| Overview |
Dr. Peng Ching-I, retired Research Fellow and Director of the Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica (BRCAS), passed away in May 2018. Dr. Peng was an internationally prominent plant taxonomist of East Asian flora and expert on Asian Begonia. In recent decades, Dr. Peng has been undoubtedly the most influential scholar of the studies of Begonia. With more than 1,999 accepted species, the mega-diverse genus Begonia L. is the fastest growing and now perhaps the fifth largest flowering plant genus, more than doubled from ca. 900 species in 1997 to its current size in two decades. One of the major impetuses of Begonia's phenomenal growth during the past few decades has been the passion and selfless dedication of Dr. Peng and his collaboration with Begonia researchers and enthusiasts around the world. Together, the effort has resulted in 84 publications and 104 new Begonia species. Dr. Peng's exquisite works of Begonia taxonomy have served as concise guidelines for identifying Asian Begonia and improving our understanding of Asian Begonia diversity. In 2007, after completing the Flora of China's treatment of Begoniaceae, Dr. Peng conducted further fieldwork and explored the Begonia diversity in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan and Singapore. Through his effort, the tropical diversity of the Begonia is becoming clearer. To continue and exalt Dr. Peng's botanical legacy, we propose to portray Dr. Peng's research of Asian Begonia species in the last year of the project (2021) through the Open Museum designed by ASCDC. We curate digital research exhibitions by reviewing and organizing various types of collections. This project offers visitors a glimpse into the world of taxonomic research, bridging the gap between scientific research and outreach, and passing on Dr. Peng's enthusiasm and contribution to the studies of Begonia. |
