Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta.  The Ministry of Forestry has announced on Monday (9/4/2025) the discovery of two new Begonia plant species in Kalimantan: Begonia bukitrayaensis and Begonia kalimantana. 

The findings, made during a biodiversity expedition in June 2024 and facilitated by Bukit Baka Bukit Raya National Park (TNBBBR), were published in the international journal Phytotaxa on 6 June  2025.

“The TNBBBR team's initiative and collaboration with Indonesian researchers have successfully revealed these new species,” said Satyawan Pudyatmoko, the Director General of Natural Resources and Ecosystem Conservation, as quoted by antaranews.com

Begonia bukitrayaensis was found on Mount Bukit Raya, Kalimantan’s highest peak. Its upper leaves feature cat-claw-like spines, setting it apart from other species. Meanwhile, Begonia kalimantana, discovered in a lowland valley in Central Kalimantan, is noted for its striking leaf patterns.

The ministry emphasized the importance of responsible scientific exploration in conservation zones, highlighting the ongoing potential for uncovering new species in Indonesia’s rich rainforests.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)