Begonia veitchii var. veitchii

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 : 44-48

5.1 Begonia veitchii var. veitchii

Figs 17B , 19

Hooker (1867b: t. 5663); von Regel (1885: 21); Smith & Schubert (1944: 77); Wasshausen et al. (2014: 386); Tebbitt et al. (2020: 127); Tebbitt (2020: 123).

Begonia coriacea A.DC. (nom. illeg.; later homonym non Haask.), Annales des Sciences Naturelles Botanique, Série 4 11: 122 ( de Candolle 1859). = Begonia tominana Golding, Phytologia 47: 295 ( Golding 1980).

– Type: BOLIVIA – [Dept. La Paz]: Prov. Tomina • Pombabamba ; [20°06′ S, 64°25′ W]; Dec. 1845 – Jan. 1846; H.A. Weddell 3791; lectotype: P [ P00482209 ], designated by Tebbitt et al. (2020: 130); isolectotype: P [ P01900758 ].

Grisebach (1879: 136).

Begonia clarkei Hook.f. , Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 93: t. 5675 ( Hooker 1867 c).

– Type: BOLIVIA – [Dept. La Paz]: Prov. Larecaja • viciniis Sorata , cerro del Iminapi ; [15°46′ S, 68°39′ W]; 2650– 2800 m a.s.l.; 16 Feb. 1858; G. Mandon 1090; lectotype: K [ K000252024 ], designated by Tebbitt et al. (2020: 130); isolectotypes: BM, G [ G00034147 ], G-BOIS, GH [ GH0057802 ], K [ K000252025 ], NY [ NY01085842 ], P [ P00482213 , P05494708 , P06602680 , P06602681 ], RB [ RB00536678 ], S [ S07-9359 ], US [ US00313506 ], W [ W0013092 , W18890113269 ].

Smith & Schubert (1941a: 186, 1944: 78); Smith & Wasshausen (1984: 466); Wasshausen et al. (2014: 384).

Begonia rosiflora Hook.f. , Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 93: t. 5680 ( Hooker 1867 d). = Begonia veitchii forma rosiiflora (Hook.f.) Voss , Vilmorin’s Blumengärtnerei 1: 354 ( Voss 1894).

– Type: lectotype: plate in Hook.f., Curtis’s Botanical Magazine 93: t. 5680( Hooker 1867d), designated by Tebbitt et al. (2020: 131).

Smith & Schubert (1941a: 204); Tebbitt et al. (2020: 131).

Begonia baumannii Lemoine, Le Jardin 4: 273 ( Lemoine 1890).

– Type: lectotype: plate in Lemoine, Jardin 4: 273, 1890, designated by Tebbitt et al. (2020: 131).

Wittmack (1891: 47); Hooker (1897: t. 7540); Smith & Schubert (1944: 77).

Begonia barborkae J.J.Halda, Acta Musei Richnoviensis, Sect. Natur. 14 (4): 105 ( Halda et al. 2007 ).

– Type: BOLIVIA – Dept. Chuquisaca: Prov. Oropeza • wet vertical rocks near Challcha ; [18°26′ S, 65°32′ W]; 2900 m a.s.l.; 18 Nov. 2007; J.J. Halda JJH07111801; holotype: [PR no. 11970].

Wasshausen et al. (2014: 386); Tebbitt et al. (2020: 131).

Begonia odoratissima hort. ex Lemoine (nom. inval.; nom. rej. pro syn. Begonia baumannii Lemoine ), Le Jardin 4: 273 ( Lemoine 1890).

Begonia cinnabarina Hook. pro parte in Smith & Schubert (1941a: 186).

Etymology

Richard Pearce collected the type specimen of the species during an expedition funded by the Veitch nursery. It is unclear which member of the Veitch family that Joseph Dalton Hooker intended to honour with the epithet.

