[Botany • 2019] Begonia joshii (Begoniaceae, sect. Eupetalum) • A New Species of Tuberous Begonia from Andean Peru

Begonia joshii 

in Moonlight, Hollands, Cano & Purvis, 2019. 

 DOI: 10.1017/S0960428619000301 

  twitter.com/PeterMoonlight

Abstract

A striking new species of Begonia, B. joshii, is described from Amazonas Region, Peru. The new species is unusual among the South American members of the genus both in its combination of tuberous habit with peltate leaves and in living in a seasonally dry tropical forest environment. A phylogeny of this and closely related species is presented, and its sectional affiliation and IUCN conservation status are discussed. A key to the peltate Peruvian species of Begonia is provided.

Keywords: Begonia sect. Eupetalum, large genera, new species, Peru

P. W. Moonlight, R. Hollands, A. Cano and D. A. Purvis. 2019. A New Species of Tuberous Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Andean Peru. Edinburgh Journal of Botany. First View. DOI: 10.1017/S0960428619000301  

 twitter.com/PeterMoonlight/status/1177228879938932741

[Botany • 2019] Diastema fimbratiloba (Gesneriaceae) • A New Species of Diastema from the eastern Andean Slopes of Peru

Diastema fimbratiloba Moonlight & J.L.Clark

in Clark & Moonlight, 2019. 

 DOI:  10.1017/S0960428619000192 

  twitter.com/PeterMoonlight 

Abstract

A striking new species of Diastema, D. fimbratiloba, is described from Ucayali Region, along the eastern Andean slopes in central Peru. The new species has a fimbriate lower corolla lobe, a feature not previously documented in the genus. We also provide a general comparison of the newly described species and morphologically related species in the context of the taxonomy and phylogeny of the poorly known genus Diastema.

Keywords: Diastema, Gesneriaceae, Peru.

Diastema fimbratiloba Moonlight & J.L.Clark, sp. nov.

Photograph taken by P. W. Moonlight 

of the type collection in the field.

Diastema fimbratiloba Moonlight & J.L. Clark, sp. nov.
 A, Habit; B, dissected corolla tube, showing the androecium; C, abaxial view of the calyx lobes; D, gynoecium, side view; E, nectary and base of the gynoecium, side view; F, stigma, side view; G, anthers, bottom view. Scale bars: A, 3 cm; B–D, 6 mm; E–G, 3 mm. Illustration by C. Banks from the type collection.

Diastema fimbratiloba Moonlight & J.L.Clark, sp. nov. 

Etymology. The species is named for the distinctive fimbriations on the lower corolla lobe. Fimbriations are common in several genera of New World Gesneriaceae (especially Drymonia Mart.), but no currently known described species in Diastema is known for this feature. It is possible that other species of Diastema have fimbriate corolla margins (cf. note above regarding the population without collection from Atalaya, Peru), but this is a difficult character to evaluate from collections, because the flowers are delicate and ephemeral. As a result, corolla features in Diastema are not readily available on most herbarium specimens.

J. L. Clark and P. W. Moonlight. 2019. A New Species of Diastema (Gesneriaceae) from the eastern Andean Slopes of Peru. Edinburgh Journal of Botany: An International Journal of Plant Systematics and Biodiversity. DOI:  10.1017/S0960428619000192  

 twitter.com/PeterMoonlight/status/1165935447241043968

[Botany • 2018] Dividing and Conquering the Fastest-growing Genus: Towards A Natural Sectional Classification of the Mega-diverse Genus Begonia (Begoniaceae)

Begonia spp.

in Moonlight, Ardi, Arroyo Padilla, Chung, Fuller, et al., 2018.

DOI:  10.12705/672.3 

twitter.com/PeterMoonlight 

 facebook.com: Mark Hughes

Abstract

The pantropical genus Begonia is the sixth-largest genus of flowering plants, including 1870 species. The sections of Begonia are used frequently as analogues to genera in other families but, despite their taxonomic utility, few of the current sections have been examined in the light of molecular phylogenetic analyses. We present herein the largest, most representative phylogeny of Begonia published to date and a subsequent provisional sectional classification of the genus. We utilised three plastid markers for 574 species and 809 accessions of Begonia and used Hillebrandia as an outgroup to produce a dated phylogeny. The relationships between some species and sections are poorly resolved, but many sections and deeper nodes receive strong support. We recognise 70 sections of Begonia including 5 new sections: Astrothrix, Ephemera, Jackia, Kollmannia, and Stellandrae; 4 sections are reinstated from synonymy: Australes, Exalabegonia, Latistigma and Pereira; and 5 sections are newly synonymised. The new sectional classification is discussed with reference to identifying characters and previous classifications.

