AN UPDATED CHECKLIST AND KEY TO THE SPECIES OF BOLIVIAN BEGONIA, INCLUDING ONE NEW SPECIES
Author
Moonlight, Peter
Author
Fuentes, Alfredo F.
text
Edinburgh Journal of Botany
2022
2022-08-18
79
407
1
66
http://dx.doi.org/10.24823/ejb.2022.407
journal article
10.24823/EJB.2022.407
1747-0036
10553332
2.12.
Begonia alto-peruviana
A.DC., Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. IV
(11): 123 (1859).
–
Type:
Bolivia
, [
La Paz Department
], Prov. Larecaja,
vallées entre Tipuani et Apolobamba
,
v 1847
,
H.A. Weddell
4556 (
lectotype
P
[
P05586898
] first stage designated in: Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Ser. 13(4/1): 185 (1941a) by Smith, L.B. & Schubert, B.G.; second stage designated in:
Revista Univ. (Cuzco) 33(87): 81 (1944)
by Smith, L.B. & Schubert, B.G
.).
L.B. Smith & B.G. Schubert,
Revista Univ. (Cuzco) 33(87): 81 (1944)
; R.C. Foster, Contr. Gray Herb. 184: 137 (1958); D.C. Wasshausen
et al.
in P.M. JØrgensen
et al.
(eds), Cat.
Bolivia
,
Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 127: 383 (2013)
.
Distribution
.
Peru
and
Bolivia
.
Nomenclatural notes
. The protologue of
Begonia alto-peruviana
A.DC.
cites material collected in ‘Peruvia alta’ in
Bolivia
by Weddell. In their revision of
Begonia
for the
Flora of
Peru
,
Smith & Schubert (1941a)
cited the collection
H.A. Weddell
4556 as the
type
. Although they did not specify a herbarium, this citation was sufficient for the first stage of lectotypification (see Article 9.16 of the Shenzhen Code; Turland
et al.
, 2018). The same authors later cited the same collection in Paris herbarium as the
type
of
Begonia alto-peruviana
(
Smith & Schubert, 1944a
)
. This constitutes the second stage of lectotypification.
Identification notes
.
Begonia alto-peruviana
is recognised as a glabrous, caulescent perennial with deciduous stipules, transversely ovate leaves with serrulate to serrate leaf margins, five tepals on the pistillate flowers, and bifid styles.
Begonia alto-peruviana
is part of a group including several Peruvian species of
Begonia
sect.
Cyathocnemis
, which all have five tepals on the pistillate flower and three bracteoles with serrate, ciliate margins. The other members of this complex are
Begonia brevicordata
L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub.
,
B. lucifuga
Irmsch.
,
B. stenotepala
L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub.
,
B. subspinulosa
Irmsch.
and an unpublished species from Peru’s
Cuzco region
. Within this group,
Begonia alto-peruviana
is most similar to
B. subspinulosa
and
B. brevicordata
, both
of which also have serrate or serrulate leaf margins and white to pink, broadly ovate tepals on the staminate flowers. It can be distinguished from
Begonia subspinulosa
by its early deciduous (vs persistent) stipules and from
B. brevicordata
by its larger leaves (>
8 cm
long vs <
7 cm
long), which are transversely ovate (vs broadly ovate).
Begonia alto-peruviana
is one of four members of
Begonia
sect.
Cyathocnemis
known with certainty from
Bolivia
. It is best distinguished from the other species by its pistillate flowers with five tepals, vs two in
Begonia bracteosa
A.DC.,
B.
galea
Moonlight & A.
Fuentes
and
B. lophoptera
Rolfe. In
all vegetative respects and in its staminate flowers,
Begonia alto-peruviana
strongly resembles
B. bracteosa
and all members of
Begonia
sect.
Hydristyles
, which are also upright herbs with transversely ovate, palmately veined leaves, and whose staminate flowers have two tepals.