Fosterella weberbaueri (Mez) L.B.Sm.
Taxonomic Notes:
- listed as a synonym of Fosterella schidosperma (Baker) L.B. Sm. —See Smith & Downs 1974 p. 208
- We here propose to reinstate F. weberbaueri as a valid species. A collection from Bolivia expands the range southward from Peru. Although F. schidosperma and F. weberbaueri are astonishingly similar, as pointed out by R. R ead (unpubl.) there is one important difference between two groups of Fosterella . One group has petals that are recoiled as watch-springs and stay so even after anthesis (e.g., F. schidosperma ); the other group is characterized by straight or more or less recoiled petals that become straight again after anthesis (e.g., F. weberbauer). Preliminary molecular data support the distinctiveness of these two groups and hence the systematic relevance of this petal character (Rex 2001, Rex et al. 2001). Thus, conclude that F. schidosperma and F. weberbaueri are distinct species. —See Ibisch et al. 2002 p. 10
Literature references:
*move your mouse pointer over the page numbers to see comment