Selected specimens examined

PERU – Ayacucho Region: Prov. La Mar • Dist. San Miguel, Aypacorral, camino a Uras ; [13°03′ S, 73°09′ W]; 3100–3800 m a.s.l.; 4 Apr. 2005; J. Roque 4709; USM. – Prov. Ayacucho: Prov. Huamanga • Arriba de Ayacucho ; [13°02′ S, 74°08′ W]; 3300 m a.s.l.; 31 Dec. 1966; O. Tovar 5647; USM • Pampa de Chupas ; [13°15′ S, 74°22′ W]; 10 Feb. 1968; J.J. Soukup 5513; US [2: US00222042 , US00222043 ]. – Apurímac Region: Prov. Abancay • Gully of road above Abancay , left side of road Zuombo–Cuzco; [13°36′ S, 72°51′ W]; ca 3200 m a.s.l.; 4 Jan. 1962; S.G.E. Saunders 745; K. – Prov. Aymaraes • Dist. Chalhuanca, ca 1 km beyond Chalhuanca towards Caraybamba; [14°18′ S, 73°14′ W]; 2895 m a.s.l.; 6 Jan. 1962; S.G.E. Saunders 766; K. – Prov. Grau • Alrededores Cotabambas; [14°07′ S, 72°15′ W]; 3500 m a.s.l.; 1 Mar. 1946; J.C. Vargas Calderón 5669; CUZ. – Cusco Region: Prov. Calca • Dist. Yanatile, above intersection of roads coming from Amparaes, Quebrada Honda, and Lares, along road to Amparaes; 12°58′40″ S, 72°02′39″ W; 2659 m a.s.l.; 5 Jan. 2015; M.C. Tebbitt & A. Daza 798; E [ E01059307 ], MOL • Dist. Lares, Choquecancha, Manto ; 13°00′ S, 72°01′ W; 3161 m a.s.l.; 20 Feb. 2005; L. Valenzuela & E. Suclli 5053; MO [ MO-1663843 ] • Dist. Lares, Pampacorral between Calca and Lares; 13°08′58″ S, 72°19′00″ W; 3660 m a.s.l.; 5 Jan. 2015; M.C. Tebbitt & A. Daza 795; E [ E01059309 ], MOL. – Prov. Paucartambo • Hacienda Churu, ‘ Achanccaray’ ; 2500 m a.s.l.; Jan. 1926; F.L. Herrera 1042; US [ US00222337 ] • Tres Cruces, Parque Nacional Manu ; [13°07′ S, 71°37′ W]; 3500–3600 m a.s.l.; 7 Mar. 1991; A. Cano 4636; USM • Dist. Kosñipata, road from Paucartambo to Manu National Park; 13°10′ S, 71°35′ W; 3088 m a.s.l.; M.C. Tebbitt & A. Daza 819; E [ E01059303 ], MOL • Valle del Pilcopata, near Accanaco Pass, turnoff to Tres Cruces ; 13°13′ S, 71°35′ W; 3500 m a.s.l.; 15 Dec. 1983; R.B. Foster & T. Wachter 7542; NY, USM, MO [ MO-2228046 ]. – Prov. La Convención • Dist. Santa Teresa, Choquequiraw, San Ignacio ; 13°13′ S, 72°31′ W; 3250 m a.s.l.; 7 Mar. 2005; E. Suclli, J. Farfán, V. Chama, C. Astete, J. Latorre & N. Anaya 2186; MO [ MO-1835493 ] • Dist. Santa Teresa, Choquequiraw, Santa Rosa ; 13°14′ S, 72°31′ W; 2950 m a.s.l.; 5 Mar. 2005; E. Suclli, J. Farfán, V. Chama, C. Astete, J. Latorre & N. Anaya 2077; MO [ MO-1835491 ] • Dist. Santa Teresa, Choq’ekiraw; 13°23′26″ S, 72°52′30″ W; 3270– 3257 m a.s.l.; 18 May 2004; L. Valenzuela, G. Calatayud, J. Farfán, Y. Vizcardo, A. Reynaga et al. 3538; MO [ MO-1664173 ], US [ US00900535 ]. – Prov. Urubamba • Lower end of quebrada Pumahuanca, a steep sided valley