In a remarkable intersection of science and culture, a newly discovered plant species in the Philippines has been named in honor of veteran broadcast journalist Doris Bigornia [3, 4, 6]. The discovery, documented in a 2025 study by Bucay et al., reports two new Begonia species found in Davao Oriental, within the Eastern Mindanao Biodiversity Corridor (EMBC) [3].
One of these species, Begonia dorisiae, is named after Bigornia as a tribute, linking her surname to the genus Begonia [3, 4, 6]. Filipino botanists often associate the name with her in outreach and education efforts, finding that associating 'Begonia' with 'Bigornia' helps people remember the genus [3, 4, 6, 8]. The species was discovered in the municipality of Caraga [3, 6, 7].
Begonia dorisiae is distinguished by its tomentose hairs with bulbous bases on the petioles and the underside of its leaves [2, 3, 5]. Genetic analyses confirmed its distinction from other Begonia species [3, 5, 11]. The authors of the study recommend that Begonia dorisiae be listed as a vulnerable species, with only around 1,000 mature individuals counted [4, 7]. The area where it was discovered is near the coast and could be threatened by typhoons [4, 7].