Begonia L.

Genus Begonia L. View in CoL View at ENA

Description

Caulescent or acaulescent herbs, with or without a tuber or rhizome. Stems erect, trailing, or climbing, sometimes rooting at the nodes. Stipules paired, either side of the petiole, persistent to deciduous. Leaves alternate, basifixed or peltate; blade simple or rarely palmately-compound, subsymmetric to asymmetric, margin entire to serrate, lobed or lacking lobes, veins peltate, palmate, palmate-pinnate, or pinnate. Inflorescences bisexual or rarely unisexual, axillary or terminal, cymose, monochasial, or thyrsoid, protandrous. Staminate flowers: tepals 2–11; stamens 2–125, filaments free or fused into a column, anthers dehiscing via lateral slits or pores, connectives extended or not extended, symmetrically basifixed or filaments symmetrically fixed to the back of the anthers. Pistillate flowers: bracteoles lacking to 3, positioned directly beneath the ovary or on the pedicel; tepals 2–11, deciduous or persistent in fruit; ovary inferior, body unequally 2- to 4-winged, lacking wings, or 3-horned, dehiscing laterally or dorsally, placentation axillary, placentae branches entire or divided; styles 2–4, free or fused, once- to many times-divided, stigmatic papillae in one or several spirally-twisted bands per style. Fruit a capsule, wings or horns same shape and size as in ovary or expanding.

Artificial key to Peruvian Begonia

1. Leaf lamina peltate .......................................................................................................................... 2

– Leaf lamina basifixed....................................................................................................................... 9

2 Plants tuberous or rhizomatous, terrestrial herbs; internodes short or lacking, if present not rooting at the nodes ...................................................................................................................................... 3

– Plants lacking a tuber or rhizome, climbing herbs; stem with elongate internodes and rooting at the nodes ................................................................................................................................................ 8

3 Plants rhizomatous........................................................................................................................... 4

– Plants tuberous................................................................................................................................. 7

4 Leaf laminae moderately to densely pubescent ............................................................................... 5

– Leaf laminae glabrous...................................................................................................................... 6

5 Leaf laminae with 1 or more large triangular lobes, margins entire; tepals deciduous in fruit ......... ....................................................................................................................... B. acerifolia Kunth 49

– Leaf laminae lacking lobes, margins serrulate; tepals persistent in fruit...... B. parcifolia A.DC. 46

6 Plant lacking an aerial stem; tepals deciduous in fruit ......................... B. urubambensis Tebbitt 76

– Plant with an aerial stem; tepals persistent in fruit ........................................ B. serotina A.DC. 54

7 Plant with an aerial stem; leaf margin serrate to dentate, rarely crenate; ovary and fruit wing apices acute...................................................................................... B. neoharlingii L.B.Sm. & Wassh. 33

– Plant lacking an aerial stem; leaf margin crenate; ovary and fruit wing apices rounded to truncate .................................................................................................................... B. joshii Moonlight 32

8 Petiole insertion <¼ of the way up the lamina; tepals red................................................................ ........................................................................................... B. aeranthos L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. 41

– Petiole insertion> ¼ of the way up the lamina; tepals white to yellow or green.............................. .................................................................................................................. B. hitchcockii Irmsch. 42

9 Plants with a tuber or rhizome....................................................................................................... 10

– Plants lacking a tuber or rhizome .................................................................................................. 32

10 Plants with an above ground stem ..................................................................................................11

– Plants lacking an above ground stem............................................................................................. 21

11 Plant> 50 cm tall; internodes> 5 cm long.................................................................................... 12

– Plant <50 cm tall; internodes <5 cm long.................................................................................... 13

12 Leaf margins lacking cusps; staminate flowers 12–16 mm across; tepals of the staminate flowers with rounded apices; pistillate flowers ebracteolate ........... B. piurensis L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. 47

– Leaf margins with 2–5 cusps along the largest side; staminate flowers 44–90 mm across; tepals of the staminate flowers with acuminate apices; pistillate flowers bracteolate...................................... .................................................................................................. B. velata L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. 48

13 Tuber <5 mm in diameter; leaf blades <3 × 3 cm in diameter; stamens 2 or 4 ............................... ................................................................................................. B. elachista Moonlight & Tebbitt 62

– Tuber> 1 cm in diameter; leaf blades> 3 × 3 cm in diameter; stamens> 5................................. 14

14> 50 stamens; leaf apices rounded to indistinct................................................ B. veitchii Hook.f. 5

– <40 stamens; leaf apices acute to acuminate, rarely rounded to indistinct................................... 15

