Begonia urticae L.f.

Moonlight, Peter. W., Jara-Muñoz, Orlando A., Purvis, David A., Delves, Jay, Allen, Josh P. & Reynel, Carlos, 2023, The genus Begonia (Begoniaceae) in Peru, European Journal of Taxonomy 881, pp. 1-334 : 59-65

8. Begonia urticae L.f.

Figs 21B , 23

Supplementum Plantarum Systematis vegetabilium: 420 ( Linnaeus 1781). – Sassea urticae (L.f.) Klotzsch, Bericht über die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der Königl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1854: 128 ( Klotzsch 1854) . – Casparya urticae (L.f.) A.DC, Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15(1): 274 ( de Candolle 1864).

– Type: COUNTRY UNKNOWN • Locality unknown; J. Mutis s.n.; lectotype: LINN [LINN1125.3], designated here; possible isolectotype: MA [ MA660695 ].

Smith (1790: t. 45) [as ‘urticaefolia’]; de Candolle (1864: 274); Walpers (1858: 938); Smith & Schubert (1946a: 33, 1952: 36, 1958: 61); Smith (1973: 212); Smith & Wasshausen (1979: 242, 1986: 29, 1989: 18); Vásquez et al. (2005: 112–125); Burt-Utley (2015: 90).

Begonia columnaris Benth., Plantas Hartwegianas Imprimis Mexicanas : 131 ( Bentham 1845). = Sassea columnaris (Benth.) Klotzsch, Bericht über die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der Königl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1854: 128 ( Klotzsch 1854). = Casparya columnaris (Benth.)A.DC. (nom. illeg.; later homonym non Klotzsch), Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (1): 274 ( de Candolle 1864). = Begonia columnaris var. glabra (Klotzsch) L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub., Publications of the Field Museum of Natural History, Botanical Series 13: 187 ( Smith & Schubert 1941a).

– Type: ECUADOR • Mountains of Loxa [Loja]; K.T. Hartweg 740; lectotype: K [ K000536702 ], designated here; isolectotypes: LD [ LD1404657 ], K, OXF.

de Candolle (1864: 274); Walpers (1858: 938); Smith & Schubert (1946a: 33).

Begonia trachyptera Benth., Plantas Hartwegianas Imprimis Mexicanas : 184 ( Bentham 1845). = Stiradotheca trachyptera (Benth.) Klotzsch orth. var., Bericht über die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der Königl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1854: 127 ( Klotsch 1854). = Stibadotheca trachyptera (Benth.) Klotzsch, Gattungen und Arten 1854: 251 ( Klotzsch 1855) . = Casparya trachyptera (Benth.) A.DC., Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabili 15 (1): 274 ( de Candolle 1864).

– Type: COLOMBIA – [Prov. Cauca] • In sylvis juxta Pitayo, Prov. Popayán ; [2°45′ N, 76°18′ W]; 3200 m a.s.l.; 1843; K.T. Hartweg 1023; lectotype: K [ K000536703 ], designated here ; isolectotypes: K, LD [ LD1418113 ].

Smith & Schubert (1946a: 33).

Casparya coccinea Klotzsch, Gattungen und Arten 1854: 248 ( Klotzsch 1855) .

– Type: PERU – [Huánuco Region: Prov. Huánuco] • in Muña [9°40′ S, 75°49′ W]; H. Ruiz & J. A. Pavón s.n.; lectotype: B [ F neg. 20855], designated here .

de Candolle (1864: 274); Walpers (1858: 935); Smith & Schubert (1941a: 187; 1946a: 33).

Sassea glabra Klotzsch, Gattungen und Arten 1854: 254 ( Klotzsch 1855) . = Casparya columnaris var. glabra (Klotzsch) A.DC., Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabili 15 (1): 274 ( de Candolle 1864).

– Type: PERU • 1777–1788; H. Ruiz s.n.; lectotype: HAL ex B ex herb. Lamberti [ HAL0121733 ], designated here.

de Candolle (1864: 274); Walpers (1858: 939); Smith & Schubert (1941a: 187, 1946a: 33); Smith & Wasshausen (1989: 18).

