Chinese researchers have identified a previously unknown species of Begonia in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, located in southern China. The discovery was made by scientists at the Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The new species was first collected during a field survey in Pingxiang City, Guangxi, in 2020, from a limestone mountain. Following its collection, the researchers brought the specimen into cultivation at the XTBG for further study. The findings were recently published in the journal Taiwania.

After thorough examination and comparisons with known species, the researchers confirmed that the plant represented a new species, naming it Begonia pingxiangensis, in reference to its origin in Pingxiang.

According to the study, while the leaves and flowers of Begonia pingxiangensis resemble those of Begonia daxinensis, they can be differentiated by distinct characteristics, including the shape and size of the leaf blade, flower color, and the smaller size of both the staminate and pistillate flowers.

This new Begonia species grows on rock surfaces in the karst mountain forests at an elevation of 320 meters. Based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List Categories and Criteria, the researchers have classified the species as "endangered." Further investigation is needed to assess its distribution, population size, and number of individuals in order to understand its conservation needs better.