Search

Begonia tetrandra Irmsch, Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie 74 (4): 626 (Irmscher 1949). – Type: ECUADOR – Prov. Tunguahara • Valley of the Pastaza River, between Baños and Cashurco, 8 hours east of Baños; 1300–1800 m a.s.l.; 25 Sep. 1923; A. S. Hitchcock 21889; syntype: US [US 00221970]). – PERU • Lobb s.n.; syntype: W [n.v.]. Brako & Zarucchi (1993: 195). Notes Brako & Zarucchi (1993) included B. tetrandra Irmsch. in the latest checklist of Peruvian Begonia based upon Lobb s.n. (W), a syntype of the name. We have not seen this specimen so, following Smith & Wasshausen (1986), treat the species as endemic to Ecuador and exclude the name from our treatment.

Begonia anemonoides Haenke Voyages dans l’Amérique Méridionale depuis 1781-1801 2: 503 (Haenke 1809). – Type: unknown. Notes This species was described as abundant in the Andes Mountains of “Peruvia”. At the turn of the 19 th Century “Peruvia” referred to the Viceroyalty of Peru including much of modern-day Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Chile. It remains very unclear where Haenke encountered this species. Furthermore, no type material of the species was cited in the protologue, but it is possible that some original material remains undiscovered among the specimens housed in PR herbarium. The protologue describes the species as tuberous with flowers resembling those of an Anemone, and while this is not sufficient for identification it seems likely that this refers to a member of the octopetala group of B. sect. Eupetalum (Tebbitt 2015). The only member of the octopetala group described before 1809 was B. octopetala so B. anemonoides Haenke may be an earlier name for any other species in this group. The discovery of original material and lectotypification of B. anemonoides should be a priority for any future work on Peruvian or tuberous Andean Begonia, and if this is not possible the name should be rejected.

Begonia sect. Doratometra (Klotzsch) A.DC. Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (1): 383 (de Candolle 1864). – Doratometra Klotzsch, Gattungen und Arten 1854: 127 (Klotzsch 1855). – Type: holotype: Doratometra wallichiana Klotzsch = Begonia wallichiana Lehm. Synonymy notes For a full list of sectional synonyms, see Moonlight et al. (2018). Notes A small section of diminutive, annual, or short-lived species of Begonia. Within Peru, the section is represented by two species which are distinguished from B. sect. Ephemera by their palmate-pinnate rather than palmate venation.

Begonia falcifolia Hook.f. Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 94: t. 5707 (Hooker 1868). – Type: hort. Kew; coll. unknown s.n.; holotype: K [K000739972]. Brako & Zarucchi (1993: 192); León & Monsalve (2006: 166). Notes This species was described from plants grown in the glasshouses of Kew Gardens, which J.D. Hooker stated in the protologue were collected in Peru by Pearce and given to Kew by Veitch Nurseries (Hooker 1868). The illustration and type specimen are however of a species closely allied to B. malabarica Lam., a species from southern India and Sri Lanka. Plant hunters from both Kew Gardens and Veitch Nurseries had collected in this area by this date, so it seems likely this is an Indian species whose providence was confused in either institution.

Begonia marinae Tebbitt. Novon 23 (4): 481, fig. 1 (Tebbitt 2015). – Type: BOLIVIA – Dept. Santa Cruz: Prov. Vallegrande • Rd. from Pucará to Alto Seco, N & NE facing open slopes in remnant Tucomano forest; 18°44′ S, 64°06′ W; 2727 m a.s.l.; 12 Jan. 2012; M. C. Tebbitt 724; holotype: UCZ; isotype: UCZ [2]. Begonia octopetala auct. non L’Hér.: Griseb., Abhandlungen der Königlichen Gesellschaft der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen 19: 148 (Grisebach 1874). Notes Bolivian specimens of this species were identified as B. octopetala by Grisebach (1874). Some of these specimens were mistakenly cited as from Peru.

