Begonia boliviensis A.DC., Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. IV

Moonlight, Peter & Fuentes, Alfredo F., 2022, AN UPDATED CHECKLIST AND KEY TO THE SPECIES OF BOLIVIAN BEGONIA, INCLUDING ONE NEW SPECIES, Edinburgh Journal of Botany 79 (407), pp. 1-66 : 9-10

1.1. Begonia boliviensis A.DC., Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. IV (11): 122 (1859). – Type: Bolivia,

[Chuquisaca Department, Prov. Hernando Siles], ‘Prov. Acero’, xi–xii 1845, H.A. Weddell 3632 (lectotype P [P01900760] first stage designated in: Revista Univ. (Cuzco) 33(87): 78 (1944) by Smith, L.B. & Schubert, B.G.; second stage designated in: Fl. Argentina 17: 4 (2017) by Delfini , C .; isolectotypes F ex P [ F0077407 F], P [ P01900761 ] ); Bolivia, [Santa Cruz Department], Prov. Cordillera, xi–xii 1845, H. A. Weddell 4032 (syntype G-DC ex P [photograph F#7326 ], P [ P05586847 ]) .

L.B. Smith & B.G. Schubert, Revista Univ. (Cuzco) 33(87): 78 (1944); R.C. Foster, Contr. Gray Herb. 184: 137 (1958); M.C. Tebbitt, Begonian 79: 97 (2012); D.C. Wasshausen et al. in P.M. JØrgensen et al. (eds), Cat. Bolivia, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 127: 383 (2013); Delfini, C. in Zuloaga, F.O. & Belgrano, M.J. (eds), Fl. Argentina 17: 4 (2017); M.C. Tebbitt, Tuberous Begonias, a Monograph of Begonia sect. Australes 69 (2020).

Distribution. Bolivia and Argentina.

Nomenclatural notes. Alphonse Pyramus de Candolle described Begonia boliviensis A.DC. based on material collected by H. A. Weddell. There are three sheets in Paris herbarium that were collected by Weddell and match de Candolle’s description: H.A. Weddell 3632 (two sheets) and 4032 (one sheet). None of these sheets have determination slips on them to indicate they were seen by de Candolle, but there is a sheet of H.A. Weddell 4032 in de Candolle’s herbarium in Geneva that he took from Paris herbarium and annotated as Begonia boliviensis , demonstrating that he considered this collection to be B. boliviensis (photograph F#7326). H.A. Weddell 4032 in Paris or Geneva would therefore be the logical choice of a lectotype. Unfortunately, Smith & Schubert (1944a) cited H.A. Weddell 3632 in Paris as the type. This counts as an effective first-stage lectotypification, because there are two sheets of this collection in Paris. Delfini (2017) selected sheet P01900760 as the lectotype, which effected the second stage of lectotypification.

Identification notes. This species is highly distinct and best recognised by its combination of a tuber, lanceolate leaf blades with a long-acuminate apex, and projecting tepals on both the staminate and pistillate flower. The androecium is also unique among Bolivian Begonia and consists of 30–100 stamens attached along the length of a 0.4–2.5 cm long column.