KEW BULLETIN VOL.

68: 249 Y 260 (2013)

DOI 10.1007/S12225-013-9452-2

ISSN: 0075-5974 (print)

ISSN: 1874-933X (electronic)

Bonamia (Convolvulaceae) in Bolivia

John R. I. Wood1,2

Summary. An account of the genus Bonamia in Bolivia is presented. Seven species are recognised, of which three
(B. rosiewiseae J. R. I. Wood, B. riograndina J. R. I. Wood and B. cerradoensis J. R. I Wood) are described as new and
illustrated with line drawings. Taxonomic notes and a key to the identication of the Bolivian species are provided.
The typication of B. agrostopolis (Vell.) Hallier f. is discussed and an epitype is selected. A full synonomy for B.
agrostopolis, B. balansae Hallier f. and B. subsessilis Hassl. is provided. The distribution and conservation status of all
seven species is detailed with the help of a map and attention is drawn to the Chaco as a local centre of diversity in
this genus in South America.
Key Words. Brazil, cerrado, Chaco, new species, taxonomy.

Introduction
Bonamia is a medium-sized genus of about 56 species
(Convolvulaceae Unlimited) with a surprisingly wide
distribution being found in both North and South
America, Africa, Madagascar, South and Southeast Asia
and Australia. It is clearly heterogeneous and has at least
two distinct pollen types (Hallier 1897), and its limits
have been subject to dispute over the years (Myint &
Ward 1968; Austin & Staples 1985) so it is not surprising
that recent studies (Stefanovic et al. 2002) suggest it is
polyphyletic. However, sampling has so far been limited
to a few species and no formal attempt has as yet been
made to split the genus. In consequence the species
discussed below are all treated as belonging to Bonamia
as circumscribed by Myint & Ward (1968). Section
Trichantha Myint, discussed below, however, is very
different in facies from the other species found in
Bolivia and might be a distinct genus as originally
proposed by Karsten & Triana (1856).
The genus is characterised by having the style
divided into two liform arms. The stigmas are
globose to reniform and relatively small in size and
the cotyledons are ovate-oblong to shallowly emarginate. Flowers are axillary and cymose in most species
although sometimes the cymes are reduced to single
owers. Bracts and bracteoles are usually small and
the sepals are free or nearly so and not accrescent.
Bolivian species vary from trailing herbs to erect
undershrubs or lianas reaching several metres in
height. Full generic descriptions can be found in
Myint & Ward (1968) and on the Convolvulaceae
Unlimited.

Bonamia is not a well-known genus in Bolivia. Only

a single species, B. boliviana ODonell, was listed by
Foster (1958), this having been described a few years
earlier (ODonell 1950). Recent collections, however,
have increased this number to seven, of which three
are described as new in this paper.
Although Bonamia is widely distributed, its centres
of diversity in America appear to be amphitropical, the
genus being most diverse around the latitude of the
two tropics in both hemispheres. Its distribution in
Bolivia conforms to this pattern (Map 1), all species
being found in the south of the country around the
Chaco. Two species extend into the inter-Andean
valleys where Chaco inuence is strong and several
into the cerrado regions north of the Chaco but the
genus is almost completely restricted to the
Department of Santa Cruz (Map 1). Three species
are endemic to Bolivia.

Materials and Methods

This paper is based partly on the authors own eld
experience in Bolivia over the last 20 years and this has
been used to inform the comments on the ecology,
frequency and conservation status of each species.
Given our limited knowledge of the distribution of
most plant species in Bolivia and of all those discussed
in this paper, caution has been exercised in assigning
IUCN conservation categories to individual species.
The ve species of Bonamia sect. Tricantha Myint, in
particular, are difcult to nd when not in ower,
even in known localities. Material has been checked in

Accepted for publication 1 May 2013. Published online 28 May 2013

1
Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3RB, UK. e-mail: jriwood@hotmail.com
2
Honorary Research Associate, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, UK.

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KEW BULLETIN VOL. 68(2)

all four recognised Bolivian herbaria (BOLV, HSB,

LPB and USZ) and in the principal herbaria in
Paraguay (FCQ) and northern Argentina (CTES).
Type material of most species was seen at K and

images of Hoehnes and ODonells types were seen at

CTES. All cited specimens have been seen unless
indicated otherwise. Area calculations for conservation
assessments were made using GEOCAT.