Casparya urticae var. hispida A.DC., Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabili 15 (1): 274 ( de Candolle 1864).

– Type: COSTA RICA • Prope Aguacate; 1857; K. Hoffmann 736; lectotype: B [ B100243045 , F neg. 20856], designated here; COLOMBIA • In montibus ad orient Botogae; I.F. Holton 723; syntype: G-DC; isosyntypes: G-BOIS, K [ K000536700 ], NY • In montibus juxta Botatam ; Oct. 1852; I.F. Holton 727; syntype: K [ K000536699 ] ; isosyntypes: G-BOIS, G-DC, NY.

Standley (1937: 747); Smith & Schubert (1946a: 34).

Begonia monticola C.DC. , Bulletin de L’Herbier Boissier II 8 (5): 325 ( de Candolle 1908).

– Type: ECUADOR • Montibus Pichincha et Corazon ; A. Sodiro 584; lectotype: G [F neg. 24195], designated here; isolectotype: G • In silva subandina et subtropica , m. Pichincha et Corazon; A. Sodiro 592; syntype: Smith & Schubert (1946a: 34).

Begonia torresii Standl. , Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 17: 313 ( Standley 1927).

– Type: COSTA RICA – Prov. San José • Las Nubes; [9°59′ N, 83°58′ W]; 21 Mar. 1924; P.C. Standley 38561; holotype: US [ US00115472 ].

Smith & Schubert (1946a: 34).

Begonia chiriquensis Standl., Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 27: 321 ( Standley 1940).

– Type: PANAMA – Prov. Chiriqui • trail from Cerro Punta to headwaters of río Caldera ; [8°50′ N, 82°30′ W]; 2250–2500 m a.s.l.; 14 Jan. 1939; P.H. Allen 1435; holotype: F [ V0077648F ]; isotypes: GH [ GH00068149 ], MO [ MO-510547 ], NY [ NY00112265 ].

Smith & Schubert (1946a: 33).

Begonia urticae var. retusa L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. , Caldasia 4: 37 ( Smith & Schubert 1946a).

– Type: COLOMBIA – Valle Department • Cordillera occidental, Los Farallones, filo de la cordillera, extremo N en el cerro Alto del Buey ; [3°22′ N, 76°42′ W]; 3500–3600 m a.s.l.; 11 Oct. 1944; J. Cuatrecascas 17942; holotype: GH [ GH00068296 ]; isotypes: COL [2: COL000003009 , COL000003010 ], F [ V0077669F ], P [ P01900836 ], US [ US00169383 , US00115488 ].

Smith & Wasshausen (1989: 18).

Begonia glabra Ruiz ex Klotzsch (nom. inval.; nom. rej. pro syn. Sassea glabra Klotzsch (nom. inval.; nom. nud.)), Bericht über die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der Königl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1854: 127 ( Klotzsch 1854).

Sassea glabra Klotzsch (nom. inval.; nom. nud.), Bericht über die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der Königl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1854: 127 ( Klotzsch 1854).

Casparya coccinea Klotzsch (nom. inval.; nom. nud.), Bericht über die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlungen der Königl. Preuss. Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Berlin 1854: 127 ( Klotzsch 1854).

Begonia cucullata Ruiz ex Klotzsch (nom. inval.; nom. rej. pro syn. Sassea glabra Klotzsch ), Gattungen und Arten: 1854: 254 ( Klotzsch 1855).

Begonia columnaris Pav. ex A.DC. (nom. inval.; nom. rej. pro syn. Casparya columnaris var. glabra (Klotzsch) A.DC. ), Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (1): 274 ( de Candolle 1864).

Stibadotheca urticae Klotzsch ex A.DC. (nom. inval.; nom. rej. pro syn. Casparya trachyptera (Benth.) A.DC. ), Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (1): 274 ( de Candolle 1864).

