A CAPSUnian faculty member has made waves in the international botanical community after leading the discovery of a new plant species found only in Panay Island.
Dr. Harold O. Buenvenida, a faculty member at CAPSU Pontevedra Campus, served as the lead researcher in identifying Begonia jurgenneae (Begoniaceae, section Petermannia), a rare and endemic species thriving in the lush tropical forests of Capiz and Iloilo.
The groundbreaking study, co-authored with Mark Arcebal K. Naïve of Xizhuangbana Tropical Botanical Gardens Chinese Academy of Sciences and Lillian Jennifer V. Rodriguez of the University of the Philippines Diliman, was published in the peer-reviewed journal Taiwania (Vol. 70, No. 4, pp. 595–598). The paper offers a complete taxonomic treatment of the species, including detailed morphological descriptions, comparisons with related species, phenological data, and a preliminary conservation assessment.
According to Dr. Buenvenida, Begonia jurgenneae is closely related to Begonia incisa and Begonia quercifolia but can be distinguished by its unique leaf structure and floral characteristics. The species is currently considered endangered due to its limited distribution and the ongoing threat of habitat loss in the Western Visayas.
The research team also documented the species’ flowering season, geographic range, and provided a color-illustrated distribution map. The discovery adds to the growing body of knowledge on Philippine begonias, underscoring the country’s status as a biodiversity hotspot.
Local environmentalists hailed the achievement as a milestone for Capiz’s scientific community, noting that it highlights the critical role of local researchers in biodiversity conservation.
The full study can be accessed via DOI: 10.6165/tai.2025.70.595.
| via Christian George F. Acevedo, CAPSU Public Relations Director
Dr. Harold O. Buenvenida