of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (HUMS) and Herbarium of Sarawak Forest Department (SAR). Identifications The species were identified at the Herbarium of Forest Department Sarawak (SAR), Herbarium of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (HUMS) and available literatures. Habits and Habitats Analysis The habit and habitat of Begonia populations found in the study sites have been noted and recorded accordingly. The correlation with their habitats is also considered. Results and Discussion A total of eight species were recorded from both localities. These eight species were Begonia andersonii, B. congesta, B. corrugata, B. lailana, B. paoana, B. pendula, B. sarawakensis and B. speluncae. Five species were recorded from Gunung Payang and also five species from Gunung Doya. Table 1 show the list of occurrences of Begonia species from both localities. Table 1: Diversity of Begonia in Gunung Payang and Gunung Doya. Species Begonia andersonii Kiew & S. Julia Begonia congesta Ridl. Begonia corrugata Kiew & S. Julia Begonia lailana Kiew & C. Geri Begonia paoana Kiew & S. Julia Begonia pendula Ridl. Begonia sarawakensis Ridl. Begonia speluncae Ridl. Gunung Payang √ Gunung Doya √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ √ Begonia speluncae and B. lailaina were the only two species that found in both limestone hills. Begonia andersonii, B. corrugata, and B. paoana were recorded from Gunung Payang while the species that were found from Gunung Doya were B. congesta, B. pendula and B. Sarawakensis. Comparison between the two selected limestone hills shows that Gunung Doya and Gunung Payang were equally diverse in Begonia. The occurrence of Begonia may 111 Colloquium on the Dered Krian National Park – Scientific Expedition, 2017 be affected by humidity and temperature where most of Begonia species are adversely affected when tree canopy disturbed or removed. Most of the occurrences of Begonia species were found at the foot hills and at the base of the limestone hills. All the species that were recorded in the selected limestone hills were endemic to the Kuching Division. Due to sensitivity towards environmental changes, occurrences of the Begonia in this limestone area indicate that these areas are still free from massive destructions. Some of the Begonia species found were very restricted and confined to a small area in the limestone hills. For example, B. andersonii and B. corrugata were only found in four limestone hills in the Padawan-Serian-Tebedu limestone areas. Two species from section Reichenheimia, namely B. andersonii and B. speluncea were both found in Gunung Payang limestone. Begonia andersonii which is endemic on the Kuching limestone, commonly found on dry vertical limestone cliffs in light shade (Kiew et al. 2015). This species is a rosette begonia and their creeping stems always found cling on the vertical rocks. Begonia corrugata is also endemic to the Kuching limestone areas. It is cane-like begonia that grows in shade lowland limestone forest on steep rock. It is distinct because of its leaves that have corrugate appearance due to the narrowly parallel and deeply impressed veins that so-called named of the species. Begonia paoana is also cane-like begonia with capsule triangular wings commonly found on slopes at the base of limestone hills or on limestone screes, rubble or rocks. It is also endemic to the limestone areas in Kuching Division. Three species found in Gunung Doya were B. congesta, B. pendula and B. sarawakensis. Begonia congesta were found commonly grows at foot of limestone, boulders and crevices. The inflorescence of B. congesta appears congested because of the lateral branches clustered at the base and long rachis bearing male flower at above Kiew and Geri (2003). Begonia pendula was found creeping over vertical mossy cliff faces below the tree canopy with its thin stems rooting at the nodes. It was named due to the stems habit that hanging down rock faces and it was endemic to Kuching Division and restricted to limestone areas. However, only B. speluncae and B. lailana were recorded in both localities. Begonia lailana is placed in the section Petermannia because of the ovary that has three locules with two placentas and a cane-like begonia. It grows at the base of limestone hills and in light shade areas. This species was common in foot hill of limestone areas and adjacents such as matured rubber and cocao 112 Colloquium on the Dered Krian National Park – Scientific Expedition, 2017 estates. Begonia speluncae are endemic to Kuching Division and also restricted to the limestone areas. It is frequently found growing at the cave mouth, dry rock cliff faces at the bases of the hills. Other species that recorded in the Kuching Division were B. bengohensis S. Julia, B. burttii Kiew & S. Julia, B. calcarea Ridl., B. chaiana Kiew & S. Julia, B. chlorocarpa Irmsch. ex Sands, B. flavovirens Kiew & S. Julia, B. hullettii Ridl., B. kiamfeei Kiew & S. Julia, B. matangensis S. Julia & Kiew, B. penrissenensis Kiew & S. Julia, B. pleioclada Imrsch., B. propinqua Ridl., B. punchak Kiew & S. Julia, B. rubida Ridl., B. serapatensis S. Julia & Kiew and B. xiphophylla Imrsch. Majority of the species are considered as calciferous elements except for B. chlorocarpa, B. flavovirens, B. matangensis, B. hullettii, B. pleioclada, B. propinqua and B. xiphophylla are from mixed dipterocarp forest. Begonia pleioclada and B. hullettii however, once also recorded from the limestone areas, Gunung Staat in Bau limestone areas (Meekiong, pers. com.). Conclusion Begonia species are diverse in both selected limestone hills. Most of the Begonia species found in both limestone areas were endemic to the limestone in Kuching Division and some of them are restricted to the limestone area which is B. andersonii, B. corrugata, B. pendula, and B. speluncae. The occurrences of five Begonia species that coexist and sharing a similar habitat in a single limestone hill is considered high and never been reported from any limestone hills in Sarawak before. The healthy populations from both limestones hills indicate that the hills are still less disturbed although the agricultural activities occurred near to the foot of the limestone hills. Acknowledgement We would like to thank Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) for the facilities and accommodation throughout the field trips and partly funded our research via grant: C09/SpSTG/1360/16/2, Department of Forest Sarawak for the permit, to the SAR (Department of Forest Sarawak Herbarium) for permission to examine the specimens. Thanks also to Dr Effendi Wasli, Dr Freddy Yeo Kuok San, Dr Zinnirah Shabdin, Sekudan Tedong, Hidir Marzuki, Mohd Rizan Abdullah, Salim Arip, from UNIMAS and Haniza Razali, Yazid Kalbi and Yahud Wat from the Department of Forest Sarawak. Special thanks to the local 113 Colloquium on the Dered Krian National Park – Scientific Expedition, 2017 communities from Kampung Mawang Riih, Tubih Mawang and Kampung Seromah for their help. References Banda, R. M., Gendang, R., & Ambun A. U. 2004. Geology and geochemistry of the limestone in Sarawak. In: H. S. Yong, F. S. P. Hg & E. F. L. Yen (eds), Sarawak Bau limestone Biodiversity. Sarawak Museum Journal 59, No. 80; Special Issues 6: 41-61 Kiew, R. & Geri, C. 2003. Begonias from the Bau Limestone, Borneo, including a New Species. Garden Bulletin Singapore. 55: 113-123. Kiew, R. & Sang, J. 2014. Diversity of Begonia (Begoniaceae) - How many species are there? Reinwardtia 14(1): 1-248. Kiew, R., Sang, J., Repin, R. & Ali Ahmad, J. 2015. A Guide to Begonias of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia: Natural History Publication (Borneo). Lima Jacques, E & Santos Cuoto, A.D. 2009. Neotropical Begoniaceae. Kew Royal Botanic Gardens Retrieved 10.09.2016 from neotropikey/families/Begoniaceae.html 114 View publication stats www.kew.org/science/tropamerica/