Toward diverse seed sourcing to upscale ecological restoration in the Brazilian Cerrado

This is the final version. Available from Frontiers Media via the DOI in this record. Data availability statement: The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.Seed markets are vital to scaling up ecosystem restoration in the Brazilian Cerrado, home of the world’s most species-rich grasslands and savannas. We compiled lists of species traded by four major Cerrado seed supply systems to investigate the representativeness of the species currently available for seed-based restoration. We also identified whether dominant groundlayer species are being sourced for seed production. Seeds from 263 Cerrado species can be purchased for restoration, of which 68% are trees, particularly legumes (24%). 63% of the traded species were found in only one seed supply system. The five most dominant graminoids of the Cerrado ground layer were available for sale, but two additional species uncommon in oldgrowth areas represented 44% of the sales of a key seed trader in Central Brazil. The expansion of Cerrado seed supply systems should be supported to further increase the number of species on the market. Sourcing seeds from a diversity of herbaceous species is central to facilitating the restoration of species-rich grasslands and savannas in the Cerrado. Recovering the diversity and functioning of old-growth open ecosystems through seeds will depend on increasing the supply and demand for species typical of Cerrado’s ground layerNatural Environment Research CouncilNatural Environment Research CouncilNatural Environment Research CouncilExeter Alumni MS PhD scholarshipCNPqCNPqCNPqFAPES

Expanding tropical forest monitoring into Dry Forests: The DRYFLOR protocol for permanent plots

This is the final version. Available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this recordSocietal Impact Statement Understanding of tropical forests has been revolutionized by monitoring in permanent plots. Data from global plot networks have transformed our knowledge of forests’ diversity, function, contribution to global biogeochemical cycles, and sensitivity to climate change. Monitoring has thus far been concentrated in rain forests. Despite increasing appreciation of their threatened status, biodiversity, and importance to the global carbon cycle, monitoring in tropical dry forests is still in its infancy. We provide a protocol for permanent monitoring plots in tropical dry forests. Expanding monitoring into dry biomes is critical for overcoming the linked challenges of climate change, land use change, and the biodiversity crisis.Newton FundNatural Environment Research Council (NERC)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São PauloCYTE

Expanding tropical forest monitoring into dry forests: the DRYFLOR protocol for permanent plots.

Understanding of tropical forests has been revolutionized by monitoring in permanent plots. Data from global plot networks have transformed our knowledge of forests? diversity, function, contribution to global biogeochemical cycles, and sensitivity to climate change. Monitoring has thus far been concentrated in rain forests. Despite increasing appreciation of their threatened status, biodiversity, and importance to the global carbon cycle, monitoring in tropical dry forests is still in its infancy. We provide a protocol for permanent monitoring plots in tropical dry forests. Expanding monitoring into dry biomes is critical for overcoming the linked challenges of climate change, land use change, and the biodiversity crisis

Begonia pseudodendron Moonlight & A. J. Perez 2022, sp. nov.