Sassea hoffmanniana Klotzsch ex A.DC. (nom. inval.; nom. rej. pro syn. Begonia urticae var. hispida A.DC. ), Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 15 (1): 275 ( de Candolle 1864).

Begonia longirostris auct. non Benth.: Brako & Zarucchi, Monographs in Systematic Botany from the Missouri Botanical Garden, 45: 193 ( Brako & Zarucchi 1993).

Etymology

Named for the superficial resemblance of the species’ leaves to those of stinging nettles ( Urtica L., Urticaceae ).

Selected specimens examined

PERU • J.A. Pavón s.n.; G, G-BOIS [2], OXF. – Amazonas Region: Prov. Bongará • Cordillera Colán SE of La Peca ; [5°34′ S, 78°24′ W]; 2280–2410 m a.s.l.; 30 Sep. 1978; P.J. Barbour 3701; MO [ MO-2180412 ], US [ US00222330 ] • Dist. Yambrasbamba, Área de Conservación Privada Abra Patricia-Alto Nieva , Abra Patricia ; 5°42’39.58–54.99”S, 77°48’30.96–27.60”W; 2658 m a.s.l.; 18 Jul. 2014; Y.F. Deng et al. 1487; USM. – Prov. Bagua • Bosque Berlín , reserva privada cerca Santa Clara; 5°54′08″ S, 78°24′55″ W; 2064 m a.s.l.; 6 Jul. 2018; P.W. Moonlight 1276; USM. – Prov. Luya • Dist. Camporedondo, Tullanya , Pascana , La Palma ; 6°04′35″ S, 78°21′45″ W; 2710 m a.s.l.; 7 Dec. 1996; R. Vásquez & R. Rojas 21967; MO [ MO-2078375 ], USM • Camporrendo , Tullanga , subiendo del campamento o Paseana “La Pampa”, hacia el Cerro Condorpuna; [6°36′ S, 77°53′ W]; 2700– 3000 m a.s.l.; 7 Sep. 1989; C. Díaz & J. Campos 3831; MO [ MO-1643487 ], USM. – Prov. Rodríguez de Mendoza • Dist. Vista Alegre, La Fortaleza camino a las construcciones Chachapoyas ; 6°07′10.4– 06′56″ S, 77°18′46.4–19.34″ W; 2020–2393 m a.s.l.; 22 May 2008; V. Quipuscoa S., L. Cáceres M., I. Treviño Z. & J. Estela R. 3943; HUT. – Prov. Chachapoyas • South side of the Molinopampas-Diosan pass ; [6°10′ S, 77°41′ W]; 2700–3100 m a.s.l.; 8 Aug. 1962; J.J. Wurdack 1633; US [ US00222331 ], USM • Dist. Leymebamba, middle eastern Calla-Calla slopes , 3–5 km SE of km 422 Leymebamba- Balsas road; [6°45′ S, 77°53′ W]; 3000–3200 m a.s.l.; 22 Aug. 1962; J.J. Wurdack 1758; G [2], NY, P [ P05586561 ], US [ US00222329 ], USM • Dist. Leymebamba, río El Jardín ; 6°56′44″ S, 77°41′54″ W; 3090 m a.s.l.; 30 Jun. 2009; R.W. Bussmann, J. Gruhn, R. Wagster, J.E. Briones, O. Espinoza & W. Espinoza 15933; HUT. – Piura Region: Prov. Huancabamba • Carmen de la Frontera , alturas de Nueva York; [5°02′ S, 79°17′ W]; 3160 m a.s.l.; 28 Jul. 2006; A. Cano, W. Mendoza & N. Valencia 16825; USM [3] • Cerro Chinguela , a 20 km de Zapalache; [5°08′ S, 79°23′ W]; 3100–3200 m a.s.l.; 24 Apr. 2006; A. Cano, N. Valencia & I. Salinas 16488; USM • El Batán (Chinguela-El Carmen) ; [5°06′ S, 79°21′ W]; 2200 m a.s.l.; 15 Sep. 1981; A. Sagástegui A. 10233; HUT, MO [ MO-2180410 ], NY. – Cajamarca Region: Prov. San Ignacio • San José de Lourdes , Cerro Parco ; 5°04′38″ S, 78°53′30″ W; 2250 m a.s.l.; 9 Nov. 2000; R. Vásquez, J. Campos, G. Calatayud & M. Huamán 26606; MO [ MO-1835905 ], USM. – Prov. Cutervo • Dist. San Andrés de Cutervo, Parque Nacional de Cutervo , Saucedal pasando