Begonia vinagrera Jara & Zabala-Rivera, 2021

Jara-Muñoz, Orlando Adolfo, Richardson, James E. & Zabala-Rivera, Juan Carlos, 2021, Five new species and three new varieties of Begonia section Casparya endemic to Colombia, Phytotaxa 525 (4), pp. 258-280 : 276

Begonia vinagrera Jara & Zabala-Rivera var. v inagrera, Figs. 8 & 10

Stipules sub-persistent, lanceolate, 6.6–7.3 × 3.6–5.6 mm, apex obtuse or acute, light green. Lamina of the leaf oblong, apex long acuminate. Inflorescence bisexual or only staminate; peduncle 3.1 −4.6 cm long, bracts sub-persistent, 4.4–7.1 × 2.6–3.7 mm, light green, apex obtuse. staminate flowers: pedicels to 5.4−13.2 mm long; tepals, outer 2 white and sometimes pinkish-white variegate, oblong, inner 2 elliptic to linear-lanceolate, apex rounded. Pistillate flowers: tepals white, the largest 6–10 × 3–4.1 mm, the smallest 5–5.5 × 2.5–3.4 mm, apex rounded.

Distribution and habitat: ―The forests where this variety grows are dominated by Quercus humboldtii (Fagaceae) , accompanied by highly diverse families such as Rubiaceae , Melastomataceae and Lauraceae and genera Miconia , Anthurium and Psychotria ( Reina et al. 2010) . Several biogeographically interesting species have been recorded in the region, such the Colombian endemic genus of Fagaceae , Colombobalanus (Lozano, Hern. Cam. & Henao, Jesús Eugenio) Nixon & Crepet , only known from three other localities in Colombia ( Aguirre-Acosta & Botero-Echeverri 2018), as well as the endemic species: Arthrostylidium virolinense Londoño & L.G. Clark , Eugenia fernandez-alonsoi Parra-Os., and Magnolia virolinensis (Lozano) Govaerts.

Common names:― Vinagrera (in Spanish), because the stems taste of vinegar (Agudelo 170).

Additional specimens examined:— COLOMBIA. Boyacá: Municipio Duitama, vereda El Carmen, on the road to Virolín (before the ″ Tao ″ Community ), 2320 m, November 1994, J . L . Fernandez-Alonso 12207 ( COL, HUA) . Santander: Municipio de Charalá, corregimiento Virolín, vereda El Palmar , 2300 m, 8 January 2011, Agudelo 170 ( UDBC); ibidem, Agudelo 180 ( UDBC); Charalá, sitio El Bogotacito, después de El Taladro, via El Carmen-Virolín, 2300 m, 23 November 1994, J . Betancur 5805 ( COL); Municipio Charalá, corregimiento Virolín, carretera El Carmen-Virolín , 1900–2000 m, 5 June 1995, J . Betancur 6199 ( COL); Municipio Gámbita, vereda El Volcán, 2100 m, 11 November 1981, Caro 34 ( COL); Virolín, ca. 1800 m, 6–12 May 1986, J . L. Fernandez-Alonso 6250 ( COL); municipio de Suaita, vereda Corbaraque, corregimiento El Olival, 6 °06′8″N, 73°13′34″W, 1771 m, 19 January 2008, R . Medina 322 ( UDBC); Charalá, vereda El Palmar, corregimiento Virolín, 6°26′29′′N, 72°37′32″W, 2480 m, 16 May 2008, R . Medina 361 ( UDBC); Municipio Gámbita, vereda El Poleo Alto, SW sector of the Cuchilla del Fara , 6°02′45′′N, 73°14′59″W, 2366 m, 27 March 2010, R . Medina 636 ( COL); Charalá, inspección Virolín, vereda El Volcán, 1900 m, 30 June 1983, Torres 2581 ( COL) .

Figures

FIGURE 8. Begonia vinagrera var. vinagrera. A) Branch with flowers, B) Staminate flower, C) Pistillate flower showing perianth, ovary, and bracteoles, D) Fruit. Based on J. Betancur 5805, J.L. Fernandez-Alonso 6250, and pictures of live plants, by O. Bernal.

FIGURE 10. Distribution of Begonia silverstonei var. brevipetiolata, Begonia perijaensis, Begonia vinagrera var. vinagrera, and Begonia vinagrera var. pomecensis.