Key to species of Bonamia in Bolivia

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Corolla pale lilac with darker centre; plant decumbent or erect; seeds glabrous where known . . . . . . . . . . 2
Corolla white or pale yellow with dark midpetaline bands; climbing liana-like plant; seeds pilose where known . 3
Leaves obovate-spathulate; plant decumbent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2. B. riograndina
Leaves ovate-elliptic; plant erect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. B. rosiewiseae
Sepals glabrous or nearly so on the exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Sepals tomentose on the exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Leaves tomentose on the abaxial surface; owers numerous in elongate compound cymes 6. B. cerradoensis
Leaves glabrous on both surfaces; owers few . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4. B. balansae
Individual owers sessile or very shortly pedicellate; inorescence spicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7. B. subsessilis
Individual owers borne on pedicels > 3 mm long; inorescence not spicate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Leaves < 4 cm long; midpetaline bands with long spreading hairs, corolla yellowish . . . . . . . .5. B. boliviana
Leaves mostly 5 11 cm long; midpetaline band with adpressed sericeous hairs; corolla white 3. B. agrostopolis

Section Bonamia
Erect, trailing or climbing plants. Leaves often shortly
petiolate, ovate in outline. Inorescence of cymes or
solitary owers; stamens unequal in length, the stylar
branches with a single vascular strand; stigmas globose;
seeds glabrous, fruits with thin walls. Bolivian species are
erect or decumbent shrubs with blue owers.
1. Bonamia rosiewiseae J. R. I. Wood sp. nov. sectionis
Bonamiae valde distincta aspectu Jacquemontiae
Choisy propter habitum erectum, folia late ovata
vel elliptica et corollam magnam lilacinam a
congeneribus diversa. Typus: Bolivia, Chiquitos,
Wood, Villarroel & Pozo 23584 (holotypus K, isotypi
LPB, UB, USZ).
http://www.ipni.org/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77128343-1
Perennial undershrub with woody rootstock from which
arise ascending or erect woody stems to 1 m, these
subject to periodic re, after which young, initially
herbaceous shoots are produced, the whole plant greytomentose in its vegetative parts, somewhat glabrescent
on older, woody growth. Leaves alternate, petiolate;
petioles 2 3 mm long; laminas 3.5 6 2.5 4.5 cm,
elliptic to broadly ovate, apex rounded to slightly
emarginate, mucronate, margin entire, base shallowly
cordate, the abaxial surface paler with prominent brown
venation. Flowers in shortly pedunculate axillary cymes of
1 5 owers; inorescence bracts leaf-like but smaller;
peduncles 0.2 1.5 cm; pedicels 1 5 mm; cymose bracts
(if present) 9 20 3 8 mm, obovate or elliptic, acute;
bracteoles 3 5 0.5 mm, linear-lanceolate, acuminate.

The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, 2013

Sepals 5; outer sepals 2, 9 12 5.5 7 mm, convex, ovateelliptic, obtuse, dorsal surface densely tomentose but
ventral surface pubescent only towards the apex; inner
sepals 3, 8 9 3 4 mm, ovate, acute, tomentose on
dorsal surface only. Corolla broadly funnel-shaped, 2.9
3.8 cm long, 3 3.5 cm wide at mouth, the basal tube
cylindrical, c. 5 1 mm, inside greenish-cream,
expanded portion pale lilac, inside with violet aurora
just above the basal tube, shallowly 5-lobed, the lobes
rounded, slightly plicate; the exterior with broad, pilose
midpetaline bands. Stamens inserted just above the basal
tube, 5, unequal; laments glabrous, white, 2 short, c. 3
mm long, 3 long, c. 5.5 mm long; anthers 2 0.5 mm,
oblong. Ovary densely pilose at the apex; style thinly
pilose on the lower part, divided c. 5 mm above the ovary
into unequal arms, one 7 mm long, the other 8 mm long;
stigmas subglobose, 0.5 mm in diameter. Capsule and
seeds not seen. Figs 1, 2A.
DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT. A Bolivian endemic species

known from two locations in eastern Bolivia in

cerrado vegetation, one campo cerrado on sandy soil
southeast of Taperas and the other campo rupestre
on a plateau near Chochs (Map 1). Both areas
support typical cerrado species including a number
of endemic species but there are very few common
elements of signicance. In the type location,
associated species include Anacardium humile A.
St.-Hil., Byrsonima coccolobifolia Kunth, Davilla
elliptica A. St.-Hil., Palicourea rigida Kunth, Panicum
cervicatum Chase, Paspalum macranthecium Parodi,
Polygala irwinii Wurdack, Rhynchospora patuligluma
C. B. Clarke and the endemic Centratherum
cardenasii H. Rob.