Begonia patula Haw. Supplementum Plantarum Succulentarum: 100 (Haworth 1819). – Type: unknown. Otto & Dietrich (1836: 358); Klotzsch (1855: 150); Walpers (1843a: 215, 1858: 879); de Candolle (1861: 348, 1864: 302); Smith & Schubert (1950: 245); Smith & Smith (1971: 49); Jacques & Mamede (2005: 581). Notes This name was published by Haworth based upon plants cultivated in Loddiges’ nursery in Hackney in 1816 (Haworth 1819: 100). The plants had arrived at Loddiges’ from Mr Gulielmo Anderson, who had in turn received them from Mr C.F. Otto in 1811, the inspector of Berlin Botanical Gardens. The description in the protologue is insufficient for identification and there is no illustration. Most of Haworth’s specimens are deposited in Kew and Oxford herbaria, but we have found no material labelled with this name that predates the publication of the protologue so could be considered type material. It is possible that there is original material among the cultivated material in Kew or Berlin herbarium. We however consider it extremely unlikely that it will ever be possible to determine to which species this name belongs and follow Jacques & Mamede (2005) in suggesting the name is rejected. We cite B. patula Haw. here because it has frequently been considered the same species as B. fischeri and was published earlier. The first suggestion of this derives from the protologue of B. pauciflora (Lindley 1820: t. 471), which is now considered a synonym of B. fischeri. Lindley considered B. patula Haw. a probable synonym of B. pauciflora, contrary to the principle of priority. Haworth (1821b: cc) later published an addendum in Edward’s Botanical Register, which stated that B. pauciflora and B. patula Haw. were different species. Later authors including Walpers (1843a: 215), Klotzsch (1855: 150), and Smith & Schubert (1950: 245) disregarded this and considered B. patula Haw. an earlier name for B. pauciflora. Alphonse de Candolle (1861: 348; 1864: 302) further confused matters by citing Klotzsch’s 1855 citation of B. patula Haw. as ‘ Begonia patula Klotzsch’, excluding B. paucifolia from the citation and only doubtfully including B. patula Haw. in synonymy. Smith & Wasshausen (1979) were the first to recognise that B. patula Haw. may not be the same species as B. pauciflora, and also the first to cite B. fischeri as the same species as B. pauciflora. In the synonymy of B. fischeri, they cited ‘ Begonia patula sensu Klotzsch non Haw.&rsquo

Begonia sect. Microtuberosa Moonlight & Tebbitt sect. nov. http://www.ipni.org/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77160200-1 Diagnosis Begonia sect. Microtuberosa sect. nov. is most closely related to B. sect. Trachelocarpus and three species of B. sect. Gaerdtia. Both of these sections are endemic to eastern Brazil and differ markedly from sect. Microtuberosa sect. nov. in both their habit and Foral characteristics (see Table 1). However, all three sections share their Flaments fused at least at the base and B. sect. Microtuberosa sect. nov. further shares its androecium morphology with B. sect. Pereira and its lack of bracteoles with B. sect. Trachelocarpus. The majority of both Foral and vegetative characters are, however, markedly different among the three sections. Begonia sect. Microtuberosa sect. nov. is readily identiFed as the only Neotropical section of Begonia with male Fowers with four or fewer stamens, and the combination of ovaries with two or three locules and entire placentas, and a tuberous habit. Etymology The name ��� Microtuberosa ��� emphasises the diminutive and tuberous habit of the type species. Type species Begonia elachista Moonlight & Tebbitt sp. nov. Description Caulescent, tuberous herbs, perennial. Stems erect. Stipules persistent, entire. Leaves alternate, 2���4(���6), basiFxed, blade symmetrical or subsymmetrical, veins palmate. InForescence axillary, an asymmetric dichasial cyme, protandrous, bracts persistent. Male Fowers: with 2���4 free perianth segments; stamens 2 or 