Begonia alto-peruviana A.DC

Moonlight, Peter & Fuentes, Alfredo F., 2022, AN UPDATED CHECKLIST AND KEY TO THE SPECIES OF BOLIVIAN BEGONIA, INCLUDING ONE NEW SPECIES, Edinburgh Journal of Botany 79 (407), pp. 1-66 : 17

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 and an unpublished species from Peru’s Cuzco region.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.