por Chorro Blanco ; [6°09′ S, 78°41′ W]; 2250 m a.s.l.; 3 Aug. 1988; C. Díaz & H. Osores 2954; MO [ MO-098014 ] • Parque Nacional de Cutervo , trail from Chorro Blanco to San Andrés; 6°10′ S, 78°45′ W; 2100–2200 m a.s.l.; 15 Sep. 1991; A.H. Gentry, C. Díaz & R. Ortiz 74851; MO [ MO-098017 ], USM • Dist. San Andrés de Cutervo, El Pajonal, alrededores las grutas da los Guacharos ; [6°14′ S, 78°45′ W]; 2500 m a.s.l.; J. Cabanillas S. 60; CPUN. – Prov. Chota • a 1 km de Paraguay ( Querocota-La Granja ); [6°21′ S, 79°04′ W]; 2250 m a.s.l.; 7 Aug. 1994; S. Leiva G., P. Chuna & J. Cadle 1394; MO [2: MO-1641563 , MO-1641564 ], NY • Rejopampa , al O del Pueblo de Paccha; [6°26′ S, 78°45′ W]; 2600 m a.s.l.; 21 Jun. 1993; I. Sánchez V. 6568; CPUN. – San Martín Region: Prov. Rioja • Bosque Protección Alto Mayo , unnamed trail from Centro de Interpretación Venceremos (km 382.6) to km 381 on highway 5N, Cerretera Fernando Belaúnde Terry ; 5°39′57″ S, 77°44′54″ W; 1700–1800 m a.s.l.; 5 Jun. 2010; J.L. Clark, M. Chocce, L. Clavijo, M. Overstreet & J. Pérez 11847; US [ US001862879 ], USM • Bosque Protección Alto Mayo , Trocha Kovachi ; 5°42′02″ S, 7°44′27″ W; 1707 m a.s.l.; 2 Feb. 2016; P.W. Moonlight & A. Daza 154; E [ E00885556 ], MO, MOL • Dist. Nuevo Cajamarca, cerca poblado Miraflores, Bosque Protección Alto Mayo ; 5°54′ S, 77°23′ W; 1420 m a.s.l.; 3 Nov. 1996; I. Sánchez V. & M.O. Dillon 8479; CPUN, F [ V0086776F ], US [ US00673159 ]. – Prov. Mariscal Cáceres • Above Gran Pajaten ruins ; 7°S, 77°W, 2950 m a.s.l.; 22 Jul. 1985; K. Young 1250 ( US [ US00222175 ] • ibid.; 24 Jul. 1985; K. Young 1292; HUT • Above timberline Puerta del Monte ; [7°39′ S, 77°29′ W]; 22 Nov. 1985; K. Young 2094; MOL, US [ US00222326 ] • Puerta de Monte , Parque Nacional río Abiseo ; 7°38′56.8″ S, 77°24′58.4″ W; 3140 m a.s.l.; 5 Aug. 2000; A. Cano et al. 10840; USM. – Huánuco Region: Prov. Huánuco • In Muña ; [9°40′ S, 75°49′ W]; J.A. Pavón s.n.; G-DC ex G-BOIS); Cerros al este del río Huallaga, entre Muña y el tambo de las vacas ; [9°34′ S, 75°49′ W]; 3100 m a.s.l.; 1 Jun. 1913; A. Weberbauer 6723; MOL [3], US [ US00222044 ] • Muña ; [ca 9°40′ S, 75°49′ W; 1785], H. Ruiz & J.A. Pavón s.n.; MA [2, MA813495 , MA813496 ]. – Pasco Region: Prov. Oxapampa • Dist. Huancabamba, Parque Nacional Yanachaga-Chemillén, Sector Tunqui, camino hacia María Puñis ; 10°16’31.26”S, 75°30’58.72”W; 1895 m a.s.l.; 18–21 Oct. 2008; M. Cueva, A. Peña, R. Rivera & M. Moens 231; HOXA, USM • Dist. Huancabamba, Parque Nacional Yanachaga-Chemillén , Abra Yanachaga ; 10°22′46″ S, 75°27′43″ W; 2870–3200 m a.s.l.; 12 Jun. 2003; R. Vásquez et al. 28129; HOXA, MO [ MO-1102451 ], US [ US000843968 ] • Parque Nacional Yanachaga-Chemillén , Sector San Alberto, alrededores Refugio El Cedro; 10°32′43″ S, 75°21′30″ W; 2483 m a.s.l.; 26–27 Apr. 2009; M. Cueva 621; HOXA, USM. – Cusco Region: Prov. La Convención • In deep valley just below Camp 5 and the land-slide ; 12°37′ S, 73°32′ W; ca 2700 m a.s.l.; 7 Jul. 1968; T.R. Dudley 10853; US [ US00222325 ].