4, Flaments united into a column for more than half their length, anthers elliptic, dehiscing via lateral slits, connective not projecting. Female Fowers: bracteoles absent, with 2���3 free perianth segments; ovary and fruit with 2���3 wings, wings equal, 2���3-locular, placentas entire, bearing ovules on both surfaces; styles 2���3, free to base, biFd from about ⅔ their height, stigmatic papillae in a once spirally twisted band. Fruit a capsule. Seeds not examined. Distribution On a limestone outcrop in lowland Amazonian Peru to the east of the Chemill��n Cordillera at an altitude of 430 m., Published as part of Peter Watson Moonlight, Carlos Reynel & Mark Tebbitt, 2017, Begonia elachista Moonlight & Tebbitt sp. nov., an enigmatic new species and a new section of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Peru, pp. 1-13 in European Journal of Taxonomy 281 on page 4, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2017.281, http://zenodo.org/record/321247

Begonia elachista Moonlight & Tebbitt sp. nov. sect. Microtuberosa http://www.ipni.org/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77160201-1 Figs 2, 3 Diagnosis Begonia elachista sp. nov. is a highly distinct species with an unusual combination of features that is easily recognized as the only Peruvian species of Begonia that reaches maturity at fewer than 5 cm in height. It is also unique within Peru in having ovate leaves smaller than 3 �� 3 cm and a combination of entire placentae and a tuberous habit. Etymology The epithet ��� elachista ��� comes from the Greek for ���least��� and emphasizes the diminutive size of this species, which is the smallest known species of Begonia. Type PERU: Region Pasco, Prov. Oxapampa, Dist. Palcazu, Parque Nacional Yanachaga-Chemill��n, sector Paujil, 150 m from entrance to Las Cavernas on trail from Paujil, 10��20��40�� S, 75��15��1�� W, 432 m, 25 Feb. 2016, Moonlight & Daza 318 (holo-: MOL; iso-: E, MO, USM). Additional material PERU: Region Pasco, Prov. Oxapampa, Dist. Palcazu, Parque Nacional Yanachaga-Chemill��n, sector Paujil, Quebrada Tunel, 10��20�� S, 75��15�� W, 429 m, 17 Mar. 2008, V��squez, Monteagudo, Huamantupa & A. Pe��a 34030 (E, HOXA, HUT, MO, USM). Description Caulescent, tuberous herb. Tuber subglobose, 1���2 mm in diam. Stems 1���3 per tuber, erect, ca 0.2 mm in diam., 5���30 mm long, unbranched, internodes 1.5���7.5 mm long, glabrous, light green. Stipules persistent, narrowly lanceolate, 0.5���1.5 �� 0.2���0.5 mm, apex acuminate, aristate, terminal hair ca 0.4 mm long, margin entire, with 1���2 ciliate hairs to 0.2 mm on each side. Leaves 1���4, alternate, basiFxed; petiole orientated in same direction as the main vein of blade, 8���25 mm long, glabrous, blade symmetrical to subsymmetric, ovate to suborbicular, 8���30 �� 7���25 mm, membranous, apex obtuse, base cordate, basal lobes not overlapping, sinus 0.5���2 mm deep, margin irregularly crenate, ciliate, the hairs to 0.3 mm, upper surface glabrous, light grey-green, lower glabrous, light grey-green, veins palmate, 5���7, secondary veins indistinct. InForescences 1���2, axillary, arising from axis of each leaf, erect, an asymmetric dichasial cyme, with 1���2 branches, bearing up to 2 male Fowers and up to 2 female Fowers, usually protandrous but basal-most female Fower often opening concurrently with the apical male Fower; peduncle 5���40 mm long, glabrous; pedicels of male Fowers 2���6 mm long, glabrous; pedicels of female Fowers 1���5 mm long, glabrous; bracts persistent, elliptic, 1.5���2.5 �� 0.1���0.3 mm, apex acuminate, margin entire, glabrous or with up to 2 ciliate hairs to 0.2 mm on each side, dark brown. Male Fowers: tepals 2���4, spreading, white, outer two lanceolate to oblanceolate, 3���7.5 �� 1���2.5 mm, apex obtuse to rounded, margin entire, glabrous, inner 1���2 elliptic if present, 3���4 �� 0.75���1.25 mm, apex obtuse to rounded, margin entire, glabrous; stamens 2 or 4, yellow, Flaments 0.25���0.75 mm long, united on a 0.75���1 mm column, anthers