BONAMIA (CONVOLVULACEAE) IN BOLIVIA

251

Map 1. Distribution of Bonamia Thouars in Bolivia showing its centre of diversity in the SE (Chaco) region: B. agrostopolis (), B.
balansae (), B. boliviana (), B. cerradoensis (), B. rosiewiseae (), B. subsessilis (), B. riograndina ().
SPECIMENS EXAMINED. BOLIVIA. Santa Cruz: Prov.

Chiquitos, on the meseta above la mina, zona

Matacuzal, Chochs, 800 m, 18 Nov. 2001, J. R. I.
Wood & S. Landivar 17568 (K, LPB, USZ); camino viejo
de Taperas a Robor, a unos 15 20 km de Taperas
[1804'44"S, 6022'37"W], 562 m, 17 Oct. 2007, J. R. I.
Wood, D. Villarroel & P. Pozo 23584 (holotype K,
isotypes LPB, UB, USZ).
CONSERVATION STATUS. The correct categorisation is
Data Decient (DD) in the present state of our
knowledge. Only two populations are known, at both of
which the plant is locally common but it does not extend
into apparently suitable nearby areas. Neither of these
two populations faces any obvious threat and one, the
Chochs location, lies within the Reserva Departamental
del Valle de Tucavaca and enjoys a degree of legal
protection. Similar areas are extensive in the region so
other populations might be expected to occur although
none were discovered during the activities of the Darwin
Initiative Project 16004 Conservation of the Cerrados
of Eastern Bolivia, when extensive botanical exploration
took place in the region.
PHENOLOGY. Found in ower in the southern hemisphere spring (October November) after re
followed by rain. Flowering is probably stimulated by
these two factors in combination.
EPONOMY. This plant is named for Rosemary Wise,
botanical artist at the Department of Plant Sciences at
the University of Oxford, who has illustrated the
species described in this paper. As well as her
unsurpassed productivity of high quality botanical

illustrations, both water colours and line drawings,

she has written an account of the plants of Seychelles
(Wise 1998) and visited Bolivia three times training
Bolivian artists and preparing paintings for posters to
support environmental education in schools and
amongst the public in general.

2. Bonamia riograndina J. R. I. Wood, sp. nov. sectionis

Bonamia ob corollam palide coeruleam fere 3 cm
longam et sepala acuminata ad B. ovalifoliam (Torr. &
A. Gray) Hallier f. tangit sed foliis obovatis vel spatulatis,
usque 4 cm longis, oribus pedunculatis usque 3 cm
longis recedens. Typus: Bolivia, Chuquisaca, Prov. Boeto,
J. R. I. Wood, A. Carretero & M. Mercado 19603 (holotypus
K, isotypi BOLV, LPB, HSB).
http://www.ipni.org/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77128344-1
Undershrub with decumbent branches up to 1 m long,
sometimes scrambling over rocks or other plants to form
an untidy bush 30 50 cm high, old stems woody,
glabrous, young stems herbaceous and all vegetative
parts densely appressed-pubescent to tomentose.
Leaves petiolate; petioles 4 8 mm long; laminas 2 4
1.1 2.5 cm, obovate or spathulate, apex rounded,
obtuse or emarginate and sometimes mucronate, margin entire, base narrowly cuneate and decurrent onto
the petiole, abaxial surface paler with more prominent
venation. Inorescence of pedunculate axillary 3-owered
cymes, but the two lateral owers commonly not

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KEW BULLETIN VOL. 68(2)

Fig. 1. Bonamia rosiewiseae. A habit (upper part of stem); B habit (lower part of stem); C adaxial leaf surface; D abaxial leaf surface;
E arrangement of calyx; F outer sepals (both surfaces); G inner sepals (both surfaces); H section of corolla; J anther; K ovary, style
and stigmas. A, C, E K from Wood, Villarroel & Pozo 23584, B, D from Wood & Landivar 17568. DRAWN BY ROSEMARY WISE.