Begonia pseudodendron Moonlight & Á.J.Pérez, sp. nov. § <i>Ruizopavonia</i> <p> <i>Begonia pseudodendron</i> is most similar to <i>B. cuatrecasasiana</i> L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub. but differs in its white to pink, glabrous tepals (versus orange tepals that are sparsely pilose on the outside), the rounded apices of its staminate tepals (versus long acuminate apices), and its pistillate flowers with two tepals (versus three) and that lack bracteoles.</p> <p> – Type: Ecuador, Carchi Province, Trail beginning above Rafael Quindí Finca, above Untal (along road to Chical), and partly ascending Cerro Oscura, 0°52′N, 78°09′W, 1670 m, 26 xi 1987, <i>W.S. Hoover & S. Wormley</i> 1651 (holotype MO [MO-2256936], isotype QCA [QCA-19712]). <b>Figure 1</b> <b>.</b></p> <p> Caulescent terrestrial herb, lacking a tuber or rhizome. <i>Stem</i> erect or scrambling, to 10 m tall, woody at the base, frequently branching, internodes 2–10 cm, 4–6 mm in diameter, glabrous, smooth, green-flushed red, browning with age. <i>Stipules</i> early deciduous, lanceolate, 2.5–10 × 0.5–4 mm, apex acute, margin entire, aciliate. <i>Leaves</i> alternate, basifixed, straight; petioles joining blade in the direction of the main vein, 2–11 mm long, glabrous; blade subsymmetrical, oblanceolate to elliptic, 7.5–16.5 × 3–6.2 cm, apex short-attenuate, base decurrent, rounded on the broad side of the lamina, cuneate on the narrow side of the lamina, margin entire, serrate towards the apex, ciliate, upper surface green, glabrous, lower surface glabrous, green, pinnately veined, 7- to 9-veined on the broad side of the lamina, 5- to 7-veined on the narrow side of the lamina. <i>Inflorescences</i>: many, axillary but often appearing terminal, arising close to the apex of the stem, erect, a 6–8 times dichotomous cyme, protandrous; <i>peduncle</i> 1.5–4.5 cm long, internodes elongate,> 10 mm long, glabrous, pale green–flushed red; <i>pedicels of staminate flowers</i> 5–15 mm long, glabrous, white to pale green; <i>pedicel of pistillate flowers</i> 9–18 mm long, glabrous, white to pale green; <i>bracts</i> early deciduous, unknown. <i>Staminate flowers</i>: <i>tepals</i> 4, white to pink, outer two ovate, 3–6 × 2–4 mm, apex rounded, margin entire, glabrous; inner two narrowly oblanceolate, c.4 × 1.5–2 mm, apex rounded, margin entire, glabrous; <i>stamens</i> c.20, free, filaments 0.2–0.4 mm long, anthers symmetrically basifixed, oblong, 1–1.5 mm long, dehiscing via lateral slits, connectives extended to 0.2 mm. <i>Pistillate flowers</i>: <i>bracteoles</i> lacking; <i>tepals</i> deciduous in fruit, 2, projecting, white or pink, ovate to lanceolate, 4–12 × 3–10 mm, apex rounded, margin entire, glabrous; <i>ovary body</i> narrowly ovoid, 2–4 × 1–2 mm, white, glabrous, 3-winged, wings white, unequal, largest wing band-like to triangular, apex obtuse, margin entire to lacerate, 4–5 mm tall, 3–8 mm wide, smaller two wings semicircular, margins entire, apex rounded, 4–5 mm tall, 0.5 mm wide; 3-locular, placentae axile bifid, bearing ovules on both surfaces; <i>styles</i> 3, free, 3–6 mm long, bifid from half their length and swollen at the bifurcation, stigmatic papillae in a twice-twisted spiral band. <i>Fruiting pedicel</i> to 24 mm long. <i>Fruit</i> pendant, body broadly ovate, expanding to 8 × 4 mm, light brown, glabrous, largest wing expanding to 12 × 20 mm, triangular, ascending, shorter two wings expanding to 10 × 2 mm. <i>Seeds</i> unknown.</p> <p> <i>Distribution and ecology</i>. Known from Nariño Department in Colombia and Carchi Province in Ecuador. Found in lower and middle-elevation montane forest of the Andean Chocó region at an elevation of 600–1700 m (<b>Figure 2</b>). <i>Begonia pseudodendron</i> is a large, scrambling species most frequently found on the edge of dense montane forests remnants or in open areas. According to the Ministerio del Ambiente de Ecuador (2013), the type locality and surrounding areas lie within a much larger zone dominated by Bosque siempreverde piemontano de Cordillera Occidental de los Andes (BsPn01, evergreen lower montane forest of the western Andean cordillera). The characteristic tree species of this area include <i>Magnolia mindoensis</i> A.Vázquez, D.A.Neill & A.Dahua, <i>Vochysia awasensis</i> Huamantupa, <i>Isertia pittieri</i> (Standl.) Standl. and the palm <i>Wettinia quinaria</i> (O.F.Cook & Doyle) Burret.</p> <p>This area is extremely humid, and most tree trunks are covered by bryophytes, orchids, bromeliads and aroids.</p> <p> <i>Phenology</i>. <i>Begonia pseudodendron</i> has been collected in flower from August to January and in fruit from August to November.</p> <p> <i>Etymology</i>. The epithet is from the Greek <i>pseudo</i> (‘false’) and <i>dendron</i> (‘tree’) and refers to the species’ habit and the height it can reach: about 10 m tall, achieved by scrambling through surrounding vegetation.