15 Stems glabrous to sparsely tomentose, the hairs <1 mm long...................................................... 16

– Stems sparsely to densely villous or hispid, the hairs> 2 mm long.............................................. 19

16 Leaf venation palmate-pinnate; stems thin, wiry........................................................................... 17

– Leaf venation palmate; stems succulent ........................................................................................ 18

17 Stipule margins entire, aciliate; leaf upper and lower surfaces glabrous; stamens held on a 0.5 mm long column .......................................................................... B. speculum Moonlight & Tebbitt 74

– Stipule margins lacerate, ciliate; leaf upper and lower surfaces sparsely to densely pilose; stamens held on a 2–2.75 mm long column ............................................................ B. thyrsoidea Irmsch. 75

18 Stipules persistent; leaf margin serrate; pistillate tepals 8–10 mm long ... B. geraniifolia Hook. 31

– Stipules deciduous; leaf margin crenate to dentate; pistillate tepals 10–30 mm long ....................... .............................................................................................. B. neoharlingii L.B.Sm. & Wassh. 33

19 Tepals yellow, orange, or red; tepals glabrous on both surfaces.................................................... 20

– Tepals white to pink; tepals glandular pilose on the outer surface, glabrous on the inner surface.... ............................................................................................ B. bifurcata L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. 71

20 Tepals yellow; stipules persistent, 1–3.5 mm long......................................... B. heliantha Tebbitt 3

– Tepals orange to red; stipules late deciduous, 5–7 mm long. B. herrerae L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. 4

21 Staminate flowers with four tepals ................................................................................................ 22

– Staminate flowers with five or more tepals.................................................................................... 28

22 Leaf margins unlobed or rarely with <5 triangular lobes ............................................................. 23

– Leaf margins with> 5 irregularly-shaped lobes..................................... B. weberbaueri Irmsch. 34

23 Plants with an above-ground creeping rhizome; petioles densely hispid, the hairs red .................... ........................................................................................... B. erythrothrix Tebbitt & Moonlight 72

– Plants with an underground tuber or rhizome; petiole glabrous to densely villous, the hairs white. ....................................................................................................................................................... 24

24 Outer tepals of the staminate flowers serrate; styles multifid................. B. tumbezensis Irmsch. 40

– Outer tepals of the staminate flower entire; styles bifid ................................................................ 25

25 Ovaries sub-equally 3-winged; pistillate tepals persistent in fruit................ B. parcifolia C.DC. 46

– Ovaries unequally 3-winged; pistillate tepals deciduous in fruit................................................... 26

26 Stipules> 8.5 mm long; stamens> 50; outer tepals of the staminate flowers> 12 mm long........... .......................................................................................................................... B. veitchii Hook.f. 5

– Stipules <8.5 mm long; stamens <30; outer tepals of the staminate flower <12 mm long......... 27

27 Leaf blade sub-symmetrical, orbicular; upper leaf surface concolourous mid-green; stamens ca 25; tepals deciduous in fruit................................................................................. B. joshii Moonlight 32

– Leaf blade asymmetrical, transversely ovate; upper leaf surface dark green, flushed light green and flecked silver around the veins; stamens 11–16; tepals persistent in fruit......................................... ................................................................................ B. occultata J.P.Allen & Moonlight sp. nov. 73

28 Tepals vivid red; tepal apices acute ............................................................. B. polypetala A.DC. 38

– Tepals white to pink; tepal apices obtuse, rounded, truncate, or emarginate ............................... 29

29 Tepals apices emarginate; leaf lower surface villous to densely villous ........................................... .............................................................................................................. B. anemoniflora Irmsch. 35

– Tepals apices variously obtuse, rounded, or truncate, never emarginate; leaf lower surface glabrous to variously pubescent, rarely villous on the veins ....................................................................... 30

30 Stamens 15–50............................................................................................ B. pleiopetala A.DC. 37

– Stamens 50–100............................................................................................................................. 31

31 Pistillate tepals 6–10; leaf lower surface glabrous to sparsely lanate; leaf laminae to 25 × 27 cm ... ..................................................................................................................... B. octopetala L’Hér. 36

– Pistillate tepals 5; leaf lower surface glabrous, pubescent on the veins; leaf laminae to 15 × 11 cm ........................................................................................................ B. pseudopleiopetala Tebbitt 39

32 Leaf laminae conspicuously lobed to> ⅓ of their width or palmately compound ....................... 33

– Leaf laminae lacking lobes or lobed to <⅓ of their width............................................................ 39

