Amorphophallus calladoi (Araceae), a new species from Luzon Island, Philippines RENE ALFRED ANTON B. BUSTAMANTE, MAVERICK N. TAMAYO, JOHN PAUL COLLANTES, PIETER B. PELSER Phytotaxa, 2026 A new species of Amorphophallus from Luzon Island, Philippines is here described. It is unique among Amorphophallus species in having a combination of the following characters: a ca. 1:2 peduncle to spathe ratio, a spreading and broadly triangular spathe with a deep and distinct constriction, a rugose appendix, stamens with rounded pores, and a trilobed stigma. A discussion on other closely related species is presented. We here provisionally assess this species as data deficient (DD) following IUCN guidelines pending an assessment of its populations in the wild. An identification key to Philippine species of Amorphophallus with rugose appendices is also provided.
Nepenthes megastoma (Nepenthaceae), a micro-endemic pitcher plant from Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan, Philippines JOHN CHARLES A. ALTOMONTE, JOHN PAUL R. COLLANTES, VERNALUZ MANGUSSAD, RENE ALFRED ANTON BUSTAMANTE, ALASTAIR S. ROBINSON Phytotaxa, 2025 Nepenthes megastoma is described and illustrated as a new species from the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Palawan Philippines. This carnivorous tropical pitcher plant is currently known from just three locations in the Mount Saint Paul karst formation, where it grows on vertical limestone walls. Morphologically, N. megastoma is characterised by its highly branched stems, campanulate pitchers, peltate tendril exsertion, dimorphic upper pitchers, and unidirectionally upturned female flowers. It is assessed as Critically Endangered under the IUCN Red List criteria, based on its restriction to three subpopulations comprising few total individuals. Pitcher morphology suggests a degree of ecological-functional convergence with N. campanulata of Borneo, though overall morphology indicates a probable close affinity with the widespread Palawan endemic N. philippinensis.
Validation of the name Homalomena brachygyna (Collantes et al. in Phytotaxa 664 (1): 60) KHANT ZAW HEIN, JOHN PAUL COLLANTES Phytotaxa, 2025 The name Homalomena brachygyna J.Collantes, K.Z.Hein & R.Bustam. was proposed for a new species of Homalomena Schott (1832: 20) from Palawan, Philippines, and published in Phytotaxa on 3 September 2024 (Collantes et al. 2024). However, the name is invalid under Article 40.5 of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Turland et al. 2025), as the protologue failed to specify a single institution where the holotype is conserved—a requirement for valid publication of names published after 1 January 1990. Instead, two institutions were cited: PNH for the sheet and CAHUP for the spirit material (Collantes et al. 2024). As all other requirements of the Madrid Code were fulfilled, Homalomena brachygyna is validated below by unambiguously designating the holotype, using the effective English diagnosis and description provided in Collantes et al. (2024).
Homalomena brachygyna (Araceae), a new species from Palawan Island, Philippines JOHN PAUL COLLANTES, VERNALUZ CHUA-MANGUSSAD, KHANT ZAW HEIN, RENE ALFRED ANTON BUSTAMANTE Phytotaxa, 2024 Homalomena brachygyna, a new species from the riparian forest of San Vicente, Palawan, is herein described. This novel addition to the Homalomena species of the Philippines bridges the gap of more than 100 years since the last described species from the country. It is also the second endemic Homalomena species in the island of Palawan. Descriptions, photographs, as well as notes on its habitat and ecology, phenology, and preliminary IUCN conservation assessment are provided.
Insights on Begonia jagori (Begoniaceae), a cryptic species of Albay Province, Luzon Island, Philippines CYRUS JOB P. DELA CRUZ, JOHN PAUL R. COLLANTES, RENE ALFRED ANTON BUSTAMANTE, YU PIN ANG Phytotaxa, 2024 In documenting the flora of Mt. Malinao, Albay Province, Bicol region, Philippines an unknown Begonia from section Petermannia was discovered in the higher altitudes. Further study of relevant specimens and protologue identified it as Begonia jagori, a species endemic to the Philippines. Begonia jagori was known from a single collection in 1861 and since then, it has not been recollected or redocumented again. The collection locality was listed broadly as Luzon, and the protologue lacked some details. Using the materials from Mt. Malinao, the plant was redescribed and lectotypified. A note comparing its affinity to B. cumingiana is provided.
Two new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Aurora Memorial National Park, Luzon Island, Philippines YU PIN ANG, JOHN PAUL R. COLLANTES, JAYSON MANSIBANG, CYRUS JOB P. DELA CRUZ, JAMIE ANN M. AUMENTADO, et al. Phytotaxa, 2023 Begonia masilig and Begonia akaw, both endemic to Aurora Memorial National Park, Luzon, Philippines, are described as species new to science. Begonia masilig is similar to B. droseroides in its rhizomatous habit and glandular trichomes on the inflorescence, but differs in lamina shape and overall size, and the vestiture of stipule, lamina margin, and outer tepals of staminate flowers. Begonia akaw is similar to B. ramosii in its short erect habit, ovate lamina and congested terminal inflorescence with 2-tepaled staminate flowers, but differs in inflorescence size and arrangement, and bract and ovary shape. Both new species are here proposed to be Endangered (EN) as per IUCN criteria.
