Begonia herrerae L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub.

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 : 41-44

4. Begonia herrerae L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub.

Figs 17A , 18

Revistas Científicas de la Universidad Andina del Cusco 33 (87): 91 ( Smith & Schubert 1944).

– Type: PERU – Cusco Region: Prov. Quispicanchis • San Pedro , Marcapata ; [13°26′ S, 70°54′ W]; 1200 m a.s.l.; 11 Dec. 1943; J.C. Vargas Calderón 3720; lectotype: GH [ GH00068237 ], designated by Moonlight & Fuentes (2022); isolectotypes: CUZ [2]; LIL; MO [ MO-2217106 ].

Brako & Zarucchi (1993: 193); León & Monsalve (2006: 166); Wasshausen et al. (2014: 385); Tebbitt (2020: 88).

Etymology

The epithet means ‘Herrera’s Begonia ’. The protologue does not mention any specific Herrera but we believe this refers to Fortunato L. Herrera, a Peruvian botanist who made significant contributions to the knowledge of the flora of Cusco Region and who died the year B. herrerae was published.

Description

Caulescent, tuberous herb, to 15 cm high. Tuber globose, ca 2 × 1.2 cm, with 1 growing point. Stem erect, rarely branching; internodes to 4.5 cm long, to 5 mm thick, succulent, colour unknown, densely hispid. Stipules late deciduous, triangular, 5–7 × 3–6 mm, apex acute, translucent, brown, sparsely hispid, margin serrate, long-ciliate. Leaves 4–6, alternate, basifixed; petiole 2–5.8 cm long, colour unknown, densely hispid; blade asymmetric, ovate, to 12 × 10.5 cm, membranaceous, apex acute to acuminate, base obliquely cordate, basal lobes overlapping, sinus to 25 mm deep, margin irregularly dentate, ciliate, upper surface green, hispid, lower surface pale green, densely hispid on the veins, hispid on the lamina, veins palmate but with 1 primary vein, 6–8 veined from the base, with 1–3 secondary veins on the larger side, 1–2 secondary veins on the smaller side. Inflorescences 1–4 per stem, bisexual, axillary, erect, cymose, with 1–2 branches, bearing up to 4 staminate flowers and 2 pistillate flowers, protandrous; peduncle to 18 cm long, colour unknown, densely hispid, bracts deciduous, triangular, 5–6 × 4–6 mm, translucent, colour unknown, sparsely hispid, apex acute, margin lacerate, ciliate. Staminate flowers: pedicels to 15 mm long, hispid; tepals 4, spreading, outer 2 elliptic, ovate, or obovate, 12–22 × 6–19 mm, apex acute, orange or red, glabrous, margin serrate, ciliate, inner 2 elliptic to obovate, 12–25 × 4–17 mm, apex acute, orange or red, glabrous, margin entire, aciliate; stamens 13–25, spreading, yellow, filaments ca 1 mm long, free, anthers cuboid, ca 1 × 0.5 mm, dehiscing via lateral slits, connectives not extended, filaments symmetrically fixed to the back of the stamens. Pistillate flowers: pedicels to 15 mm long; bracteoles lacking; tepals 5, subequal, deciduous in fruit, spreading, the largest lanceolate, 10–15 × 5–7 mm, apex acute, orange or red, sparsely hispid, margin serrate, ciliate, the smallest elliptic, 10–16 × 5–10 mm, apex rounded, sparsely hispid, margin serrulate, ciliate; ovary body obovoid, 5–8.5 × 5–8 mm, colour unknown, glabrous, unequally 3-winged, wings triangular, largest 3–6.5 × 2–7 mm, smallest 2.5– 6 × 0.5–2 mm; 3-locular, placentae branches divided, bearing ovules on both surfaces; styles 3, yellow, free, 2.5–3 mm long, once-divided, stigmatic papillae in a spirally twisted band. Fruiting pedicel to 20 mm long. Fruit body ovoid, to 8.5 × 9 mm, drying light brown, wings same shape as in ovary, the largest expanding to 11 × 21 mm, the smallest expanding to 8 × 5 mm.

Proposed conservation assessment

Previously assessed as Data Deficient (DD) by León & Monsalve (2006), who cited only the type specimen. A second collection has since been identified from ca 530 km to the southwest in La Paz Province in Bolivia ( Tebbitt 2020). We have not observed B. herrerae in the wild and have no data on population sizes or trends. The lower montane forests between its two collections are poorly collected so there may be many uncollected populations in this area. We assess B. herrerae as Data Deficient (DD).

Identification notes

Most similar to B. heliantha but differing in the serrated margin to its staminate flowers.

Distribution and ecology

Known from Bolivia and Peru. Within Peru, it has been collected in Madre de Dios and Cusco Regions ( Fig. 17A ). Found in Amazonia at an elevation of 200–320 m a.s.l. in habitats described as sandy or rocky hills. Begonia herrerae is tuberous and likely dies back to its tuber at some point during the year. All known collections of the species have been collected from August to November, which represents the end of the dry season. It is unclear however whether this is the result of collection bias.

Figures

Fig. 17. Distribution of Begonia sect. Australes L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. in Peru and surrounding countries. A. B. herrerae L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. (red) and B. heliantha Tebbitt (blue). B. B. veitchii Hook.f. var. veitchii (red) and B. veitchii var. machupicchuensis Tebbitt (red). Black lines indicate country borders, grey lines indicate major administrative divisions, blue lines indicate rivers, and shading indicates elevation.

Fig. 18. Begonia herrerae L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. A. Habit. B. Inflorescence. C. Stamen, front view. D. Style and stigma, front view. Illustration adapted from Smith & Schubert (1945: fig. 15), digitally remastered by P.W. Moonlight.