elliptic, 0.75���1.5 mm long, often with long and short thecae on the same anther, dehiscing via lateral slits, connectives not projecting, symmetrically basiFxed. Female Fowers: bracteoles absent; tepals not persisting in fruit, 2 or rarely 3, spreading, white, narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate, equal, 3���4.5 �� 0.75���2.5 mm, apex obtuse to rounded, margin entire, glabrous; ovary body ovoid, 1.5���2.5 �� 1���2.5 mm, glabrous, white, subequally 2���3-winged, wings rounded-oblong, apical edge of wing truncate to convex, basal edge rounded, apex acute to obtuse, 2���2.5 mm long, 1���1.75 mm wide; 2���3-locular, placentas entire, bearing ovules on both surfaces; styles 2���3, yellow, free to base, 2���3 mm long, biFd from about ⅔ their height, stigmatic papillae in a once spirally twisted band. Fruiting pedicel to 5 mm long. Fruit body globose, to 1.5���2.5 �� 2���2.5 mm, glabrous, drying brown, wings same shape and size as in ovary. Seeds not examined. Distribution and habitat Begonia elachista sp. nov. is known only from the type locality in the Peruvian region of Pasco (Oxapampa Province) and has been collected on calcareous rocks by the entrance to a cave within primary lowland Amazonian forest, at an altitude of 430 m. It was observed growing on rocks free from other vascular plants in association with various bryophyte species in the almost continual shade of the surrounding forest. Conservation status The known range of B. elachista sp. nov. consists of the area immediately around a single cave mouth and nearby limestone outcrops in sector Paujil of Parque Nacional Yanachaga-Chemill��n (AOO B. elachista sp. nov. as Critically Endangered: CR B2 ab(iii) (IUCN 2001). Discussion The tuberous habit and western South American range of B. elachista sp. nov. suggest a close relationship with other tuberous Andean species of Begonia but this is not supported by our analysis. The majority of tuberous Andean Begonia species are currently classiFed in B. sect. Eupetalum, which is distinguished by its geophytic tubers or Feshy rhizomes and relatively large Fowers (Doorenbos et al. 1998; Tebbitt 2015). All other tuberous Andean species are classiFed within B. sect. Barya, B. sect. Knesebeckia and B. sect. Quadriperigonia, and all four sections differ from B. elachista sp. nov. in a suite of characters including their biFd placentae (except B. lutea L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub.), more numerous stamens and female tepals, and much larger size. We resolve B. sect. Microtuberosa sect. nov. as distantly related to all tuberous species of Andean Begonia and most closely related to rhizomatous and scandent sections from southeast South America. The morphological differences between B. sect. Microtuberosa sect. nov. and these sections are outlined above (Table 1) and, in combination with the placement of B. elachista sp. nov. outside of these sections, strongly support the description of a new section. The large morphological disparity between B. elachista sp. nov. and its nearest relatives is typical of that found in limestone cave endemics (Chung et al. 2014). Such species are typically small, often tuberous or rhizomatous, and usually have relatively symmetrical leaves and small, white Fowers. Examples of this syndrome in Begonia are found across sections and continents and include B. antsingyensis Humb. ex Keraudren & Bosser sect. Quadrilobaria A.DC. (Madagascar); B. cavum Ziesenh. sect. Knesebeckia (Klotzsch) A.DC. (Mexico); B. hoehneana Irmsch. sect. Unassigned (Brazil); B. exigua Irmsch. sect. Begonia (Brazil); B. minuscula Aver. sect. Reichenheimea (Klotzsch) A.DC. (Vietnam); B. schulziana Urb. & Ekman sect. Begonia (Haiti); B. speluncae Ridl. sect. Reichenheimea (Klotzsch) A.DC. (Borneo); and many others. This striking convergence among unrelated Begonia species on similar substrates in Begonia is worthy of further investigation. That B. sect. Microtuberosa sect. nov. is nested within a