Begonia Flora Along The Marai Parai To West Gurkha Hut Trail, Mount Kinabalu

Abstract

A study was conducted on the begonia flora along the Marai Parai to West Gurkha Hut trail from October 6th to 12th, 2023. Twelve transects were established, ranging from 938 to 3986 meters above sea level, encompassing the lowland forest to alpine scrub and dwarf in the alpine rock desert area. The findings indicated that Transect 4 at an altitude of 1656-1929 m in the lower montane to upper montane forest, exhibited the highest begonia count (222 individuals, 6 species), followed by Transect 1 at 1043-1110 m in Lowland Hill Forest (180 individuals, 4 species), Transect 3 1444-1529 m in the lower montane forest (104 individuals, 1 species). In our study, one begonia species was identified and recognized as a novel species named Begonia maraiparaiense Rossiti & Rimi sp. nov. This new species, Begonia maraiparaiense, is exclusive to Mount Kinabalu and has been found solely in the upper montane forest, thriving on both ultramafic and non-ultramafic substrates at Marai-Parai. This study is the first of its kind in the area. The study has identified 11 species of begonias from Marai Parai to West Gurkha Trail Hut.