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BONAMIA (CONVOLVULACEAE) IN BOLIVIA

253

Fig. 2. A Bonamia rosiewiseae. PHOTO: DARWIN INITIATIVE PROJECT 16 004. B Bonamia riograndina. PHOTO: DARWIN INITIATIVE PROJECT 162/11/010.

developing fully so owers often appearing solitary, dead

inorescences persistent into the next owering season;
bracts resembling leaves; peduncles 3 9 mm long;
pedicels 2 6 mm; bracteoles 6 7 0.5 0.75 mm,
linear, acute. Sepals 5; outer sepals 2, 10 12 5 5.5
mm, narrowly ovate, acuminate, green with slightly
scarious margin; inner sepals 3, 8 10 3 5 mm, ovate,
acute to somewhat caudate, smaller, paler and more
thinly hirsute than the outer sepals. Corolla broadly
funnel-shaped, 2.6 3 cm long, c. 3 cm wide at mouth,
the basal tube cylindrical, c. 4 2 mm, inside dark lilac,
expanded portion pale lilac, weakly 5-lobed, the lobes
lightly undulate apically; the exterior with thinly pilose
midpetaline bands. Stamens inserted just above the basal
tube, 5, unequal; laments glabrous, pale lilac, 2 short, c.
5 mm long, 3 long, c. 7 mm long; anthers 2 2.5 0.5
mm, oblong. Ovary urceolate, densely pilose at the apex;
style white, thinly pilose on the lower part, divided c. 14
mm above the ovary into unequal arms, one 3 mm long,
the other 4.5 mm long; stigmas globose, 0.25 mm in
diam. Capsule 4-seeded, 10 11 9 mm, globose, apex
comose and with persistent style base; seeds 5 6 2.5 3
mm, narrowly ovoid, rounded at both ends, smooth,
glabrous. Figs 2B, 3.
DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT. A narrowly endemic species

known only from the Rio Grande Valley from the

Puente Santa Rosa area west to the Puente Inca area
between 900 and 1320 m in Chuquisaca, Cochabamba
and Santa Cruz Departments (Map 1). It grows on
unstable slopes, principally on black, broken shale in
open, dry spiny bushland. The area in which it grows is
very arid and seasonally extremely hot.
SPECIMENS EXAMINED. BOLIVIA. Chuquisaca: Prov.
Boeto, 52.5 km en el camino de Villa Serrano hacia
Vallegrande pasando la comunidad de Nuevo Mundo

[1850'417"S, 6418'229"W], 1290 m, 3 April 2003, J. R.

I. Wood, A. Carretero & M. Mercado 19603 (holotype K,
isotypes BOLV, HSB, LPB); near Comunidad Achira,
between Nuevo Mundo and Puente Santa Rosa
[1851'49"S, 6414'53"W], 1320 m, 26 March 2013, J.
R. I. Wood, B. Williams & D. Villarroel 27662 (K, LPB,
USZ). Cochabamba: c. 5 km from Puente Inca on the
road from the Rio Grande to Bellavista and Pasorapa
from Mococoya [1837'50"S, 6432'013"W], 1272 m, 31
March 2013, J. R. I. Wood, B. Williams & I. Linneo 27721
(K, LPB, USZ); Santa Cruz: Prov. Vallegrande, 1 km al
este de Pampa Negra, 1100 m, 28 Jan. 1994, E. Saravia
12220 (CTES); ibid, [1831'347"S, 6417'237"W], 1069
m, 29 March 2013, J. R. I. Wood, B. Williams & I. Linneo
27695 (K, LPB, USZ); c. 2 km above Santa Rosa on
road to Pucara, 1100 m, 12 Feb. 1996, J. R. I. Wood
10655 (K, LPB, USZ); a 10 km del Puente Santa Rosa
del Ro Grande [1843'23"S, 6418'53"W], 933 m, 20
Jan. 2011, G. Parada, V. D. Rojas, M. Betancur & M.
Huanca 2840 (USZ).
CONSERVATION STATUS. Bonamia riograndina is probably
best categorised as Data Decient (DD) although it is
narrowly endemic to a particular area of the Rio Grande
Valley in south central Bolivia, its known populations
occurring over only 97 km2. This suggests it might be
Critically Endangered (CR) within the IUCN
categorisation but it is premature to assign any formal
category. The environment is harsh and there is only a
small human population in the area so there is little
immediate threat. No systematic study of the extent of
the population has ever been made, partly for these
practical reasons, and it is impossible to know the extent
of the presence of this plant at the moment. The
populations on the Santa Cruz side of the valley lie
within a protected area at departmental level but this is
not yet effectively managed despite its oristic richness.
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KEW BULLETIN VOL. 68(2)