33 Plant semi-scandent to scandent, lacking a rhizome or a swollen stem base; tepals bright red; stamens united into a column ................................................. B. monadelpha (Klotzsch) A.DC. 53

– Plant erect, often with a rhizome or swollen stem base; tepals white to pink; stamens free......... 34

34 Plant> 3 m tall; leaves reaching> 40 cm wide; inflorescence branching> 10 times,> 50 cm wide ........................................................................................................ B. parviflora Poepp. & Endl. 64

– Plant <2 m tall; leaves <30 cm wide; inflorescence branching <10 times, <50 cm wide.......... 35

35 Leaf lamina circular in outline; petiole apex with a ring of trichomes.......................................... 36

– Leaf lamina ovate in outline; petiole apex lacking a ring of trichomes......................................... 37

36 Stem with conspicuous petiole scars; leaf lobes sinuate, narrowly-triangular.................................. ....................................................................................................................... B. ludwigii Irmsch. 52

– Stem lacking petiole scars; leaf lobes straight, broadly-triangular.................................................... ......................................................................................... B. huancabambae Moonlight sp. nov. 51

37 Leaf lobed up to one-third of the length of the lamina; leaf margins crenate; staminate flower with <40 stamens ................................................................................................. B. arrogans Irmsch. 50

– Leaf lobed around half the length of the lamina; leaf margins serrulate to serrate; staminate flowers with> 40 stamens .......................................................................................................................... 38

38 Ovary and fruit with one long wing and two rib-like wings.......................... B. acerifolia Kunth 49

– Ovary and fruit with 3 subequal wings............................................................ B. wollnyi Herzog 55

39 Plants climbing, rooting at the nodes............................................................................................. 40

– Plants erect or with a strong prostrate stem but not climbing, rooting only at the lower nodes.... 41

40 Leaf blades more than twice as long as broad, lanceolate; stipules deciduous; inflorescences terminal, with <10 flowers; tepals bright orange or red (rarely white outside of Peru); pistillate flowers and fruits with two paired, heart shaped bracteoles obscuring the ovary ............................. ................................................................................................................. B. rossmanniae A.DC. 65

– Leaf blades less than twice as long as broad; stipules persistent; inflorescences axillary, with> 25 flowers; tepals white; pistillate flowers lacking bracteoles.................................. B. glabra Aubl. 70

41 Leaves clustered towards the apex of the stem.............................................................................. 42

– Leaves evenly spaced along the stem ............................................................................................ 47

42 Upper leaf lamina smooth, glabrous to sparsely pilose, not glandular; inflorescence apical, cymose ........................................................................................................................................... 43

– Upper leaf lamina bullate, densely glandular-pilose; inflorescence terminal, thyrsoid..................... ................................................................................................................. B. buddleiifolia A.DC. 63

43 Veins pinnate, sometimes 3 veined from the lase ( Fig. 2A–B View Fig ) ..................................................... 44

– Veins palmate-pinnate, always> 3 veined from the base ( Fig. 2C–E View Fig ).......................................... 45

44 Stipules without an apical hair; inflorescences and both leaf surfaces glabrous ............................... ..................................................................................................................... B. maynensis A.DC. 58

– Stipules terminating in a 2–4 mm long apical hair; inflorescences and both leaf surfaces sparsely pilose to pilose ................................................................... B. brandbygeana L.B.Sm. & Wassh. 45

45 Leaf lamina 10–12.5 cm long; inflorescence bracts serrate; bracteoles ovate with serrate margins; tepals yellow .................................................................... B. scorpiocaulis Moonlight & Tebbitt 59

– Leaf lamina (12–) 15–30 cm long; inflorescence bracts entire; bracteoles lanceolate with entire margins; tepals white to pink......................................................................................................... 46

46 Petioles 8–22 cm long; staminate flowers with ca 40 stamens; upper edge of largest fruit wing ascending ................................................................................................ B. albomaculata C.DC. 56

– Petioles 3.5–10 cm long; staminate flowers with ca 20 stamens; upper edge of largest fruit wing perpendicular to the ovary ............................................................. B. chemillenensis Moonlight 57

47 Leaf veins pinnate.......................................................................................................................... 48

– Leaf veins palmate or palmate pinnate .......................................................................................... 58

48 Stipules large and persistent, longer than the internodes... B. imbrexiformis Moonlight sp. nov. 12

– Stipules deciduous or persistent, never longer than the internodes ............................................... 49

49 Fruits 3-horned with an elongated apical column; tepals white, pink, orange, or red................... 50

– Fruits with three wings, lacking an apical column; tepals white or pink ...................................... 52

