Fosterella weberbaueri (Mez) L.B.Sm.
Taxonomic Change:
- 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:
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Comments:
- This species was originally described as Lindmania weberbaueri by Mez, transferred to Fosterella by L.B. Smith and then classified as a synonym of F. schidosperma (Smith & Downs 1974). We here propose to reinstate F. weberbaueri as a valid species, and report a collection from Bolivia that expands the range southward from Peru. Although F. schidosperma and F. weberbaueri are astonishingly similar, as pointed out by R. Read (unpubl.) there is one important difference between these 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. weberbaueri). 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, we conclude that F. schidosperma and F. weberbaueri are distinct species.
We present the following description of the plant found in the sub-Andean rain forests of the Chapare region, which we conclude to represent F. weberbaueri: BOLIVIA.-Dpto. Cochabamba: Prov. Chapare, between San Rafael and El Palmar, 590 m, 17°05'S, 65°29'W, 8 Feb. 2000, R. Vasquez. G. Gerlach, & L.R. Moreno 3570a (VASQ). —See Peters 2009