</p> <p> <i>Proposed IUCN conservation category</i>. The known extent of occurrence of <i>Begonia pseudodendron</i> is <1000 km 2 and includes no protected governmental areas in either Colombia or Ecuador; however, it has been collected in a private reserve managed by the Ecominga Foundation, which protects forest remnants around the Chical area in Ecuador. The species’ range appears to include a large extent of original vegetation, but there has been significant and recent deforestation due to farming and road-building in the border region. We have no information on the population size of <i>Begonia pseudodendron</i> so assess the species as Endangered (ENB1abiii) based on its small range and the reduction in suitable habitat.</p> <p> <i>Additional specimens examined</i>. COLOMBIA. <b>Nariño Department</b>: Municipio de Ricaurte, Resguardo Indigena Nulpe Medio, camino al basal, 1°6′N, 78°13′W, 760 m, 7 i 1996, <i>B. R. Ramírez P. & M. S. González</i> 9506 (QCA [QCA235167]); Mpio. Barbacoas, corregimiento Altaquer, Vereda El Barro, Reserva Natural Río Nambi, 1°18′N, 78°8′W, 1325 m, 5 xii 1993, <i>P. Franco, D. Giraldo, W. Beltrán, A. Prieto & O. Rivera</i> 2926 (COL [COL000137627]); Altaquer, [1°15′S, 78°7′W], 3500 ft, <i>M. B. Foster & R. Foster</i> 2110 (COL [COL000137625]).</p> <p> EcUADOR. <b>Carchi Province</b>: San Marcos Valley, farmland and rainforest disturbed by the local Coaiquer (Awa) Amerindians, 1°7′N, 78°22′W, 600 m, 20–24 xi 1983, <i>A. S. Barfod, L. P. Kvist & D. Nissen</i> 48818 (MO [MO-098158], QCA [QCA19633], QCNE); ibid., <i>A. S. Barfod, L. P. Kvist & D. Nissen</i> 48819 (MO [MO-098159], QCA [QCA19634]); Near encampment in Gualpi Chico area of Awá Reserve, 0°58′N, 78°16′W, 1330 m, 20 i 1988, <i>W. S. Hoover, A. Arguello, P. Gelpi & R. A. Lorentzen</i> 2847 (MO [MO-1956278], QCA [QCA19427]); Along bank of Quebrada Mongon at point where Scott finished on 11/18/88, 0°58′N, 78°16′W, 1200–1400 m, 19 i 1988, <i>W. S. Hoover, A. Arguello, P. Gelpi & R. A. Lorentzen</i> 2948 (MO [MO-2364070], QCA [QCA19428]); Trail to Pilon encampment, Gualpi Chico area of Awá Reserve, 0°58′N, 78°16′W, 1350–1400 m, 21 i 1988, <i>W. S. Hoover, A. Arguello, P. Gelpi & R. A. Lorentzen</i> 3613 (MO [MO-2364072], QCA [QCA19431]); ibid., 1000–1450 m, 14 i 1988, <i>W. S. Hoover, P. Gelpi, R. A. Lorentzen & A. Arguello</i> 2416 (QCA [QCA19657]); South on main trail from camp (away from Pylus) for 1/ 12 m mile from camp East down to río Gualpi Chico, 0°58′N, 78°16′W, 1100 m, 21 i 1988, <i>W. S. Hoover, A. Arguello, P. Gelpi & R. A. Lorentzen</i> 3018 (MO [MO-1956276], QCA [QCA19429]); South-east trail, primary forest in Gualpi Chicó area of Awa reserve, near encampment, 0°58′N, 78°16′W, 1330 m, <i>W. S. Hoover, A. Arguello, P. Gelpi & R. A. Lorentzen</i> 2804 (QCA [QCA19426]); Tulcán Canton, Reserva Indígena Awá, Parroquia Tobar Donoso, sector El Baboso, 0°53′N, 78°20′W, 1600 m, 3 x 1991, <i>G. Tipaz, D. Rubio & M. Taucuz</i> 308 (MO [MO-2907067]); Trail from Untal to Rafael Quindís Finca, south of Cerro Golondrinas, 0°55′N, 78°15′W, 1700 m, <i>W. S. Hoover & S. Wormley</i> 1444 (MO [MO-2194164], QCA [QCA19711]); Cantón Tulcan, Parroquia Chical, Reserva Cerro Colorado, 0°54′N, 78°12′W, 1550–1850 m, 21 viii 2016, <i>A. J. Pérez, N. Zapata, H. Yela & W. Santillán</i> 9728 (QCA); Trail from Rafael Quindís finca to río Verde and along río Verde, 0°53′N, 78°8′W, 1700 m, 26 xi 1987, <i>W. S. Hoover & S. Wormley</i> 1731 (MO [MO-2186975]).</p> <p> Most specimens of <i>Begonia pseudodendron</i> Moonlight & Á.J.Pérez cited here were previously identified as <i>Begonia holtonis</i> A.DC., which is a distantly related member of <i>Begonia</i> sect. <i>Lepsia</i> (Klotzsch) A.DC. but with a similar habit and similar-shaped leaves (Moonlight <i>et al.</i>, 2018). These two species can be distinguished by the number of tepals in the pistillate flowers, which is two in <i>Begonia pseudodendron</i> and five in <i>B. holtonis</i>.</p> <p> <i>Begonia pseudodendron</i> is part of a group of species in <i>Begonia</i> sect. <i>Ruizopavonia</i> that have four tepals on the staminate flowers and elongate inflorescence internodes. We provide a key to all Colombian and Ecuadorian species of <i>Begonia</i> sect. <i>Ruizopavonia</i> and a table to aid in distinguishing between similar species (<b>Table</b>). We suspect that <i>Begonia pseudodendron</i> is most closely related to <i>B. cuatrecasasiana</i> on account of its very similar straight, oblanceolate to elliptic leaf blades. We have been unable to confirm the texture of these leaves in the field, but they appear relatively coriaceous whereas several other species in this group have semisucculent leaves (e.g. <i>Begonia consobrina</i> and <i>B. cymbalifera</i>). Although the flowers of the new species are more similar to those of all other species in the group, we suspect this is indicative of rapid, recent adaptation to a hummingbird pollination syndrome in <i>Begonia cuatrecasasiana</i> rather than a distant relationship.</p>Published as part of <i>Moonlight, P. W. & Pérez, Á. J., 2022, Begonia (sect. Ruizopavonia) De Candolle 1859, pp. 1-9 in Edinburgh Journal of Botany 79 (401)</i> on pages 3-7, DOI: 10.24823/EJB.2022.401, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/10518476">http://zenodo.org/record/10518476</a&gt

