Balbisia microphylla (Phil.) Reiche (1896: 586)

Weigend, Maximilian, 2011, The genus Balbisia (Vivianiaceae, Geraniales) in Peru, Bolivia and northern Chile, Phytotaxa 22 (1), pp. 47-56 : 50-52

3. Balbisia microphylla (Phil.) Reiche (1896: 586) [Reiche, Flora de Chile 1, 1896: 294]

Holotype: [ CHILE. I. Región, de Tarapacá:] Tarapacá, Sibaya , 18 March 1885, Philippi s.n. ( SGO, photograph Field Museum, neg. nr. 51155!, isotype B †).

Ξ Ledocarpon microphyllum Philippi (1891: 11) .

Balbisia microphylla is the most readily characterized species due to its minute leaflets on its short shoots. These are not at first glance recognizeable as leaves and the stem appears set with small, pubescent “cones”. I have seen specimens from the I. Región and the neighbouring XV. Región, but the species is also reported from the III. Región by Zuloaga et al. (2008). It is clearly separated from B. peduncularis by elevation— B. peduncularis is found at elevations up to ca. 500 m, whereas B. microphylla is encountered at elevations of 2500–3000 m.

Specimens seen: CHILE. XV. Región de Arica y Parinacota: Prov. Arica, Paychama am Westabfall der Cordillera des los Andes östl. Arica, 3400 m, 10 March 1927, Troll 3248 ( B) .

I. Región, de Tarapacá: Tarapacá, Iquique, Prov. E of Hotel El Refugio del Salitre in Mamiña, Quebrada Mamiña , S 20° 04.32´, W 069° 12.56´, 2700–2800 m, 24 February 1997, Eggli et al. 2735 ( B, CONC, SGO, Z) . Depto. Tarapacá, Quebrada de Quipisco, Noasa , 3500 m, March 1926, Werdermann 1063 ( B, F, M, S, SI) .