Keywords: Begonia; dating; phylogenetics; sectional classification

          

Begonia (sect. Jackia) sublobata Jack, on Pulau Pasumpahan, Sumatra

 twitter.com/markhughesis

 Peter W. Moonlight, Wisnu H. Ardi, Luzmila Arroyo Padilla, Kuo-Fang Chung, Daniel Fuller, Deden Girmansyah, Ruth Hollands, Adolfo Jara-Muñoz, Ruth Kiew, Wai-Chao Leong, Yan Liu, Adi Mahardika, Lakmini D.K. Marasinghe, Meriel O'Connor, Ching-I Peng, Álvaro J. Pérez, Thamarat Phutthai, Martin Pullan, Sangeeta Rajbhandary, Carlos Reynel, Rosario R. Rubite, Julia Sang, David Scherberich, Yu-Min Shui, Mark C. Tebbitt, Daniel C. Thomas, Hannah P. Wilson, Nura H. Zaini and Mark Hughes. 2018.  Dividing and Conquering the Fastest-growing Genus: Towards A Natural Sectional Classification of the Mega-diverse Genus Begonia (Begoniaceae). Taxon. 67(2); 267-323. DOI:  10.12705/672.3

Begonia sect. Jackia, named after the indefatigable Aberdonian botanist William Jack, is one of 5 new Begonia sections published today @TheBotanics. Pic is the type, B. sublobata Jack, on Pulau Pasumpahan, Sumatra. DOI:  10.12705/672.3  for IAPT members or PM me for the paper

 twitter.com/markhughesis/status/994208418469687296

twitter.com/PeterMoonlight/status/994196902584479744

 facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10213926341885373

[Botany • 2017] A Revision and Recircumscription of Begonia Section Pilderia including One New Species, Begonia tepuiensis

Begonia tepuiensis Moonlight & Jara  

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.307.1.1 

Abstract

Novel phylogenetic data is used to show that the poorly-known species Begonia glandulifera and Begonia mariannensis form a clade with Begonia buddleiifolia, the type species of Begonia section Pilderia. A unique combination of characters is identified in this group and used to re-circumscribe the section to include these species, and two morphologically similar species: Begonia jenmanii, and Begonia humilliana. A new species is described herein as Begonia tepuiensis sp. nov. from a single tepui in the Amazonas State of Venezuela. A full taxonomic revision and key to the species of Begonia section Pilderia is presented and we assign all species to IUCN Red List categories.

Keywords: Andes, Begonia section Pilderia, Neotropics, Phylogeny, Guyana Shield, Trinidad and Tobago, Eudicots

Begonia section Pilderia (Klotzsch) A.DC. 

 Distribution:— Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Perú, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela. 

1. Begonia buddleiifolia A.DC. (1859)

2. Begonia glandulifera Griseb. (1860) 

3. Begonia humillima L.B.Sm. & Wassh. (1973)  

4. Begonia jenmanii Tutin (1940) 

5. Begonia mariannensis Wassh. & T. McClellan (1995) 

6. Begonia tepuiensis Moonlight & Jara spec. nov.

Etymology:— The genus Begonia is relatively poorly known from the tepuis of northern Amazonia. We name this species B. tepuiensis as it is only the third Begonia species described exclusively from tepuis after B. steyermarkii L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub and B. nubicola L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub.

FIGURE 6. Begonia tepuiensis Moonlight & Jara. 
A. Habit, flowering top; B. Habit, shoot with rooting nodes; C. Female flower (side view); D. Stigma (front view); E. Stigma (back view); F. Bract; G. Detail of leaf hairs, upper lamina; H. Detail of leaf hairs, lower lamina. 

Drawn from type collection R.S. Cowen & J.J. Wurdack 31443 by Claire Banks. 

twitter.com/PeterMoonlight

P.W. Moonlight and A. Jara-Muñoz. 2017. A Revision and Recircumscription of Begonia Section Pilderia including One New Species. Phytotaxa. 307(1); 1-22.  DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.307.1.1.

twitter.com/PeterMoonlight/status/865465112059977728

Resumen: Se usaron nuevos datos filogenéticos para mostrar que las especies pobremente conocidas: Begonia glandulifera y Begonia mariannensis forman un clado con Begonia buddleiifolia, la especie tipo de Begonia sección Pilderia. Se identificaron una combinación única de caracteres en este grupo, que fueron usados para re-circunscribir la sección incluyendo estas especies, y dos especies morfológicamente similares: Begonia jenmanii y Begonia humilliana. Se describe una nueva especie, Begonia tepuiensis sp. nov. de un tepui en el estado Amazonas de Venezuela. Se presenta también una revisión taxonómica completa y una clave para las especies de Begonia sección Pilderia y asignamos todas las especies a categorías de la Lista Roja de la UICN.