Begonia betancurii Jara & Moonlight. A. Habit 2023, sp. nov.

<i>Begonia betancurii</i> Jara & Moonlight, <i>sp. nov.</i> (Figures 1–2) <p> <b>Type</b>:— COLOMBIA. Boyacá, Municipio de Santa María, via Santa María-Las Juntas, entrada a mano izquierda antes del tunel El Polvorín, vereda Gaceno, finca Los Alpes, cuenca de la quebrada La Esmeralda, 4°54.4’N, 73°17.7’ W, 1400–1600 m, 25 September 2009, <i>J</i> <i>. Betancur, M. F.</i> <i>Gonzalez & estudiantes Taxonomía de Angiospermas 2009-II 14304</i> (holotype COL [COL000452537]; isotype HUA [HUA216209]).</p> <p> <b>Diagnosis</b>:— <i>Begonia betancurii</i> Jara & Moonlight can be differentiated from the other species in the section <i>Ruizopavonia</i> bearing staminate flowers with 4 and pistillate flowers with 3 tepals, namely: <i>Begonia cymbalifera</i> L.B.Sm. & B.G.Schub., and <i>Begonia consobrina</i> Irmsch., by its larger outer staminate (9.5–17.4 × 7.9–22.2 mm vs. ca. 5 × 9 mm) and pistillate (13.9–18.7 × 13.8–20.1 vs. 5–8 mm) tepals. In addition, from <i>B. cymbalifera</i> it can be distinguished by its palmate-pinnate venation pattern (vs. pinnate venation).</p> <p>Caulescent terrestrial herb. Stem erect, to 3 m tall, frequently branching, internodes 5–8 cm long, 2.7–3.5 mm in diameter, glabrous, smooth, greenish to reddish-green, browning with age. Stipules early deciduous, lanceolate, ca. 10 × 3.5 mm, apex acute, margin entire, glabrous. Leaves alternate, basifixed; petioles joining blade at an angle of ca. 90°–120°, 12–37 mm long, glabrous; blade asymmetrical, elliptic, oblong to obovate, 9.4–18.7 × 4.2–8.7 cm, apex acuminate, base lobate on the broad side of the lamina, obtuse to rounded on the narrow side, margin serrate, upper surface green, glabrous, lower surface glabrous, green with reddish-green veins, palmate-pinnate-nerved, 11- to 14-veined on the broad side of the lamina, 9- to 11-veined on the narrow side of the lamina. Inflorescences 1–2 per branch, axillary but the youngest arising close to the apex of the stem and appearing terminal, 2–4 times dichotomous ending in cymes, with central staminate flowers developing first fallowed by lateral pistilate ones; peduncle 34–77 mm long, internodes elongate, 14–35 mm long, glabrous, pale green–flushed red. Staminate flowers: pedicels 5–15 mm long, glabrous, white to pale green; tepals 4, outer two mostly white and pinkish-white on veins and margins, ovate, 9.5–17.4 × 7.9–22.2 mm, base cordate, apex rounded, margin entire, glabrous; inner two white, narrowly oblanceolate, 3.1–4.2 × 6.5–7.2 mm, apex rounded, margin entire, glabrous; stamens ca. 55, free, filaments 1.4–2.0 mm long, anthers symmetrically basifixed, base rounded or sagittate, oblong, 2.5–4.8 mm long, dehiscing via lateral slits, connectives extended to 0.9 mm. Pistillate flowers: bracteoles 2, deciduous, reddish-green, broadly ovate, margin entire, apex denticulate, 13–18.2 × ca. 6 mm; pedicel 12–14 mm long, glabrous, pale green to reddish-green; locular region of the ovary slightly obovoid to ellipsoid, 8.1–16.2 × 3.7–10 mm, glabrous, 3-winged (rarely 4), wings white or green, unequal, largest wing asymmetric, proximal side concave, describing an arc, distal side nearly straight, forming an angle 40–60º to the perpendicular of the body apex, margin entire, 26–27 mm long, 13–16 mm wide, smaller two wings semicircular, margins entire, apex rounded, 14–16 mm tall, 7–9 mm wide; 3-locular (rarely 4-locular), placentae axilary, bifid, bearing ovules on both surfaces; tepals 3, outer two spreading to reflexed, pinkish- white, glabrous, suborbicular, 13.9–18.7 × 13.8–20.1 mm, base slightly cordate, apex rounded, margin entire; inner one white, oblanceolate or obovate, glabrous, ca. 5.5 × 1.5 