Description

Caulescent herb, to 50 cm high. Stem erect, branching; internodes to 4.5 cm long, to 2 mm thick, succulent, green to red, tomentose. Stipules late deciduous, lanceolate, 4–7 × 2–4 mm, apex obtuse, translucent, green, glabrous, margin entire, aciliate. Leaves> 5, alternate, basifixed; petiole 0.3–2 cm long, pale green to red, glabrous to tomentose; blade subsymmetric, lanceolate, to 8 × 3 cm, membranaceous, apex acuminate, base dimidiate, the large side rounded, the smaller side cuneate to rounded, margin undulate, serrulate, or irregularly serrate, ciliate, upper surface pale to dark green, glabrous to pilose, lower surface pale green to vivid red, glabrous throughout to glabrous and densely pilose on the major veins, veins pinnate, with 5–10 secondary veins on the larger side, 4–7 secondary veins on the smaller side. Inflorescences 1–5 per stem, bisexual, axillary, pendulous erect, cymose, with 2 branches, bearing up to 3 staminate flowers and 2 pistillate flowers, protandrous; peduncle to 3 cm long, pale green to red, glabrous to tomentose, bracts deciduous, ovate to obovate, 3–6 × 1–4 mm, translucent, white to pale green, glabrous, apex rounded to truncate, margin entire, aciliate. Staminate flowers: pedicels to 12 mm long, glabrous; tepals 4, spreading to reflexed, outer 2 ovate, 4–8 × 2.5–4 mm, apex rounded, usually pink, orange, or red, rarely white, glabrous, margin entire, aciliate, inner 2 elliptic to obovate, 5–8 × 2–4 mm, apex rounded, the same colour as the other tepals, glabrous, margin entire, aciliate; stamens 6–10, projecting, the same colour as the tepals, filaments 0.5–1 mm long, free, anthers ellipsoid, 1.5–2 × 0.1 mm, dehiscing via lateral slits, connectives not extending, symmetrically basifixed. Pistillate flowers: pedicels to 5 mm long; bracteoles lacking; tepals 5, subequal, deciduous in fruit, spreading to reflexed, ovate, 5–6 × 2–4 mm, apex rounded, usually pink, orange, or red, rarely white, glabrous, margin entire, aciliate; ovary body obdeltoid, 2–3 × 3–6 mm, pale green, white, pink, orange, or red, glabrous to tomentose, equally 3-winged, wings horn-shaped, sometimes ascending ca 1.5–2 × 3–6 mm; 3-locular, placentae branches divided, bearing ovules on both surfaces; styles 3, the same colour as the tepals, free, 2–5 mm long, 2–3 times divided, stigmatic papillae in a spirally twisted band. Fruiting pedicel to 10 mm long. Fruit body ovoid, to 6 × 6 mm, drying light brown, wings same shape as in ovary, expanding to 12 × 6 mm, column at the apex of the ovary elongating to 18 mm.

