Begonia vinagrera var. pomecensis Jara & Zabala-Rivera, 2021

Jara-Muñoz, Orlando Adolfo, Richardson, James E. & Zabala-Rivera, Juan Carlos, 2021, Five new species and three new varieties of Begonia section Casparya endemic to Colombia, Phytotaxa 525 (4), pp. 258-280 : 276-278

Begonia vinagrera var. pomecensis Jara & Zabala-Rivera , var. nov. Figs. 9 & 10

Type:— COLOMBIA. Boyacá: Municipio de Moniquirá , vereda Alto Colorado, Km 24, via de Arcabuco-Moniquirá, costado sur-occidental, 5°48′51.07″N, 73°29′52,78″W, 2375 m, J. C. Zabala-Rivera , W. Bravo-P. & Z. López-R. 2696 (holotype ANDES!; isotypes COL!, UPTC!) .

Diagnosis:— Begonia vinagrera var. pomecensis differs from the type variety by its larger stipules (10.2–22.9 × 8.5– 11.7 vs. 6.6–7.3 × 3.6–5.6 mm), its longer peduncle (5.4–8.3 (-14.3) vs. 3.1−4.6 cm long), and deciduous bracts (vs. sub-persistent).

Description:— Stipules early deciduous, oblong or obovate, 10.2–22.9 × 8.5–11.7 mm, apex cuspidate, reddishgreen or reddish-hyaline, glabrous; lamina of the leaf oblong to oblong-lanceolate, apex acuminate. Inflorescence bisexual; peduncle to 5.4–8.3 (14.3) cm long, bracts early deciduous, 4.4–9.4 × 2.6–6.1 mm, reddish-hyaline or reddish-green, apex cuspidate. staminate flowers: pedicels 1.7–4.2 mm long; tepals, outer 2 white, ovate, inner 2 oblong-lanceolate, apex short acuminate. Pistillate flowers: tepals white to reddish-white, subequal, 12.7–18.9 × 7.9– 11.6 mm, apex rounded to short acuminate.

Etymology:—The name refers to the locality where this variety grows, the narrow valley of the Pomeca River.

Distribution and habitat:—Only known from the valley of the Pomeca River, most of collections made from the roadsides along the route that connects the cities of Tunja (Boyacá) and Barbosa (Santander).

Additional specimens examined:— COLOMBIA. Boyacá: municipio de Arcabuco, 5 Km adelante en la carretera a Moniquirá , 18 May 1968, 2375 m, L . Uribe 6095 ( COL); Vereda Colorado Alto, Km 22, via Arcabuco-Moniquira, costado sur occidental, 2375 m, 17 June 2015, J . C. Zabala-Rivera, W. Bravo-P 2697 & Z. López-R. ( ANDES); Vereda Colorado Alto, Km 20, via Arcabuco-Moniquira, costado sur occidental, 2375 m, 17 June 2015, J . C. Zabala-Rivera, W. Bravo-P & Z. López-R. 2698 (ANDES).

Figures

FIGURE 9. Begonia vinagrera var. pomecensis. A) Branch, B) Staminate flower, C) Pistillate flower, D) Fruit, E) Cross section of the fruit. Based on J.C. Zabala-Rivera et al. 2693 and pictures of live plants, by O. Bernal.

FIGURE 10. Distribution of Begonia silverstonei var. brevipetiolata, Begonia perijaensis, Begonia vinagrera var. vinagrera, and Begonia vinagrera var. pomecensis.