mm; styles 3, multifid, divided near to the base into two or three main branches, each branch ca. 2.9 mm long, then divided into two or three twisted papillose bands (stigmatic surface), 1.8–4.1 mm long. Fruiting pedicel to 20.5–25.4 mm long. Fruit pendant, body as in the ovary, dehiscent near the back of the locules, expanding to 16.3 × 8.3 mm, light brown, glabrous, the largest wing expanding to 32 × 11 mm, similar to the wing in the ovary, green, pink or brown, longer wing expanding to 25.1 mm long, and 14.3 mm wide, shorter two wings expanding to 16 mm long, and 8 mm wide.</p> <p> <b>Phenology</b>:— <i>Begonia betancurii</i> has been collected flowering and fruiting from March to October, and likely does so year-round.</p> <p> <b>Etymology</b>:—The epithet “ <i>betancurii</i> ” honors the Colombian botanist Julio C. Betancur, a prolific collector of plants and for long time curator of the Colombian National Herbarium (COL), he also collected several of the specimens of this species, included the type.</p> <p> <b>Conservation Assessment</b>:— <i>Begonia betancurii</i> is known from populations in Cundinamarca and Boyacá departments, which together have an Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of ca. 1050 km 2. It is known only from fragments of montane forest and is not known from any areas> 1 km from roads or urban areas. As such, we provisionally assess <i>B. betancurii</i> as Endangered (EN B1a,b(iii)) under IUCN Criteria (IUCN, 2022).</p> <p> <b>Taxonomic notes</b>:—Section <i>Ruizopavonia</i> was split by Moonlight <i>et al.</i> (2018), so its size was reduced in respect from the earlier concept of the section by Doorembos <i>et al.</i> (1998). After the rearrangement, 26 species were included in <i>Ruizopavonia</i>, while the remainder were placed in sections <i>Cyathocnemis</i> Klotzsch (1855: 220) De Candolle (1864: 332), <i>Donaldia</i> Klotzsch (1854: 127) De Candolle (1859: 127), <i>Lepsia</i> Klotzsch (1854: 123) De Candolle (1859: 139), and <i>Pritzelia</i> Klotzsch (1854: 126) De Candolle (1859: 137). However, uncertainty persisted in the placements of Bolivian members of <i>Ruizopavonia</i>, which were not sampled in the phylogeny. The placement of northern Andean species of section <i>Cyathocnemis</i> (e.g. <i>B. magdalenae</i> Smith & Schubert (1946: 90)) is also uncertain, and future phylogenetic evidence may result in these species being placed in sect. <i>Ruizopavonia</i>.</p> <p> We provide a comparative table (Table 1) with selected characters of <i>B. betancurii</i> and the most similar species in sect. <i>Ruizopavonia</i>, and one species in sect. <i>Cyathocnemis</i> (<i>B. magdalenae</i>). Our placement of <i>B. betancurii</i> in section <i>Ruizopavonia</i> is based on i) the presence of four staminate and three pistillate tepals (less than five), which is the common condition among the section, ii) oblong or elliptic anthers longer than the filaments, and iii) the raised secondary veins on the underside, which distinguish this and other sections in Neotropical clade II (NC-ii) <i>sensu</i> Moonlight <i>et al.</i> (2018) from section <i>Lepsia</i>. The larger size of the tepals is the most distinctive feature of the new species among species in the section <i>Ruizopavonia</i> and members of section <i>Cyathocmemis</i> from the northern Andes.</p>Published as part of <i>Jara-Muñoz, O. A., Moonlight, P. W. & Zabala-Rivera, J. C., 2023, A New Species of Begonia (Begoniaceae) from the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia, pp. 169-175 in Phytotaxa 616 (2)</i> on pages 170-173, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.616.2.6, <a href="http://zenodo.org/record/8389621">http://zenodo.org/record/8389621</a&gt