group of eastern Brazilian species suggests it represents an independent dispersal across the Amazon basin, in addition to those identiFed in Moonlight et al. (2015). The majority of lowland Amazonia represents unsuitable habitat for most Begonia species but the genus appears to have dispersed across the area multiple times. The discovery of a further dispersal event highlights the abundance of ���rare��� long-distance dispersal events within Begonia. Begonia elachista sp. nov. is one of a number of recently described species of Peruvian Begonia. The number of species known from this country has risen from the 34 covered in the Flora of Peru (Smith & Schubert 1941) to more than 75 today (Hughes et al. 2015). This continued rapid rate of species discovery suggests many more species may remain undiscovered within the country, particularly in limestone areas. A number of species are contenders for the world���s smallest Begonia, and many have been designated epithets emphasising their diminutive statures. The Frst of these was B. minor Jacq. in 1787, although in this case the name only implied it was slightly smaller than the 20 or so species previously described, and it still grows to more than 1 m. Perhaps the most delicate known Begonia species is the Malaysian B. sibthorpioides Ridl., whose leaves and Fowers are both smaller than those of B. elachista sp. nov.; however, the stem of B. sibthorpioides trails to 10 cm. Malagasy Begonia also include a number of tiny species, including B. leandrii Humb., B. nana L���H��r. and B. perpusilla A.DC., while the smallest mainland African species is B. wilksii Sosef, but all exceed the 3 cm total height of B. elachista sp. nov. in either their inForescence height or petiole length. The recently described Vietnamese B. minuscula Aver. and Sumatran B. lilliputana M.Hughes are both small, but the rhizomes of the former reach 6 cm while the leaf length of the latter equals the entire height of B. elachista sp. nov. Begonia sleumeri L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. is particularly notable in being a small tuberous species from Andean South America. This Argentinian species has smaller leaf blades of a similar size (1���3.1 �� 1.4���4.6 cm) to B. elachista sp. nov. but has larger tubers (0.5���2 cm in diam.), sometimes has taller stems (up to 4.5 cm tall), often has longer petioles (1.2���5.3 cm long), and almost always has larger Fowers. We believe B. elachista sp. nov. is the smallest known Begonia species in the world., Published as part of Peter Watson Moonlight, Carlos Reynel & Mark Tebbitt, 2017, Begonia elachista Moonlight & Tebbitt sp. nov., an enigmatic new species and a new section of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Peru, pp. 1-13 in European Journal of Taxonomy 281 on pages 5-9, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2017.281, http://zenodo.org/record/321247, {"references":["IUCN 2001. IUCN Red List Categories: Version 3.1. IUCN Species Survival Commission, Cambridge. Available from http: // www. iucnredlist. org / technical-documents / categories-and-criteria / 2001 - categories-criteria [accessed 20 Aug. 2016].","Doorenbos J., Sosef M. & De Wilde J. J. F. E. 1998. The sections of Begonia including descriptions, keys and species lists (studies in Begoniaceae VI). Wageningen Agricultural University Papers 98 (2): 1 - 266.","Hughes M., Moonlight P. W., Jara-Munoz A., Tebbitt M. C. & Pullan M. 2015 and continously updated. Begonia Resource Centre. Online database available at http: // elmer. rbge. org. uk / begonia / [accessed 15 Aug. 2016].","Chung K. - F., Leong W. - C., Rubite R. R., Repin R., Kiew R., Liu Y & Peng C-I. 2014. Phylogenetic analyses of Begonia sect. Coelocentrum and allied limestone species of China shed light on the evolution of Sino-Vietnamese karst Fora. Botanical Studies 55 (1): 1 - 15. https: // doi. org / 10.1186 / 1999 - 3110 - 55 - 1","Smith L. B. & Schubert B. G. 1941. Begoniaceae. Flora of Peru 13 (4): 181 - 202."]}