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.

BRAZIL. Bahia: São Felipe, Serra da Copioba, 12°50'50"S, 39°05'22"W, Jun 1953 (fl, fr), G. Pinto 53–55 (holotype: ALCB!).

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.

(paratype). BRAZIL. Bahia: São Felipe, Serra da Copioba, 12°50'50"S, 39°05'22"W, Oct 1950 (fl), G. Pinto 587 (RB!).

The epithet refers to the fragility and delicacy of the plant.

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.

Figure 1. 

Begonia delicata. A Habit B Detail of indumentum on adaxial surface of leaf-blades C Stipule, seen from dorsal side D Detail of the ring of trichomes at the apex of the petiole E First order bract F Staminate flower G Stamen H Style-branch I Ovary, transverse cut, showing placenta J Capsule K Seed [A–GPinto 587 (RB); H–K holotype Pinto 53–55 (ALCB); drawn by Bernarda Gregório].

Figure 2. 

Geographical distribution of three new species of Begonia. A Latin America showing Brazil and Bahia State B Bahia State showing the three political-economic regions of Bahia with new species of Begonia C Political-economic regions of Bahia showing the occurrence of the three new species.

Found flowering in June and October, and with fruits in June.

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.

Begonia elianeae is similar to B. besleriifolia Schott, but is easily distinguished from that species by leaf-blades glabrescent to glabrous on the abaxial surface (vs. sericeous); dichasial cyme with 4 to 8 flowers (vs. 40 to 60); tepals of staminate flowers larger (outer ones: ≥ 15 × 15 mm vs. ≤ 7.5 × 5.3 mm long; inner ones: ≥ 12 × 3 mm vs. ≤ 6 × 3 mm long); filaments shorter (≤ 1.2 mm vs. ≥ 1.5 mm long) and anthers larger (≥ 2 mm vs. ≤ 1.5 mm long); capsules larger (≥ 1.8 cm vs. ≤ 1.5 cm long), with larger wing (≥ 2 cm vs. ≤ 1.2 cm long).

BRAZIL. Bahia: Jussari, ca. 9 km North of Jussari, east off of road to Palmira on farm road past cattle farm of Alciato Carvalho, 15°06'58"S, 39°31'58"W, 10 May 1995 (fl, fr), W.W. Thomas et al. 10863 (holotype: CEPEC!).

Shrub, 1–2.5 m high, monoecious, with sparse minute, simple hairs and microscopic glandular hairs to essentially glabrous. Stem erect to scandent, fleshy, sparsely pilose, longitudinally striate in herbarium specimens; internodes 1.7–5 cm long. Stipules 1.7–3.5 × 0.6–0.8 cm, lanceolate, apex apiculate, margin entire, with minute hairs to essentially glabrous, appressed, persistent. Leaves: petiole 1.3–3.3 cm long, cylindrical, with minute hairs to essentially glabrous; blade 13–18.2 × 6.2–8 cm, oblong to obovate, entire, asymmetrical, basifixed; base oblique; apex acuminate; margin entire to slightly undulate, glabrescent to glabrous on both surfaces, discolorous, adaxial surface green, abaxial surface light green to vinaceous; venation craspedodromous, thickened. Inflorescence: dichasial cyme 9–15 cm long, 4–8-flowered; peduncle 4,5–6 cm long, with minute hairs to essentially glabrous, vinaceous; first order bracts ca. 15 × 6 mm, obovate, apex rounded, margin entire, caducous. Staminate flowers: pedicel 10–14 mm long, glandular; tepals 4, white, the outer pair larger, 15–17 × 15–17 mm, orbicular to ovate, apex rounded, margin entire, concave, glabrescent on abaxial surface, the inner pair 12–14 × 3–4 mm, elliptic to oblanceolate, apex acute to obtuse, margin entire, concave, glabrous; androecium actinomorphic, stamens 26–34, filaments 0.1–1.2 mm long, free, anthers 2–3 mm long, rimose, connective not prolonged. Pistillate flowers [only seen in bud]: bracteoles 2, opposite, borne on pedicel, just below the ovary, caducous [not seen; inferred by pedicel scars on flower bud]; pedicel of floral bud ca. 1 cm long; tepals of floral bud 5, 9.2–10 × 5–7 mm, three slightly larger ones, elliptic, apex acute to obtuse, margin entire, glabrescent on the abaxial surface, white [styles damaged]; ovary ca. 7.5 mm long, trilocular, placentation axile, placenta bifid [obtained from capsules]. Capsules 1.8–2 × 2.7–3.7 cm [including wings], three-winged, glabrescent, light green, young wings vinaceous, becoming brown at maturity, dehiscing at the basal portion; wings unequal, larger ones 2–2.3 × 1.7–2.1 cm, apex obtuse to rounded, smaller ones 1.5–1.8 × 0.6–0.8 cm, rounded. Seeds ca. 0.3 mm long, oblong.