Proposed conservation assessment

Locally common and widespread in Peru and as far north as Costa Rica. Its EOO is> 1 900 000 km 2 and includes numerous protected areas. We assess B. urticae as Least Concern (LC).

Notes

Ruiz and Pavón collected a number of specimens of B. urticae and it appears from two unpublished illustrations of this species housed in Madrid (MA-AJB04-D-1400, MA-AJB04-D-1398) that they intended to publish some of this material as B. rosea and B. coccinea . Ruiz and Pavón never completed an account of the Begoniaceae for their Flora Peruviana et Chilensis so these remain as unpublished names.

Synonymy notes

We clarify here the correct author string for the name B. columnaris var. glabra . The name Sassea glabra Klotzsch was first published as a nom. nud. ( Klotzsch 1854) before being published as a valid and legitimate name a year later ( Klotzsch 1855). In 1864, Alphonse Pyramus de Candolle treated this name as a variety of his C. columnaris as C. columnaris var. glabra ( de Candolle 1864: 274) . It is clear de Candolle based this name upon Klotzsch’s S. glabra because he cited the protologue of this name. Later, Smith & Schubert (1941a: 187) transferred the name C. columnaris and its varieties into the genus Begonia but cited the authorship of B. columnaris var. glabra as “(A.DC.) L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub.”. This is not correct, as the author of the basionym was Klotzsch, so the correct author string should be “ B. columnaris var. glabra (Klotzsch) A.DC. ”.

Typification notes

The protologue of B. urticae includes the citation ‘Haec Dr. Mutis’ ( Linnaeus 1781), implying that Carl Linnaeus the younger used material collected during Mutis’s expedition to modern day Colombia to describe the species. Previous authors have struggled to locate the material used; for example, Smith & Wasshausen (1979) stated it may be housed in M herbarium. Following his death, Linnaeus the younger’s collections were sold to the Linnean society of London by his widow. This collection contains a single duplicate collected by Mutis labelled as ‘ urticae ’ and matching Linnaeus the younger’s description (LINN1125.3). We designate this sheet as the lectotype of B. urticae herein. There is a single specimen of the same species collected by Mutis in MA herbarium (MA660695), which may be a duplicate of this collection.

Bentham described B. columnaris Benth. and B. trachyptera Benth. based upon collections made by Karl Theodor Hartweg ( Bentham 1845: 131, 184). Hartweg’s main collections were deposited at Kew, which is also where Bentham was based so it is appropriate to designate lectotypes at K. The type collection of B. columnaris is K.T. Hartweg 740 and there are two collections in K, including a barcoded specimen (K000536702). This specimen was included in the Kew negative collection (#11506) so has been used as a de facto type for many years, so we designate it as the lectotype of B. columnaris . There is only a single sheet of K.T. Hartweg 1023 at Kew (K000536703), which is the type collection of B. trachyptera , so we designate this as the lectotype herein.

Klotzsch described C. coccinea Klotzsch based upon material collected by Ruiz and Pavón collected in Muña ( Klotzsch 1855: 248). A specimen in Berlin herbarium matches this material and has been determined as “ Casparya coccinea Kl. ” Photographs of this specimen are found in several international herbaria used as the de facto type. We designate this in B specimen as the lectotype of this name.