The genus Begonia (Begoniaceae) in Peru

We provide a floristic account for the Begoniaceae of Peru. The family is represented in Peru by 76 species, which are all members of the genus Begonia and represent eighteen sections. Twelve new species are described: B. condorensis Jara & Moonlight sp. nov., B. deltoides Moonlight sp. nov., B. huancabambae Moonlight sp. nov., B. imbrexiformis Moonlight sp. nov., B. longinqua Moonlight sp. nov., B. longitepala Moonlight sp. nov., B. nunezii Moonlight sp. nov., B. occultata J.P.Allen & Moonlight sp. nov., B. pedemontana Moonlight sp. nov., B. serratistipula Moonlight sp. nov., B. vargasii Moonlight sp. nov. and B. yuracyacuensis Moonlight sp. nov. We also provide four new records for the country: B. andina Rusby, B. brandbygeana L.B.Sm. & Wassh., B. neoharlingii L.B.Sm. & Wassh. and B. unilateralis Rusby. We provide an identification key to all species. The ecology, distribution, and conservation status of all Peruvian Begonia species are discussed, including provisional IUCN threat assessments. Most species are illustrated by either historical illustrations, contemporary photographic plates, or line drawings. Twenty-six names are newly synonymised including fifteen previously accepted species, and we designate eighty-three lectotypes, four neotypes, and four epitypes