Fosterella fuentesii Ibisch, R.V squez & E.Gross
Taxonomic Change:
- Treated as a synonym of Fosterella albicans (Griseb.) L.B. Sm. —See Peters et al. 2009 p. 182
Comments:
- The recently described Fosterella fuentesii from an inter-Andean dry valley (Ibisch et al. 2002), which was assumed to be close to F. petiolata, was known from the type locality and dried material only. Meanwhile more specimens have been collected and documented in the field during an expedition to the area of the type locality: BOLIVIA. Dpto. Santa Cruz: Prov. Florida, north of Pampa Grande, Sierra Racete, Manzanillares, east of Valle Hermoso, 180855S, 635548W, 1530 m, 1 Oct. 2006, J. Peters, N. Schu¨tz, R. Va´squez, & R. Lara JP 06.0002 (SEL), JP 06.0003 (LPB), JP 06.0004 (FR). Examination of plenty of living material has made it clear that these specimens have to be identified as F. albicans, which appears to be a more variable taxon than previously thought. The subsequent critical recheck of the type material of F. fuentesii led us to the conclusion that it belongs to F. albicans as well. At first glance, the similarity to F. petiolata was striking because of the distinct petioles, the conspicuous primary bracts, and the rather lax inflorescence (as mentioned in the original description). However, with the serrate petioles, the thickly lepidote abaxial leaf surface, the villous-arachnoid peduncle and inflorescence- branches, the size of the floral bracts, sepals and petals, and the habitat, the specimen resembles much more F. albicans. For these reasons, we synonymize F. fuentesii Ibisch, R. Vásquez, & E. Gross under F. albicans (Griseb.) L.B. Sm. Apart from this decision, preliminary molecular data (Rex et al. 2007) support the idea of F. albicans being a morphologically and ecologically variable species. A closer look at this group—also with molecular methods—is needed to decide whether it actually represents a single, very variable species, or perhaps several closely related species. The plants from the Tucuman- Bolivian forests in southern Bolivia and northern Argentina might be distinct from the central Bolivian ones which live in the Yungas rain forests. —See Peters 2009 p. 29(2): 183