[Botany • 2017] Begonia elachista Moonlight & Tebbitt sp. nov. • An Enigmatic New Species and A New Section of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Peru

Begonia elachista 

Moonlight & Tebbitt

DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2017.281

Abstract

The world’s smallest Begonia, Begonia elachista Moonlight & Tebbitt sp. nov., is described and illustrated from a limestone outcrop in the Amazonian lowlands of Pasco Region, Peru. It is placed within the newly described, monotypic Begonia sect. Microtuberosa Moonlight & Tebbitt sect. nov. and the phylogenetic affinities of the section are examined. Begonia elachista sp. nov. is considered Critically Endangered under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria.

Keywords: Begonia; sectional classification; limestone endemics; Peru; Amazonia

Fig 3. Begonia elachista Moonlight & Tebbitt sp. nov. 
[Begonia sect. Microtuberosa Moonlight & Tebbitt sect. nov.]A. Whole plant. B. Male and female flower, front view. C. Female flower, side view. D. Habit and associated vegetation. E–F. Habitat and wild population.

Scale bars: A = 1 cm; B = 5 mm; C = 2 mm; D = 2 cm; E–F = 10 cm.
Photographed by Peter Moonlight. All from P. Moonlight & A. Daza 318 (E). 

DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2017.281

Taxonomic Treatment

Class Equisetopsida C.Agardh (Agardh et al. 1825)

Subclass Magnoliidae Novák ex Takht. (Takhtajan 1967)

Superorder Rosanae Takht. (Takhtajan 1967)

Order Cucurbitales Juss. ex Bercht. & J.Presl (von Berchtold & Presl 1820)

Family Begoniaceae C.Agardh (Agardh 1824)

Genus Begonia L. (Linnaeus 1753)

Begonia sect. Microtuberosa Moonlight & Tebbitt sect. nov.

 Diagnosis: Begonia sect. Microtuberosa sect. nov. is most closely related to B. sect. Trachelocarpus and three species of B. sect. Gaerdtia. Both of these sections are endemic to eastern Brazil and differ markedly from sect. Microtuberosa sect. nov. in both their habit and floral characteristics (see Table 1). However, all three sections share their filaments fused at least at the base and B. sect. Microtuberosa sect. nov. further shares its androecium morphology with B. sect. Pereira and its lack of bracteoles with B. sect. Trachelocarpus. The majority of both floral and vegetative characters are, however, markedly different among the three sections.

Begonia sect. Microtuberosa sect. nov. is readily identified as the only Neotropical section of Begonia with male flowers with four or fewer stamens, and the combination of ovaries with two or three locules and entire placentas, and a tuberous habit.

Etymology: The name ‘Microtuberosa’ emphasises the diminutive and tuberous habit of the type species. 

Type species: Begonia elachista Moonlight & Tebbitt sp. nov. 

Distribution: On a limestone outcrop in lowland Amazonian Peru to the east of the Chemillén Cordillera at an altitude of 430 m.

Begonia elachista Moonlight & Tebbitt sp. nov. sect. Microtuberosa

Diagnosis: Begonia elachista sp. nov. is a highly distinct species with an unusual combination of features that is easily recognized as the only Peruvian species of Begonia that reaches maturity at fewer than 5 cm in height. It is also unique within Peru in having ovate leaves smaller than 3 × 3 cm and a combination of entire placentae and a tuberous habit.

Etymology: The epithet ‘elachista’ comes from the Greek for ‘least’ and emphasizes the diminutive size of this species, which is the smallest known species of Begonia.

Distribution and habitat: Begonia elachista sp. nov. is known only from the type locality in the Peruvian region of Pasco (Oxapampa Province) and has been collected on calcareous rocks by the entrance to a cave within primary lowland Amazonian forest, at an altitude of 430 m. It was observed growing on rocks free from other vascular plants in association with various bryophyte species in the almost continual shade of the surrounding forest.

.....

Peter Watson Moonlight, Carlos Reynel and Mark Tebbitt. 2017.  Begonia elachista Moonlight & Tebbitt sp. nov., An Enigmatic New Species and A New Section of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Peru. European Journal of Taxonomy.  281: 1–13.  DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2017.281