The genus Begonia (Begoniaceae) in Peru Moonlight, Peter. W. Jara-Muñoz, Orlando A. Purvis, David A. Delves, Jay Allen, Josh P. Reynel, Carlos European Journal of Taxonomy 2023 2023-07-18 881 1 334 CFGTR Moonlight Moonlight 2023 [601,933,265,291] Magnoliopsida Begoniaceae Begonia Plantae Cucurbitales 268 269 Tracheophyta species nunezii sp. nov.  urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77323296-1  Figs 84B, 86    Diagnosis Most similar to  B. leptostylaIrmsch.but differing in its densely hispid indumentum (vs sparsely to densely tomentose indumentum) with much longer hairs (ca 2 mmlong vs 0.5 mmlong); its larger stipules (10–12 × 4–6 mmvs 4–8 × 1–3 mm); its leaves, which are twice as long as broad (vs [2.5–]3–4 times as long as broad); and its bifid styles (vs bifid to irregularly multifid).    Etymology We are delighted to name this species in honour of Percy Núñez, the Peruvian ethnobotanist who made all of the known collections of the species.     Type   PERU–  Cusco Region: Prov. La Convención• Dist. Echarate, Segakiato in the Camisea River, lower Urubamba Region; 11°48′30″ S, 72°53′ W;  320 ma.s.l.;  2 Oct. 1997;  P. Núñez20940; holotype: USM;  isotype: US[ US00625236].   Specimens examined   PERU–  Madre de Dios Region: Prov. Manu• Cocha Cashu; [ 11°45′ S, 71°58′ W];  400 ma.s.l.;  4 Oct. 1985;  P. Núñez1944; US[ US00222349].–   Prov. Tambopata• Tahuamanu, río Pariamanu; 12°23′35″ S, 69°21′36″ W;  200 ma.s.l.;  8 Aug. 1995;  P. Núñez17306; USM, WAG[2: WAG1576527, WAG1576528].    Description Caulescent herb, to 1.5 mhigh. Stemerect, rarely branching; internodes to 9 cmlong, to 5 mmthick, succulent, colour unknown, densely hispid. Stipulespersistent, triangular, 10–12 × 4–6 mm, apex acute, translucent, colour unknown, sparsely hispid, margin entire, long-ciliate. Leaves4–6, alternate, basifixed; petiole 1.8–8 cmlong, colour unknown, densely hispid; blade asymmetric, ovate, to 14 × 7 cm, membranaceous, apex acuminate, base obliquely cordate, basal lobes not overlapping, sinus to 18 mmdeep, margin irregularly serrate, ciliate, upper surface colour unknown, sparsely hispid, lower surface colour unknown, densely hispid on the veins, glabrous on the lamina, veins palmate-pinnate, ca 6 veined from the base, with 2–4 secondary veins on the larger side, 1–3 secondary veins on the smaller side. Inflorescences1–3, axillary, erect, cymose, with 6 branches, bearing up to 16 staminate flowers and up to and 32 pistillate flowers, protandrous; peduncle to 11 cmlong, colour unknown, densely hispid, bracts deciduous, lanceolate, 6–10 × 2–3 mm, translucent, colour unknown, glabrous, apex acute, margin entire, ciliate. Staminate flowers: pedicels to 10 mmlong, densely hispid; tepals 2, spreading, broadly ovate, 5–9 × 5–8 mm, apex rounded, white, glabrous, margin entire, aciliate; stamens ca 25 projecting, yellow, filaments ca 1 mmlong, free, anthers elliptic, c2.5 × 0.5 mmlong, dehiscing via lateral slits, connectives extending to 0.1 mm, symmetrically basifixed. Pistillate flowers: pedicels to 30 mmlong; bracteoles 2, directly beneath the ovary, obovate, 6–7 × 3–5 mm, apex obtuse, transparent, colour unknown, glabrous, margin entire, long-ciliate; tepals 5, subequal, deciduous in fruit, spreading, the largest ovate, 5–8 × 2.5–5 mm, apex rounded, white, glabrous, margin entire, aciliate, the smallest elliptic to ovate, 4–7 × 1.5–4 mm, apex rounded, white, glabrous, margin entire, aciliate; ovary body ovoid, 4–7 × 3–5 mm, colour unknown, glabrous, unequally 3-winged, wings triangular, largest 6–9 × 3–9 mm, smallest 5–9 × 2–6 mm; 3-locular, placentae unknown; styles 3, yellow, free, 1.5–5 mmlong, once-divided, stigmatic papillae in a spirally twisted band. Fruiting pedicelto 25 mmlong. Fruit bodyovoid, to 15 × 11 mm, drying light brown, wings same shape as in ovary, the largest expanding to 28 × 12 mm, the smallest expanding to 20 × 10 mm.    Proposed conservation assessment Known from three populations 390 kmapart in lowland Amazonia and last collected in 1997. The most southerly collection was made < 1 kmfrom a small scale and presumably illegal gold mine, which satellite imaging shows was dug between 2004 and 2012 and expanded from 2017 to 2018. There is however ample riverside habitat remaining and a vast area of under-collected Amazonian forest both between and around all three populations. We assess  B. nunezii sp. nov.as Data Deficient (DD).    Notes   Begonia nunezii sp. nov.is part of a group distinguished from other South American members of B.sect. Ruizopavoniaby their densely tomentose or hirsute indumentum and persistent stipules. All Bolivian endemic members of the section are part of the group and  B. nunezii sp. nov.is the first such species found outside of Bolivia. Several members also have multifid rather than bifid styles, though this can vary even within species.  Begonia nunezii sp. nov.is unique within this group as the only species with transversely ovate leaves and palmate-pinnate venation. No members of the group have been included in any molecular phylogenies, so were tentatively placed in B.sect. Ruizopavoniaby Moonlight et al.(2018). We also tentatively place  B. nunezii sp. nov.in this section.   Identification notes   Begonia nunezii sp. nov.is most similar to Bolivian  B. leptostyla(see Diagnosis) but could also be confused with the Bolivian species  B. bangii. This species shares the densely long-hispid indumentum of  B. nunezii sp. nov.but differs in its reniform to orbicular stipules. Like  B. leptostyla,  B. bangiialso has leaves that are usually more than three times as long as broad. Within Peru, identifying  B. nunezii sp. nov.is simple, as it is the only erect or climbing herb with a dense indumentum that is found in lowland Amazonia.    Distribution and ecology Endemic to Peruand known from Madre de Diosand CuscoRegions ( Fig. 84B). Found in Amazonian forest at an elevation of 200–320 ma.s.l. All collections of this species were made on the banks of small rivers, and we assume from its habit that it climbs through riverside vegetation.  Begonia nunezii sp. nov.has been collected in flower in October and in fruit in August. 4517462048 1997-10-02 USM P. Nunez Peru Prov. La Convencion 320 -11.808333 Segakiato in the Camisea River 905 -72.88333 Dist. Echarate 268 269 1 Cusco Region holotype 4517462382 [189,516,898,925] 1997-10-02 US P. Nunez Peru Prov. La Convencion 320 -11.808333 Segakiato in the Camisea River 905 -72.88333 Dist. Echarate 268 269 US00625236 1 Cusco Region isotype 4517462230 1985-10-04 US P. Nunez Peru Prov. Manu 400 -11.75 Cocha Cashu 1295 -71.96667 268 269 US00222349 1 Madre de Dios Region 4517461520 1995-08-08 USM, WAG P. Nunez Prov. Tambopata 200 -12.393055 Tahuamanu 21 -69.36 268 269 WAG1576527, WAG1576528 1