RECENT SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Amorphophallus calladoi (Araceae), a new species from Luzon Island, Philippines RAAB BUSTAMANTE, MN TAMAYO, JP COLLANTES, PB PELSER Phytotaxa 740 (2), 217-222 , 2026 2026.0
New record and amended description of Bulbophyllum placochilum (Orchidaceae) with a key to Bulbophyllum sect. Altisceptrum of the Philippines JCAARAAB Katrina E. Boco, John Paul R. Collantes, Adriane B. Tobias Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 77 (2), 235–247 , 2025 2025.0
Nepenthes megastoma (Nepenthaceae), a micro-endemic pitcher plant from Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan, Philippines JOHN CHARLES A. ALTOMONTE, JOHN PAUL R. COLLANTES, VERNALUZ MANGUSSAD, RENE ... Phytotaxa 728 (2), 93-107 , 2025 2025.0
Validation of the name Homalomena brachygyna (Collantes et al. in Phytotaxa 664 (1): 60) JPC KHANT ZAW HEIN Phytotaxa 726 (3), 221-222 , 2025 2025.0
Homalomena brachygyna (Araceae), a new species from Palawan Island, Philippines JP Collantes, V Chua-Mangussad, KZ Hein, RAA Bustamante Phytotaxa 664 (1), 59-67 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 2
Insights on Begonia jagori (Begoniaceae), a cryptic species of Albay Province, Luzon Island, Philippines CJP Dela Cruz, JPR Collantes, RAA Bustamante, YP Ang Phytotaxa 637 (3), 291-295 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 2
Beneath the Canopy: An illustrated tour of the flora of the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed Forest Reserve RAAB authors: John Altomonte, John Paul Collantes, Catherine C. Enriquez ... ISBN: 9789715670623 (Softbound/Paperback); 9789715670630 (PDF); LOC … , 2024 2024.0
Two new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Aurora Memorial National Park, Luzon Island, Philippines YP Ang, JPR Collantes, JA Mansibang, CJP Dela Cruz, JAM Aumentado, ... Phytotaxa 609 (4), 253-264 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 7
New record and amended description of Bulbophyllum placochilum (Orchidaceae) with a key to Bulbophyllum sect. Altisceptrum of the Philippines KE Boco, JPR Collantes, AB Tobias, JCA Altomonte, RAA Bustamante
Habenaria diwata (Orchidaceae: Orchidoideae), a new species from Mount Malinao, Albay Province, Luzon Island, Philippines MRB Altamirano, JPR Collantes, RAA Bustamante
A new species of Begonia and rediscovery of B. loheri (section Petermannia, Begoniaceae) from Luzon Island, Philippines YP Ang, JPR Collantes, LM Camangeg, AB Marcos-Langbao, PW Fritsch, ...
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Two new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Aurora Memorial National Park, Luzon Island, Philippines YP Ang, JPR Collantes, JA Mansibang, CJP Dela Cruz, JAM Aumentado, ... Phytotaxa 609 (4), 253-264 , 2023 2023.0 Citations: 7
Homalomena brachygyna (Araceae), a new species from Palawan Island, Philippines JP Collantes, V Chua-Mangussad, KZ Hein, RAA Bustamante Phytotaxa 664 (1), 59-67 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 2
Insights on Begonia jagori (Begoniaceae), a cryptic species of Albay Province, Luzon Island, Philippines CJP Dela Cruz, JPR Collantes, RAA Bustamante, YP Ang Phytotaxa 637 (3), 291-295 , 2024 2024.0 Citations: 2
Amorphophallus calladoi (Araceae), a new species from Luzon Island, Philippines RAAB BUSTAMANTE, MN TAMAYO, JP COLLANTES, PB PELSER Phytotaxa 740 (2), 217-222 , 2026 2026.0
New record and amended description of Bulbophyllum placochilum (Orchidaceae) with a key to Bulbophyllum sect. Altisceptrum of the Philippines JCAARAAB Katrina E. Boco, John Paul R. Collantes, Adriane B. Tobias Gardens' Bulletin Singapore 77 (2), 235–247 , 2025 2025.0
Nepenthes megastoma (Nepenthaceae), a micro-endemic pitcher plant from Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, Palawan, Philippines JOHN CHARLES A. ALTOMONTE, JOHN PAUL R. COLLANTES, VERNALUZ MANGUSSAD, RENE ... Phytotaxa 728 (2), 93-107 , 2025 2025.0
Validation of the name Homalomena brachygyna (Collantes et al. in Phytotaxa 664 (1): 60) JPC KHANT ZAW HEIN Phytotaxa 726 (3), 221-222 , 2025 2025.0
Beneath the Canopy: An illustrated tour of the flora of the Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed Forest Reserve RAAB authors: John Altomonte, John Paul Collantes, Catherine C. Enriquez ... ISBN: 9789715670623 (Softbound/Paperback); 9789715670630 (PDF); LOC … , 2024 2024.0
New record and amended description of Bulbophyllum placochilum (Orchidaceae) with a key to Bulbophyllum sect. Altisceptrum of the Philippines KE Boco, JPR Collantes, AB Tobias, JCA Altomonte, RAA Bustamante
Habenaria diwata (Orchidaceae: Orchidoideae), a new species from Mount Malinao, Albay Province, Luzon Island, Philippines MRB Altamirano, JPR Collantes, RAA Bustamante
A new species of Begonia and rediscovery of B. loheri (section Petermannia, Begoniaceae) from Luzon Island, Philippines YP Ang, JPR Collantes, LM Camangeg, AB Marcos-Langbao, PW Fritsch, ...