of r. Urubamba ca 2–4 km NW of Urubamba; 13°12′ S, 72°03′ W; 3200–3600 m a.s.l.; 31 Dec. 1962; H.H. Iltis, G.M. Iltis, D. Ugent & V. Ugent 1004; US [ US00222333 ] • Dist. Huayllabamba, Yanaccocha, Quellococha ; 13°16′24″ S, 72°02′59″ W; 3950–4406 m a.s.l.; 17 Feb. 2006; L. Valenzuela, J. Farfán, E. Suclli, I. Huamantupa & R. Ayerbe 5977; MO [ MO-2183896 ], US [ US00951220 ] • Trail from Chinchero Plaza to Antakillqa hillside ; 13°24′ S, 72°03′ W; 3600 m a.s.l.; 13 Jan. 1982; E.W. Davis, E. Franquemont, C. Franquemont, S. King & C. Sperling 1443; USM. – Prov. Anta • Cuesta Limatambo ; [13°27′ S, 72°28′ W]; 3200– 3500 m a.s.l.; 24 Dec. 1948; J.C. Vargas Calderón 7485; US [ US00222041 ]. – Prov. Cusco • Dist. San Jerónimo, road from Cusco to Paruro ; 13°35′ S, 71°52′ W; 3570 m a.s.l.; M.C. Tebbitt & A. Daza 824; E [ E01059304 ], MOL. – Prov. Canchis • Distrito Combapata, Palcoyocc ; 14°03′51″ S, 71°20′16″ W; 3840–4000 m a.s.l.; 17 I 2007; L. Valenzuela, E. Suchlli, J. Farfán & A. Carazas 8292; E [ E01007269 ] • Al este de Sicuani, margen derecha del río ; 14°16′ S, 71°13′ W; 3450 m a.s.l.; 28–29 Mar. 1988; P. Núñez 8919; MO [ MO-2228054 ]. – Prov. Quispicanchis • Dist. Ocongate, road to Marcapata, close to village of Ocongate; 13°37′ S, 72°24′ W; 3597 m a.s.l.; 8 Jan. 2015; M.C. Tebbitt & A. Daza 804; E [ E01059308 ], MOL • Sicueni; [14°16′ S, 71°13′ W]; 3350 m a.s.l.; Jan. 1934; D. Stafford 262; K • Dist. San Pablo, quebrada de San Pablo, Pajonal; 14°71′35″ S, 71°20′37″ W; 3500–3600 m a.s.l.; 4 Feb. 2004; G. Calatayud & E. Suclli 2068 (MO [MO-1104258]. – Huancavelica Region: Prov. Huancavelica • Motcca , 4 km SE de Conaica; [12°31′ S, 74°58′ W]; 3400–3500 m a.s.l.; Mar. 1951; O. Tovar 250; US [ US00222334 ], USM • Yauli; [12°46′ S, 74°51′ W]; 3500 m a.s.l.; 11 Mar. 1939; H.E. Stork & O.B. Horton 10871; K. – Puno Region: Prov. Carabaya • Near Ollachea at km 216+700 on Carretera Transoceana , before tunnel Yana Negra, Accobamba; 13°52′33″ S, 70°30′51″ W; 3588 m a.s.l.; 11 Dec. 2017; T. Sarkinen , S. Gamboa & W. Perez 5335; E [ E01007201 ] • Dist. Ollanchea, road between Macusani and Ollanchea; 13°53′21″ S, 70°30′38″ W; 3856 m a.s.l.; 11 Jan. 2015; M.C. Tebbitt & A. Daza 816; E, MOL. – Prov. Sandia • Ura-ayllu , trail on W-facing slope above quarry; 14°08′ S, 69°32′ W; 3510 m a.s.l.; 25 Jan. 1986; B. Bennett 1991; NY [2: NY01159121 ] • 2–6 km S of Limbani; [14°10′ S, 64°41′ W]; 3550–3650 m a.s.l.; 11–12 May 1942; R.D. Metcalf 30460; G, GH, US [ US00222338 ] • Dist. Cuyocuyo, between Cuyocuyo and Sandia; 14°26′16″ W. 65°35′19″ W; 3912 m a.s.l.; 10 Jan. 2015; M.C. Tebbitt & A. Daza 812; E [ E01059305 ], MOL.