Figure 3. 

Begonia elianeae. A Flowering branch B Stipule, dorsal side C Staminate flower D Stamen E Ovary, transverse cut, showing placenta F Capsule G Seed [A–D holotype Thomas 1086 (CEPEC); E–GFiaschi 1704 (SPF); drawn by Bernarda Gregório].

(paratypes). BRAZIL. Bahia: Buerarema, estrada São José da Vitória-Buerarema, ramal à direita, ca. 1 km de São José. Estrada de acesso para Pedra Branca, 15°05'00"S, 39°19'00"W, 15 Oct 2003 (fl, fr), P. Fiaschi et al. 1704 (CEPEC!; SPF!); Itabuna, fazenda Santa Clara, distrito Ribeirão dos Cachorros, entrada 200 m após a ponte da Bananeira da rodovia BR-101, 12°31'39"S, 40°18'25"W, 21 Aug 1972 (fl), R.S. Pinheiro 1930 (CEPEC!).

The specific epithet is given in honour of Dra. Eliane de Lima Jacques, a botanist who has contributed extensively to our knowledge of Begonia from Brazil.

Begonia elianeae was found in three localities in southern Bahia, in areas of Atlantic rainforest (Fig. 2), growing on rocks, near pastures or eventually supported by tree trunks, on the edge of trails or disturbed forests. It has not been found in conservation units.

Flowering in May, August and October, and with fruits in May and October.

Begonia elianeae is a shrub characterised by the large oblong to obovate leaf-blades, and by the large, yet few-flowered inflorescences and few-fruited infructescences. In Begonia, shrubby species are not so common and only two species with this habit occur in the state of Bahia: B. elianeae and B. besleriifolia. Both have craspedodromous leaves and can be distinguished from all other species from southern Bahia with this type of venation using the key below. The most likely section of B. elianeae is the sect. Ruizopavonia A. DC., which consists of suffrutescent plants, with woody stem, straight, craspedodromous leaves, and bracts and styles caducous in fruit.

Begonia paganuccii is similar to B. gardneri A. DC. However, it can be easily distinguished by the indumentum of dendritic trichomes (vs. simple trichomes); stipules lanceolate and pubescent (vs. ovate and glabrous); staminate flowers with the outer pair ovate to elliptic and the inner pair oblong to oblanceolate (vs. both pairs obovate); endemic to the State of Bahia (vs. endemic to the State of Minas Gerais State).

BRAZIL. Bahia: Itaberaba, fazenda Gameleira, entre as fazendas Monte Verde e Leão dos Brejos, 12°24'44"S, 40°32'12"W, 19 Aug 2005 (fl, fr), L.P. Queiroz et al. 10790 (holotype: HUEFS!; isotypes: CEPEC!, K!, RB!).