50 Stipules late deciduous; tepals of the pistillate flower <6 mm long; outer two tepals of the staminate flower <8 mm long ................................................................................................. B. urticae L.f. 8

– Stipules deciduous; tepals of the pistillate flower> 8 mm long; outer two tepals of the staminate flower> 8 mm long ....................................................................................................................... 51

51 Tepals red; stamens 4–6; outer tepals of the staminate flower <15 mm long................................... ..................................................................................... B. condorensis Jara & Moonlight sp. nov. 6

– Tepals orange; stamens 12–18; outer tepals of the staminate flower> 20 mm long......................... .................................................................................... B. hirta (Klotzsch) L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. 7

52 Plant an annual, 30 cm tall or less ............................................................... B. semiovata Liebm. 28

– Plant a perennial, at least 30 cm tall .............................................................................................. 53

53 Secondary leaf veins indistinct; staminate flower with 4 tepals .................................................... 54

– Secondary leaf veins prominent; staminate flower 2 tepals........................................................... 55

54 Leaf laminae to 3.5 × 1.2 cm, with 1–4 secondary veins on both sides of the laminae; stamens 30–50; styles bifid.............................................................................................. B. foliosa Kunth 60

– Leaf laminae to 10 × 4.5 cm, with 5–7 secondary veins on both sides of the laminae; stamens 15–25; styles multifid ................................................................................. B. guaduensis Kunth 61

55 Stems densely tomentose................................................................................ B. ulmifolia Willd. 26

– Stems glabrous............................................................................................................................... 56

56 Leaf held at an angle of 45–90° relative to the petiole; stipules 10–35 mm long; styles irregularly multifid.................................................................................... B. glauca (Klotzsch) Ruiz & Pav. 66

– Leaf lamina continuing in the same direction as the petiole; stipules 4–14 mm long; styles bifid ... ....................................................................................................................................................... 57

57 Inflorescence branching 6–8 times; staminate tepals 2–2.5 mm long; bracts and bracteoles elliptic to ovate.......................................................................................................... B. peruviana A.DC. 68

– Inflorescence branching up to 4 times; staminate tepals 10–14 mm long; bracts and bracteoles broadly-ovate ................................................................... B. yuracyacuensis Moonlight sp. nov. 69

58 Pistillate flowers with 2 tepals ....................................................................................................... 59

– Pistillate flowers with 3 to 5 tepals................................................................................................ 65

59 Staminate flowers with> 20 stamens ............................................................................................ 60

– Staminate flowers with 6–12 stamens............................................................................................ 64

60 Petioles glabrous, rarely-glandular pilose...................................................................................... 61

– Petioles sparsely to densely pilose, never glandular-pilose........................................................... 63

61 Stipules persistent; first pair of bracts equal in size to subsequent bracts, <10 mm long................. ............................................................................................................... B. subspinulosa Irmsch. 25

– Stipules deciduous; first pair of bracts, larger than subsequent bracts,> 20 mm long.................. 62

62 Leaf margins ciliate; stipules twice as long as broad; first two inflorescence bracts not fused......... ....................................................................................................................... B. bracteosa A.DC. 10

– Leaf margins aciliate; stipules at least two thirds as broad as long; first two inflorescence bracts fused to form a cyathium ........................................................... B. cyathophora Poepp. & Endl. 11

63 Stipules deciduous, lanceolate; largest fruit and ovary wing entire at the apex; tepals glabrous...... ................................................................................................................. B. lamolina Moonlight 13

– Stipules persistent, reniform to ovate; largest fruit and ovary wing notched at the apex; tepals pilose on the outer surface....................................................................................... B. lophoptera Rolfe 14

64 Stipule margins entire; leaf margins entire to serrulate ........... B. longinqua Moonlight sp. nov. 15

– Stipule margin lacerate at the base, entire at the apex; leaf margins irregularly double dentate....... ............................................................................................ B. serratistipula Moonlight sp. nov. 17

65 Leaf laminae deltoid ...................................................................................................................... 66

– Leaf laminae variously elliptic, lanceolate, oblanceolate, ovate, obovate, oblong-ovate, broadlyovate, or reniform but never deltoid .............................................................................................. 67

66 Tepals white to pink; fruit wings ascending .................................................. B. fischeri Schrank 29

– Tepals brown or orange; fruit wings not ascending.................... B. deltoides Moonlight sp. nov. 21

67 Stem rooting at the lower nodes .................................................................................................... 68

– Stem not rooting at the lower nodes .............................................................................................. 69