Fig. 3. Bonamia riograndina. A habit (younger stem); B habit (older stem); C abaxial leaf surface; D outer sepals (both surfaces); E
inner sepals (both surfaces); F corolla opened out; G ovary, style and stigmas; H capsule showing arrangement of sepals; J seeds A,
C D, J from Wood, Carretero & Mercado 19603, B, E H from Wood 10655. DRAWN BY ROSEMARY WISE.

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BONAMIA (CONVOLVULACEAE) IN BOLIVIA

This part of the Rio Grande Valley is an important centre

for endemic taxa including Acacia riograndensis
Atahuachi & L. Rico, Matelea sartago-diaboli Goyder,
Funastrum rupicola Goyder, Espostoa guentheri (Kupper)
Buxb. ex Eggli, Gomphrena stellata T. Ortuo & Borsch
and Justicia aequilabris subsp. riograndina Wassh. & J. R. I.
Wood, together with a number of rare chaco species
including Mimozyganthus carinatus (Griseb.) Burkart,
Plenckia integerrima Lundell, Sphingiphila tetramera A. H.
Gentry, Basistemon spinosum (Chodat) Moldenke,
Parodiodendron marginiivillosum (Speg.) Hunz. and
Jacquemontia estrellensis Krapov.
PHENOLOGY. This species owers opportunistically
after signicant summer rain, probably at any time
between December and April.
EPONOMY. This species is named after the Rio Grande
of the Andes, the epithet riograndina combining a
Spanish adjectival form for the river with the termination andina with reference to the Andes.
NOTES. This species appears to be most similar
morphologically to Bonamia ovalifolia from, coincidentally, the Rio Grande valley separating Mexico and
Texas where it grows in the Big Bend National Park
occupying a rather similar ecological niche (Austin
1988). No similar South American species is known.

Section Trichantha Myint (1968: 34).

Woody twining or scandent lianas. Leaves usually longpetiolate, elliptic in outline. Inorescence axillary,
cymose; stamens equal in length; stylar arms with vascular
traces branched in the upper part; stigma reniform to 2lobed, ovary and capsule usually conical; fruits with thick,
woody walls; seeds villous. All species appear to have
narrowly funnel-shaped white to yellowish corollas which
have prominent brownish midpetaline bands.

3. Bonamia agrostopolis (Vell.) Hallier f. (1893: 529)

Convolvulus agrostopolis Vell. (Vellozo 1829: 68). Type:
Tab. 51 in Florae Fluminensis, Icones, epitype Burchell
2778 (K, selected here).
Breweria burchellii Choisy (1834: 493). Type: Brazil,
Burchell 2778 (lectotype K, selected by Myint &
Ward 1968: 225).
Bonamia burchellii (Choisy) Hallier f. (1893: 529).
Convolvulus agrostopolis var. burchellii (Choisy) Kuntze
(1898: 212).
Ipomoea terminalis Choisy (1837: 54). Type: Brazil, Rio
de Janeiro, Commerson s.n. (P-Juss., n.v.).
Ipomoea lundii Choisy (1837: 56). Type: Brazil, Rio de
Janeiro, Lund & Gaudichaud s.n. (G, n.v.).
Breweria venulosa Meisn. (Meisner 1869: 326). Type:
Brazil, Minas Gerais, Santa Rita, Sellow s.n.
(holotype M).
Bonamia agrostopolis var. velutina Hallier f. (1897: 1005).
Type: Brazil, Gaudichaud 567 (holotype G, n.v.).

