Begonia fragae L. Kollmann & Peixoto, 2012

Kollmann, Ludovic Jean-Charles & Peixoto, Ariane Luna, 2012, Begonia fragae L. Kollmann & Peixoto and Begonia wasshauseniana L. Kollmann & Peixoto (Begoniaceae), two new species from the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, Candollea 67 (1), pp. 59-64 : 60-63

1. Begonia fragae L. Kollmann & Peixoto , spec. nova ( Fig. 1 ).

Typus: BRAZIL. Espírito Santo: Santa Leopoldina, colina Boqueirão do Santilho , 300 m, 20º13’32.8”S 40º29’55.4”W, 11.IV.2009, L. Kollmann, A. P. Fontana, C. Fraga, A. Amorim, R. Goldenberg & R. C. Forzza 11530, fl. fr. (holo-: RB!; iso-: CEPEC!, MBML!, UPCB!) .

Species haec Begonia santoslimae , B. kautskyanae et B. leopoldinensi affinis, sed petiolis canaliculatis et laminis non peltatis differt.

Rhizomatous herb, rupicolous to saxicolous, 35-55(-73) cm tall (excluding inflorescence), prostate, glandular trichomes and flattened peltate-stellate trichomes. Stem 2.3 - 2.7 cm diameter, brown, stellate trichomes, internodes 0.7-1.2 cm long, with big petiolar scars. Stipules 2.2-3.5 × 1.8-2.1 cm, brown-reddish, persistent, asymmetric, papyraceous when dry, ovate to triangulate, apex apiculate to retuse, adaxial face glabrous, stellate trichomes on abaxial face, carinate. Petiole 31-64 cm long, 0.8- 2 cm diam., green covered by grey stellate trichomes, sulcate, 5-8 sulci. Lamina 22-45 × 21-42 cm, ovate to cordate, asymmetric, apex obtuse, sometime with a little obtuse lobe, base cordate, adaxial face green, shiny, glabrescent, abaxial face red to whitish, stellate trichomes, margins revolute, crenate with hydathodes; venation actinodromous, veins 7-10 at base, stomata single. Inflorescence thyrsiform, 63-168 cm long, with (3-) 6-7 nodes, brown-reddish, rounded, slightly canaliculated, 1.6-2.6 cm diameter at base, stellate trichomes. Bracts of first node leaf-like, when present, petiole 2-5 cm, lamina 7-22 × 7- 18 cm, persistent, bracts of first node note leaf-like, 2.2-2.7 × 1.5-1.9 cm, brown-reddish, ovate, deciduous, adaxial face glabrous, abaxial face with stellate trichomes, carinate, all others, 6-9 × 6-9 mm, green, deciduous, cordate, apex obtuse, abaxial face glandular. Staminate flowers: pedicel 1.3-3.5 cm long, glandular; 4-tepals, pinkish-white, 2-sepals, 1.1-1.7 × 1.3-1.7 cm, cordate, apex obtuse to rounded; 2-petals, 0.9-1.3 × 0.65-0.7 cm, obovate, apex rounded; stamens 30-36, yellow, filament 0.5-1 mm long, unequal, fused below into a column, anthers longer than the filament, 1.2-1.5 mm long, obovate, rimose, connective not extended. Pistillate flowers: pedicel 1.5-3.2 cm long, pinkish, glandular; 2-sepals, pinkish-white, 1.9-2.2 × 1.5-1.6 cm, ovate to obovate, apex obtuse, abaxial face glandular, 3-petals, pinkish-white, 1.2-2.1 × 0.5-1.3 cm, ovate to obovate, apex obtuse, abaxial face glandular; 3-styles, yellow, united at base, flabellate, bifurcate, spirally twisted, with bands of filamentous stigmatic papillae on margins of the branches; ovary 3-locular, placentation axial, one placenta per locule, bifurcate, ovules on both sides of placentae. Capsules 1.2-1.4 × 0.9-1 cm, basally dehiscent, glandular when young; 3-wings, unequal, glandular when young, chartaceous when dry, larger 1.6-2.2 × 1.5-2 cm, ascending, apex obtuse, smaller wings, 1.6 × 0.4-0.7 cm. Seeds ca. 0.3 × 0.2 mm, cylindrical, oblong to obovate.

Taxonomy. – Begonia fragae is part of sect. Knesebeckia (Klotzsch) A. DC. characterized by their rhizomatous habit, persistent stipules, stellate trichomes, a connective not extending beyond the anther, bifurcate placental branches, and ovules present on both faces of the placental branches.

Relationships. – Begonia fragae is similar to B. santoslimae Brade , B. kautskyana Handro and B. leopoldinensis L. Kollmann with its rhizomatous stem, stellate trichomes, and thyrsiform inflorescence. It can be distinguished from them by its petiole canaliculate (vs. rounded or square), lamina not peltate (vs. peltate) ( Table 1 ).

Etymology. – The name of the new species pays homage to Claudio Nicoletti de Fraga, who found this new species and has made an important contribution to botany.

Distribution and ecology. – Begonia fragae was found growing in semi-shaded places, in rocky outcrops, in submountain dense ombrophilous forest of the Atlantic Forest at 300-620 m above sea level.

Conservation status. – Due to the apparent very restricted distribution of B. fragae , with an extent of occurrence estimated to be less than 10 km 2, it would appear prudent to include this species in the Critically Endangered species list (CR) (B2ab(iii)) according to the IUCN (2001) criteria.

Paratypi. – BRASIL. Espírito Santo: Cariacica, Reserva Biológica Duas Bocas , Pau Amarelo , ex-Condominio Rural Cantinho do Céu , 619 m, 20°16’42’’S 40°32’26’’W, 21.X. 2008, L. Kollmann & al. 11244, fr. ( RB!); Santa Leopoldina, Colina Boqueirão do Santilho , 300 m, 20º13’32.8’’S 40º29’55.4’’W, 11.IV.2009, C. N. Fraga & al. 2323, fr. ( CEPEC!, MBML!, RB!, UPCB!); Boqueirão do Santilho, floresta na beira da Estrada , 302 m, 20°13’00’’S 40°29’00’’W, 11.IV.2009, A. P. Fontana & al. 5868, fl. ( CEPEC, MBML!, RB!).

Figures

Fig. 1. – Begonia Fragae L. Kollmann & Peixoto. A. Habit; B. Transversal view of the petiole; C. Stellate trichome, dorsal view; D. Stipule flattened, front view; E. Basal bract; F. Apical bract; G. Staminate flower, sepals (1), petals (2); H. Stamens, left dorsal view, right lateral view; I. Pistillate flower, sepals (1), petals (2); J. Styles, above ventral view, below dorsal view; K. Fruit; L. Seed. [Kollmann & al. 11530] [Drawn by L. J.-C. Kollmann]