68 Internodes with a dense, long-villous indumentum; upper leaf lamina dark green flushed black; staminate flowers 20–40 mm across; fruit and ovary wings lacking or semi-circular ...................... ....................................................................................................................... B. pastoensis A.DC. 1

– Internodes tomentose; upper leaf lamina uniformly pale green; staminate flowers 8–18 mm across; fruit and ovary wings oblong to triangular ........................... B. pedemontana Moonlight sp. nov. 2

69 Stem and petioles with an indumentum of stellate hairs or peltate scales..................................... 70

– Stem and petioles glabrous or with an indumentum of simple hairs............................................. 71

70 Stem and petioles with an indumentum of stellate hairs ................................... B. andina Rusby 43

– Stem and petioles glabrous or with simple hairs ....................................... B. unilateralis Rusby 44

71 Staminate flowers with 4 tepals ..................................................................................................... 72

– Staminate flowers with 2 tepals ..................................................................................................... 74

72 Leaves with 4–6 veins from the base; margin crenate.................................. B. arrogans Irmsch. 50

– Leaves with 6–8 veins from the base; margin serrate or dentate................................................... 73

73 Leaf margins acuspidate; staminate flowers 1.2–1.6 cm across; tepals of the staminate flowers with rounded apices; pistillate flowers ebracteolate ................... B. piurensis L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. 47

– Leaf margins with 2–5 cusps along the largest side; staminate flowers 4.4–9 cm across; tepals of the staminate flowers with acuminate apices; pistillate flowers bracteolate...................................... .................................................................................................. B. velata L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. 48

74 Stipule margins ciliate, at least at the base .................................................................................... 75

– Stipule margins aciliate throughout ............................................................................................... 78

75 Stipule margin lacerate at the base, entire at the apex; pistillate tepals 2 or 3 .................................. ............................................................................................ B. serratistipula Moonlight sp. nov. 17

– Stipule margins entire; pistillate tepals 5....................................................................................... 76

76 Lower leaf surface sparsely villous; leaf veins palmate ...................................... B. hirtella Link 30

– Lower leaf surface glabrous; leaf veins palmate-pinnate .............................................................. 77

77 Stem glabrous; inflorescence with up to 8 flowers; staminate flowers with 8–10 stamens............... ....................................................................................................................... B. humilis Dryand. 27

– Stem densely hispid; inflorescence with up to 48 flowers; staminate flowers with ca 25 stamens ... ...................................................................................................... B. nunezii Moonlight sp. nov. 67

78 Tepal apices acuminate or long-acuminate; tepals bright red or orange........................................ 79

– Tepal apices truncate, rounded, obtuse, or acute; tepals white, pink, brown, or orange ............... 80

79 Stipules late-deciduous to persistent, 12–35 mm long; leaves lanceolate to ovate ........................... ......................................................................................... B. stenotepala L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. 24

– Stipules deciduous, 8–12.4 mm long; leaves elliptic to oblanceolate ............................................... ................................................................................................ B. longitepala Moonlight sp. nov. 22

80 Styles irregularly multifid.............................................................................................................. 81

– Styles bifid ..................................................................................................................................... 83

81 Stipules deciduous; leaf laminae reniform, apices indistinct; leaf venation palmate; stamens> 60. .............................................................................................................. B. amoeboides Moonlight 9

– Stipules persistent; Leaf laminae lanceolate to ovate, apices distinct; leaf venation palmate-pinnate; stamens <30 .................................................................................................................................. 82

82 Stipules symmetrical, base cuneate; leaf margins irregularly double dentate ................................... ................................................................................................................ B. obtecticaulis Irmsch. 16

– Stipules asymmetrical, auriculate on the broad side, cuneate on the narrow side; leaf margins serrulate........................................................................................ B. vargasii Moonlight sp. nov. 18

83 Leaf laminae broadly-ovate; bracteole margins entire, aciliate; largest fruit wing contorted, angled 90° downwards .............................................................. B. brevicordata L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. 20

– Leaf laminae lanceolate to ovate; bracteole margins serrulate to serrate, ciliate; largest fruit wing not contorted.................................................................................................................................. 84

84 Leaf laminae lanceolate, apices acuminate.................................................... B. lucifuga Irmsch. 23

– Leaf laminae ovate, apices obtuse to acute.................................................................................... 85

85 Stipules persistent, ovate; leaf margins serrate...................................... B. subspinulosa Irmsch. 25

– Stipules deciduous, elliptic; leaf margins serrulate ............................. B. alto-peruviana A.DC. 19