255

Bonamia tomentosa Hassl. (Hassler 1911: 148), synon.

nov. Type: Paraguay, Caaguazu, Hassler 9038 (lectotype G, selected by Myint & Ward 1968: 228,
isolectotypes BM, F, K, MO, NY, W).
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. Known from Southern

Brazil, Paraguay and southern Bolivia. Apparently widespread but infrequent within its distribution range. It
grows in dry forest and dry forest relics, within Bolivia in
Chaco and Chaco Serrano forest. Map 1.
SPECIMENS EXAMINED. BOLIVIA. Chuquisaca: Prov.
Hernando Siles, on descent to Rio Azero, 3 km S of
river on road to Monteagudo, 1200 m, 9 March 1998,
J. R. I. Wood, D. J. Goyder & M. Serrano 13307 (K, LPB).
Santa Cruz: Prov. Cordillera, 7.5 km S. of Basilio along
Santa Cruz Abapo highway [1811'S, 6311'W], 525
m, 21 March 1998, M. Nee 48745 (NY, USZ), 7 8 km
del camino principal entrando de Abap hacia
Morocco [1851'36"S, 6327'07"W], 494 m, 26 April
2012, J. R. I. Wood & F. Mamani 27483 (LPB, USZ).
Prov. Florida, Com. Bella Vista [1819'55"S,
6340'35"W], 1000 1100 m, 28 April 2006, D.
Villarroel, L. H. Morales & R. A. Flores 499 (MO, USZ).
Prov. Guarayos, Ascencin de Guarayos, 26 April 1977,
A. Krapovickas & Schinini 31713 (CTES). Prov. Ibaez,
10 km E of Cotoca along Quebrada Quitachiy,
[1744'45"S, 6254'W], 350 m, 27 July 1994 (fr.), M.
Nee 45380 (LPB, NY, USZ); Brecha 5, km 38 [1804'S,
6309'W], 480 m, 28 Feb. 1998 (buds), M. Nee 48511
(LPB, NY, USZ); Basilio [1807'S, 6311'W], 520 m, 28
March 1998, M. Nee 48812 (CTES, NY, USZ), 6 km N
of Basilio [180398'S, 631185'W], 8 July 2004 (fr.), M.
Nee 52675 (CTES, LPB, NY, USZ). Prov. uo de
Chvez, between Los Troncos and San Julian, 300 m,
28 March 1999, J. R. I. Wood 14756 (K, LPB, USZ).
CONSERVATION STATUS. This is the most common of the
species discussed in this paper both within Bolivia and in
neighbouring countries. It should be categorised as
Least Concern (LC).
PHENOLOGY. In Bolivia this species owers from March
to May.
NOTES. No type specimens are known to exist for the
plants described in Vellozos Flora Fluminensis (1829)
and typication has to be based on the often
unsatisfactory illustrations. From Choisy (1845) onwards various authors have suggested that Bonamia
agrostopolis and B. burchellii are conspecic. However,
Myint & Ward maintained them as separate based on
the large, glabrate, elliptic or oblong-elliptic leaves
with impressed veins of B. agrostopolis. It is not clear
how they came to characterise the species in this way
as nothing in either the description in Vellozo (1829)
or in the Icones (Vellozo 1831) indicates the leaves
were glabrate or with impressed veins. The picture is
clearly identiable as a species of Bonamia of sect.
Tricantha but the leaves are not particularly large and
are similar to those of Burchell 2778 (K), the type of B.
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256

burchellii. The only specimen Myint & Ward cited as B.

agrostopolis (Ynes Mexia 4999 (BM!)) clearly conforms
to their concept of that species but specimens with
large mature leaves and reduced indumentum are also
seen in Bolivian material notably in Wood & Mamani
27483 and Nee 52675, this last apparently with leaves
from the previous season. No other distinction between the two species is known and so I am treating
them as synonyms under the oldest name. Since B.
agrostopolis and the type of B. burchellii are similar in
facies and both originate from coastal sandbanks in
southern Brazil, I am selecting Burchell 2778 (K) as
epitype of B. agrostopolis in order to help ensure the
two names are interpreted in the same way.
Bonamia agrostopolis is usually easy to recognise
because of its liana habit and densely pubescent to
tomentose leaves and bracts. Additionally, in the vast
majority of specimens the lateral cymes become
aggregated towards the tips of the branches, forming
a long, narrow, supercially naked inorescence in
which the bracts are mostly concealed by the owers,
hence perhaps Choisys Ipomoea terminalis.

