Species
B. delicata
Photos
1 photo
Identity
- Genus
- Begonia
- Name
- B. delicata
- Author
- Gregório & J.A.S.Costa, PhytoKeys
- Publication Date
- 2015
- Date of Origin
- 1953
- Place
- Bahia: São Felipe, Serra da Copioba
- Habitat
- Begonia delicata occurs exclusively in the Recôncavo region (Fig. 2). It is known by only two collections, both from Serra da Copioba, the most recent made in 1953, growing on rocks covered by moss. It has not been found in conservation unit.
- Country
- Brazil
- Region
- America
- Section
- Ephemera
- Plant Type
- Rhizomatous
- Reference
- PhytoKeys 44: 3. 2015
- Photo References
- 2015 Three new species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from Bahia, Brazil
Plant
- Description
- Begonia delicata is similar to Begonia alchemilloides A. DC., differing by the presence of a ring of trichomes at the apex of the petiole, stipules and first order bracts with entire margin (vs. laciniate) and staminate flowers with 2 (vs. 4) tepals. Annual herb, 11–15.5 cm high, monoecious, villous to glabrescent, provided with three types of trichomes, simple, slender trichomes, 1–2.6(–4.5) mm long, trichomes with thickened base, 0.3–0.8 mm long and microscopic, and sparse glandular trichomes. Stem 6–8 mm diam., rhizomatous, prostrate, fleshy, pilose, covered by stipules; internodes 1–3 mm long. Stipules 0.7–0.75 × 0.3–0.35 cm, ovate, apex long-apiculate, margin entire, with minute hairs to essentially glabrous, carinate, appressed, persistent. Leaves: petiole 3.5–9 cm long, cylindrical, villous to glabrescent, ring of trichomes at apex ca. 4 mm long; blade 3.5–7.8 × 4–9.2 cm, reniform, entire, symmetric to slightly asymmetric, basifixed; base cordate; apex rounded; margin crenate, ciliate; sparsely pilose to glabrescent on both surfaces, trichome scars with thickened base, concolorous, light green; venation actinodromous, 7–9 veins at base, membranaceous. Inflorescence: dichasial cyme 9–20 cm long, 4–14-flowered; peduncle 7–17,5 cm long, pilose and glandular; first order bracts ca. 1.5 × 0.8 mm, lanceolate, apex apiculate, margin entire, carinate, persistent. Staminate flowers: pedicel 9–12 mm long, sparsely glandular to glabrous; tepals 2, white, 6–7 × 5.5–6 mm, ovate to elliptic, apex acute to obtuse, margin entire, glandular on abaxial surface; androecium actinomorphic, stamens 16–22, filaments 0.2–0.4 mm long, free, anthers 1.5–2 mm long, rimose, connective prolonged. Pistillate flowers: tepals 5, [only seen in bud]: bracteoles 2, opposite, at base of ovary, lanceolate, persistent [only seen in bud]; styles 3, ca. 0.5 mm long, bifid, branches spirally-arranged, stigmatic papillae covering branches, stigmatic surface papillose, yellow; ovary 7.5–8.2 mm long, trilocular, placentation axile, placenta bifid [obtained from capsules]. Capsules ca. 12 × 13 mm [including wings], three-winged, sparsely glandular, dehiscing at the basal portion; wings unequal, larger ones ca. 14 × 5 mm, apex rounded, smaller ones ca. 12 × 3 mm, rounded. Seeds ca. 0.2 mm long, elliptic to oblong. Begonia delicata is a small herb easily recognised by the rhizomatous stem covered in stipules, the petioles with a ring of trichomes at the apex, and by the reniform leaf-blades, with crenate margins. Few Brazilian Begonia are delicate herbs and, amongst those species, B. alchemilloides and B. hoehneana Irmsch. (state of São Paulo) are those that most resemble the new species. Begonia delicata, however, can easily be distinguished from both species by the presence of a ring of trichomes at the apex of the petiole and by the staminate flowers with fewer tepals (2 vs. 4). Moreover, the stipules and first order bracts are entire, whereas in B. alchemilloides they are laciniate, and the leaves are crenate whereas in B. hoehneana they are dentate. Among the species that occur in Bahia, B. hirtella Link most closely resembles B. delicata (see the key below), but can be distinguished by its habit (prostrate in B. delicata vs. erect in B. hirtella), the stipules and first order bracts (entire vs. fimbriate), the ring of trichomes at the apex of the petiole (present vs. absent) and the shape of the leaf-blades (reniform vs. ovate). According to the sectional classification of Doorenbos et al. (1998), B. delicata would belong to the sect. Doratometra (Klotzsch) A. DC., which consists of approximately ten annual species, with inconspicuous flowers in relative small inflorescences and two bracteoles below ovary.
Lineage
Parents
No parentage recorded.
Descendants
No recorded descendants.
Culture
- Comments
- The epithet refers to the fragility and delicacy of the plant.