The protologue of Sassea glabra Klotzsch cited material in “Herb. Ruizii Mss.” collected in the Andes of Muña and labelled as “ Begonia cucullata ” ( Klotzsch 1855: 254) . Despite a thorough search of European herbaria, we have not been able to find any specimens collected by Ruiz that were also collected in Muña. A specimen in HAL herbarium however is labelled as “ Begonia cucullata ” and has a complex history. It was incorporated into the Lambert herbarium, most likely between 1816 and 1824. Lambert’s herbarium was sold in 1842, and this specimen was probably sold to Berlin as part of Lot 102, where it was worked on by Klotzsch. At a later, unclear date, the specimen became part of HAL herbarium where it now has the barcode HAL0121733. Upon incorporation into HAL herbarium, the specimen was remounted and given a new typed label. It seems likely that some data, perhaps including the locality, was lost in this process. As this specimen was definitely seen by Klotzsch and probably is the specimen cited in his locality, we designate this as the lectotype of S. glabra herein.

The protologue of C. urticae var. hispida A.DC. included reference to two specimens collected in Colombia by I.F. Holton and material collected in Costa Rica by Hoffmann, variously distributed in herbaria in Berlin, Kew, and Geneva ( de Candolle 1864: 274). We designate a collection of C. Hoffmann 736 in Berlin (B100243045) as the lectotype of C. urticae var. hispida herein as it has both flowers and fruit. This sheet was also photographed by J.F. Macbride (photo #20856) in the 1930s and the photograph distributed to various US and European herbaria, so has been used as a de facto type for almost a century.

In the protologue of B. monticola C.DC., Anne Casimir Pyramus de Candolle cited collections of A. Sodiro 584 and 592 in ‘herb Candolle’ in Geneva ( de Candolle 1908: 325). The de Candolle herbarium usually refers to the herbarium of the Prodromus in Geneva, which is now referred to as G-DC but there are no sheets of either collection in G-DC. We have however seen two duplicates of A. Sodiro 592 in the general collection in Geneva (G), both of which have labels headed ‘Herbier de Candolle’. Of these, one was photographed by J.F. Macbride (photo #24195) and has therefore been used as a de facto type. This sheet is an excellent collection, including flowers, fruits, and a whole plant so we designate it the lectotype of B. monticola herein.

Identification notes

Begonia urticae is the most common Peruvian member of B. sect. Casparya , which can be recognised by its three-horned rather than three-winged fruits. Species of this section are also unusual in that their androecium and gynoecium are the same colour as their tepals, which are white, pink, orange, or red in B. urticae , rather than yellow. It can be distinguished from B. hirta and B. condorensis sp. nov. by its much smaller staminate (≥ 8 mm long vs ≤ 9 mm long) and pistillate (≥ 6 mm long vs ≤ 9 mm long) tepals.

Distribution and ecology

Known from Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, and Costa Rica. Within Peru, collected in Amazonas, Piura, Cajamarca, San Martín, Huánuco, Pasco, and Cusco Regions ( Fig. 21B ). Found within northern Peruvian relict montane forest at an elevation of 2100–3200 m a.s.l., and within lower, middle, and upper montane Forest elevations of 1420–3370 m a.s.l. Typically collected as an epiphyte or lithophyte or more rarely as a terrestrial herb. It is only found within the most humid of forests or humid microhabitats, such as cave mouths or streams. The red, pink, or orange flowers of the species suggest it is pollinated by hummingbirds, but the flower lacks other obvious adaptations for bird pollination. The horned fruits of B. urticae appear adapted for dispersal by water drops.

Figures

Fig. 21. Distribution of Begonia sect. Casparya (Klotzsch) Warb. in Peru and surrounding countries. A. B. condorensis Jara & Moonlight sp. nov. (red) and B. hirta (Klotzsch) L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. (blue). B. B. urticae L.f. (red). Black lines indicate country borders, grey lines indicate major administrative divisions, blue lines indicate rivers, and shading indicates elevation.

Fig. 23. Begonia urticae L.f. A. Habit. B. Inflorescence, showing staminate and pistillate flowers, red variant. C. Inflorescence, showing staminate flowers and developing fruit, pink variant. D. Fruit. All photographs by P.W. Moonlight from P.W. Moonlight & A. Daza 1276 (A, D) in Bagua Province, Amazonas Region and 73 (B, C) in Cutervo Province, Cajamarca Region.