Subshrub, ca. 3 m high, monoecious, pubescent, with both dendritic greyish trichomes, 0.1–0.4 mm long, and microscopic glandular trichomes. Stem erect, fleshy, pubescent; internodes 1–3.5 cm long. Stipules 2.5–3 × 0.7–1.5 cm, lanceolate, apex apiculate, margin entire, pubescent, carinate, appressed, caducous. Leaves: petiole 6.3–11.6 cm long, cylindrical, pubescent; blade 13–18 × 19–28 cm, transversally elliptic, deeply lobed (lobes approximately half the length of their main vein), 6 or 7 lobes, asymmetric, basifixed; base cordate; lobes with acute apex; margin serrulate; pubescent on both surfaces, more densely so on abaxial surface, discolorous, adaxial surface green, abaxial surface green-cinereous; venation actinodromous, 6 or 7 veins at base, slightly thickened. Inflorescence: dichasial cyme 32–39 cm long, ca. 180 flowers; peduncle 23.5–27 cm long, cinereous; first order bracts 4–6 × 1.5–2.5 mm, lanceolate, apex acuminate, margin entire, caducous. Staminate flowers: pedicel 1–1.4 cm long, pilose; tepals 4, white, the outer pair larger 6–7.2 × 3–4 mm, ovate to elliptic, apex acute to obtuse, margin entire, concave, glabrescent on abaxial surface, the inner pair 5–6.2 × 1.8–2.3 mm, oblong to oblanceolate, apex obtuse to rounded, margin entire, concave, glabrous; androecium actinomorphic, stamens 32–48, filaments 0.2–0.9 mm long, free, anthers 1–1.3 mm long, rimose, connective prolonged. Pistillate flowers [not seen]: bracteoles 2, opposite, borne on pedicel, just below ovary, caducous [scars seen on the pedicel from capsules]; styles 3, 1.6–2 mm long, bifid, branches spirally-arranged, stigmatic papillae covering branches, stigmatic surface papillose, yellow [obtained from capsules]; ovary 5–6.7 mm long, trilocular, placentation axile, placenta entire [observed from capsules]. Capsules 6–7.5 × 11–14.6 mm [including wings], three-winged, glabrescent, brown when mature, dehiscing at the basal portion; wings unequal, larger one 5–7 × 6–7 mm, apex obtuse to rounded, smaller ones 5.8–7 × 0.6–1.6 mm. Seeds ca. 0.3 mm long, oblong.

Figure 4. 

Begonia paganuccii. A Flowering stem B Detail of leaf, showing the dendritic trichomes C Stipules, seen from dorsal side D First order bract E Staminate flower F Stamen G Style-branch H Ovary, transverse cut, showing placenta I Capsule J Seed [A–J holotype Queiroz 10790 (HUEFS); drawn by Bernarda Gregório].

This species is named in honour of Dr. Luciano Paganucci de Queiroz, a great expert on the flora of Bahia, who collected the type material.

Begonia paganuccii is known from a single collection from the Área de Relevante Interesse Ecológico (ARIE), a protected area in the municipality of Itaberaba (Fig. 2), region of the Piedmont of Paraguaçu, growing in seasonal forest at 783 m a.s.l. Nevertheless, agriculture and livestock are common around and within the conservation unit.

Flowering and fruiting in August.

Begonia paganuccii is characterised by a dendritic indumentum, stipules lanceolate, and transversally elliptic leaf-blades, 6- or 7-lobed. Trichomes are quite important in the taxonomy of Begoniaceae when combined with other morphological information (Jacques 2002). Some species in Brazil have dendritic trichomes, such as Begonia egregia N.E. Br and B. lindmanii Brade. Begonia paganuccii differs from B. egregia by the basifixed, lobed and transversally elliptic (vs. peltate, entire and ovate to elliptic) leaf-blade, staminate flowers with 4 tepals (vs. 2) and pistillate flowers with trilocular ovary and 3 styles (vs. ovary tetralocular and with 4 styles). It also differs from B. lindmanii by the lobed (vs. entire) leaf-blade, as well as by the many-flowered dichasial cyme (ca. 180 flowers vs. 10–15 flowers) and pistillate flowers with 2 bracteoles (vs. 3 bracteoles). This species can be distinguished from the remaining species of Begonia from the region where it occurs using the key below. Due to the leaves with cystoliths and the entire placenta, it most likely belongs to the sect. Pritzelia (Klotzsch) A. DC.