Begonia marinae Tebbitt

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 : 29-30

4.20. Begonia marinae Tebbitt , Novon 23(4): 481, fig. 1 (2015).

– Type: Bolivia, Santa Cruz Department, Prov. Vallegrande , rd. from Pucara to Alto Seco , N & NE facing open slopes in remnant Tucumano forest , 18°44′S, 64°6′W, 2727 m, 12 i 2012, M.C. Tebbitt 724 (holotype USZ, isotype USZ [2]) .

Begonia sp. nov. in M.C. Tebbitt, Begonian 79: 99 (2012). – Begonia sp. nov. in M.C. Tebbitt, Begonian 80: 105 (2013).

Begonia octopetala auct. non. L’Hér., R.C. Foster , Contr. Gray Herb. 184: 138 (1958).

Begonia octopetala auct. non. L’Hér., Wasshausen, D.C. et al. in JØrgensen, P.M. et al. (eds), Cat. Bolivia, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 129: 385 (2013).

Begonia rosiflora auct. non. Hook.f., Wasshausen, D.C . et al. in JØrgensen, P.M. et al. (eds), Cat. Bolivia, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 129: 386 (2013).

Begonia rubricaulis auct. non. Hook, D.C. Wasshausen et al. in P.M. JØrgensen et al. (eds), Cat. Bolivia, Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 129: 386 (2013).

Distribution. Bolivia and Argentina.

Identification notes. Begonia marinae is most similar to B. pleiopetala A.DC. Both species are acaulescent, geophytic herbs with orbicular leaf blades with a dentate margin. Begonia marinae is best distinguished by its paired bracteoles ( B. pleiopetala lacks bracteoles) and the broader tepals on its staminate flowers (> 13 mm wide vs <11 mm wide). Distinguishing these species when sterile is more difficult, but Begonia marinae is a larger plant with leaf blades reaching 16 cm vs 9 cm in length.