方氏秋海棠 fang shi qiu hai tang

Herbs, rhizomatous. Rhizomes elongate, 8-15 mm in diam.; internodes to 8-15 cm, sparsely villous. Leaves palmately compound; stipules triangular to narrowly so, 12-15 × 9-12 mm; petiole 6-20 cm; leaflets 3-6, abaxially reddish brown, adaxially dark green, lanceolate, 7-15 × 2.5-4.5 cm, subleathery, abaxially sericeous on veins, apex acuminate. Inflorescences axillary; peduncle to 22 cm, sparsely to moderately pubescent; bracts caducous, oblong to ovate, 8-13 × 6-9 mm, abaxially glabrous or subglabrous, apex acute to obtuse. Staminate flowers: tepals 4, pinkish, outer 2 broadly ovate to orbicular, 1.6-2.2 × 2-2.2 cm, abaxially pilose; inner 2 oblanceolate to obtrullate; stamens 25-55; filaments nearly free; anthers oblong, 1.5-1.7 mm. Pistillate flowers: tepals 3, pinkish, outer 2 broadly ovate to orbicular, 1.3-1.5 × 1.4-1.6 cm, abaxially pilose; inner tepal 8-10 × ca. 5 mm; ovary subglabrous, 1-loculed with parietal placentation; styles 3, fused at base. Capsule nodding, 12-15 × 6-7 mm, abaxial wing 4-6 × 12-15 mm. Fl. Dec-Apr, fr. Feb-Jun. 2n = 30*.

● On limestone rocks in forests; 400-700 m. Guangxi (Longzhou).

This species resembles Begonia hemsleyana by the palmately compound leaves, but can be distinguished by the horizontal stem, pistillate flower with 3 tepals, 3 stigmas, 1-loculed ovary, and parietal placentae.