Begonia sp. 1

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 : 53-54

10.43. Begonia sp. 1

Bolivia, Beni Department, Prov. Ballivián, río Beni , Rurrenabaque, Encañada Suse , 1 km upstream, 14 ° 28′S, 67 ° 31′W, 320 m, 18 v 1990, D.C. Daly, N. Limpias & R. Sastre 6487 ( NY) .

Distribution. Endemic to Bolivia.

Notes. This specimen includes one tuber, one leaf, and a single developing inflorescence with immature staminate flowers. The leaf is significantly larger than the leaves of any other tuberous species of Bolivian Begonia . The species differs from most tuberous Bolivian Begonia species in lacking stems, and from the remainder in its peltate leaf bases. The species’ habitat is also distinct from that of all other tuberous Bolivian Begonia species, which are typically found at> 1500 m elevation. In habit, the species perhaps most resembles Colombian Begonia hydrophylloides L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. , which also has a tuber, few large leaves held close to the ground, and few upright, strongly protandrous inflorescences. Without more material, we are unable, however, to describe this species or confirm its relationship to other Begonia species. It is surprising how rarely the species has been collected given the long collecting history in Beni Department. The first Begonia collections in the area were made in 1901 by R. S. Williams, and more recently the area has been the focus of floristic inventory work in and surrounding the nearby Parque Nacional Madidi. This suggests that the species is either very rare or perhaps, given its tuberous habit, remains dormant for much of the year.

Identification notes. This is the only acaulescent species of Begonia in Bolivia with a peltate leaf lamina.