Description

Acaulescent or caulescent, tuberous herb, to 40 cm high. Tuber spheroid to ellipsoid, sometimes branching, 3–6 × 1–4 cm, with 1–3 growing points. Stem erect, rarely branching; internodes to 1.5 cm long, to 11 mm thick, succulent, pale green flushed red, glabrous to tomentose. Stipules persistent, triangular to ovate, 9–13 × 3–10 mm, apex acute, obtuse, green to brown, glabrous, margin entire, aciliate. Leaves 1–5, alternate, basifixed; petiole 2–11 cm long, pale green to red, glabrous to densely villous; blade subsymmetric, broadly ovate, to 15 × 7 cm, succulent, apex indistinct to rounded, base cordate, basal lobes not overlapping to overlapping, sinus to 35 mm deep, margin dentate to crenate, ciliate, upper surface green to dark green, sometimes with a red margin, glabrous to sometimes sparsely pilose or villous towards the margin, lower surface pale green to purple, glabrous to villous or lanate between the veins, sparsely to densely villous on the veins, veins palmate, 6–11 veined from the base. Inflorescences 1–3 per stem, bisexual, axillary, erect, a dichasial or monochasial cyme, with 3 branches, bearing up to 3 staminate flowers and 2 pistillate flowers, protandrous; peduncle to 50 cm long, red, glabrous to densely villous, bracts late deciduous, elliptic to broadly obovate, 10–15 × 3–8 mm, opaque, white, pink, or red, glabrous, apex truncate to rounded, margin entire, aciliate to sparsely ciliate. Staminate flowers: pedicels to 30 mm long, glabrous; tepals 4, spreading, outer 2 ovate to broadly ovate, 22–48 × 21–35 mm, apex rounded, white, pink, or red, glabrous, margin entire, aciliate, inner 2 elliptic to broadly obovate, 22–54 × 21–32 mm, apex rounded, white, pink, or red, glabrous, margin entire, aciliate; stamens 65–80, spreading, yellow, filaments 1–5 mm long, fused at the base, anthers obovoid, 1–1.5 × 0.5 mm, dehiscing via lateral slits, connectives not extended, symmetrically basifixed. Pistillate flowers: pedicels to 30 mm long; bracteoles absent to 3, positioned directly beneath the ovary, lanceolate, 9–11 × 4–6 mm, apex acute, opaque, white, pink, or red, glabrous, margin entire to serrulate, aciliate to ciliate; tepals 5, subequal, late deciduous in fruit, spreading, elliptic to broadly obovate, 10–30 × 8–32 mm, apex rounded, white, pink, or red, glabrous, margin entire, aciliate; ovary body obovoid, 8–11 × 6–11 mm, white, pink, or red, glabrous, unequally 3-winged, wings triangular, largest 8–11 × 3–10 mm, smallest 5–14 × 2–5 mm; 3-locular, placentae branches divided, bearing ovules on both surfaces; styles 3, yellow, free, 4–6 mm long, once-divided, stigmatic papillae in a spirally twisted band. Fruiting pedicel to 35 mm long. Fruit body obovoid, to 15 × 14 mm, drying brown, wings same shape as in ovary, the largest expanding to 20 × 24 mm, the smallest expanding to 20 × 15.

Proposed conservation assessment

Widespread and common throughout its Peruvian and Bolivian range with a total EOO of> 350 000 km 2, which includes several protected areas. This variety is frequently collected in disturbed grasslands and pastures. We assess B. veitchii var. veitchii as Least Concern (LC).

Identification notes

Begonia veitchii var. veitchii is very common across its range and can be treated as the most likely taxon for any tuberous Begonia collected in Ayacucho or further south, particularly at elevations above 3000 m a.s.l. It is recognised by its leaves which lack a distinct apex, by its large, open staminate and pistillate flowers, and its staminate flowers with four tepals.

Distribution and ecology

Known from Peru and Bolivia. Within Peru, collected in Ayacucho, Apurímac, Cuzco, Huancavelica, and Puno Regions ( Fig. 17B ). Found in high elevation grasslands at an elevation of 2650–4020 m a.s.l.

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. 19. Begonia veitchii Hook.f., showing variation in tepal colour. A. Habit, tepals white flushed pink. B. Habit, tepals white. C. Habit, tepals vivid red. D. Habit, tepals pale red (note, the pistillate flower is unusual in having six tepals). All photographs by J.P. Allen in Sandia Province, Puno Region.