4. Bonamia balansae Hallier f. (1897: 1002). Type:

Paraguay, Balansa 1078 (holotype G, isotype K).
Bonamia corumbaensis Hoehne (1922: 45). Type: Brazil,
Mato Grosso, Hoehne 3042 (isotype R).
DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT. This is an uncommon species
from western Brazil (Mato Grosso do Sul (Ratter et al.
6487 (K)) and Mato Grosso), Paraguay and eastern
Bolivia. It is more obviously a Chaco species than
Bonamia subsessilis and grows in low seasonally moist
Chaco woodland below 300 m (Map 1).
SPECIMENS EXAMINED. BOLIVIA. Santa Cruz: Prov.
Chiquitos, Aeropuerto de San Jos, [1747'S, 6047'W],
300 m, 26 April 1980, Krapovickas & Schinini 36543
(CTES). Prov. Cordillera, P.N. Kaa-Iya, 25 km al NE de
Palmar de las Islas [1915'39"S, 6025'30"W], 270 m, 12
Feb. 1998, Fuentes & Navarro 2296 (CTES). Prov.
German Busch, 20 km N of Carmen Rivero Torrez on
road to Rincon del Tigre [1840'26"S, 5830'17"W], 187
m, 29 Nov. 2009, Wood et al. 26550 (K, LPB, USZ).
CONSERVATION STATUS. Bonamia balansae has an extensive area of occurrence in three countries but there
are few collections. I only know of the six cited above,
and one additional collection from Paraguay at FCQ
(Mereles et al. 9013). In the present state of our
knowledge it should be categorised as Data Decient
(DD) but it merits more careful study.
PHENOLOGY. It has been found in ower between
November and April.
NOTES. Readily distinguished from all other Bolvian
species by the glabrous leaves and sepals. The owers
are pale cream, sometimes described as yellowish. As
with Bonamia boliviana the relatively, short (mostly 3
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KEW BULLETIN VOL. 68(2)

6 cm long), relatively few-owered, clearly lateral

inorescences are distinct. The scarious-margined
sepals are also characteristically prominent.

5. Bonamia boliviana ODonell (1950: 458). Type:

Bolivia, Santa Cruz, Prov. Cordillera, La Cuesta, J.
Paredo s.n. (holotype LIL, isotypes F, K, NY, US, W).
DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT. A Bolivian endemic collected
six times in the NW Chaco region in areas of
seasonally moist chaco woodland (Map 1).
SPECIMENS EXAMINED. BOLIVIA. Santa Cruz, Prov.
Cordillera, La Cuesta, 386 m, Feb. 1946, J. Paredo s.n.
(F, K!, LIL, NY, US, W); Cabezas, 420 m, 9 March 1946, J.
Paredo 416 (LIL, MO, n.v.); Baados de Izozog,
Acararenda, 320 m, 11 March 1991, G. Navarro & I.
Vargas 281 (MO, USZ); Baados de Izozog, entre Monte
Alto y camino viejo a Santa Cruz, 410 m, 12 March 1991,
G. Navarro & I. Vargas 324 (BOLV); P.N. Kaa-Iya del
Gran Chaco, Camp. Charata, cerca de los Baados de
Izozog, 270 m, 29 Jan. 1998, A. Fuentes, L. Paniagua & L.
Paredes 2655 (LPB, MO, USZ). Prov. Ibaez, 10 km SSE of
Cotoca, 9.5 km along dirt road to Paurito [1750'S,
6257'30"W], 345 m, 5 Jan. 1996, M. Nee 46712 (CTES).
CONSERVATION STATUS. This species is certainly uncommon (I have failed to rend it in the places I have looked
for it) but it has been found in several dispersed localities
in the Chaco and there is no reason to believe it is
threatened. Using GEOCAT its extent of occurrence
comes out at 8,740 km2 and it could be classied as
Vulnerable (VUL) but the Chaco of both Bolivia and
Paraguay is poorly known botanically and very extensive,
and any categorisation other than Data Decient (DD)
would be premature.
PHENOLOGY. Found in ower from January to March.
NOTES. The fruits and seeds of this species remain
unknown but there is now sufcient material to conrm
its principal characteristics as provided by ODonell
(1950). It is a weak liana sharing tomentose leaves and
sepals with both Bonamia subsessilis and B. agrostopolis but
immediately distinguished by its small leaves, which are
consistently less than 4 cm long. The cymes are borne on
short peduncles < 1.5 cm long and are few-owered,
rarely exceeding 3 cm in total length, thus having
something of the appearance of a densely tomentose,
depauperate version of the other species with an
exclusively chaco distribution, B. balansae. Also very
distinct are the long ascending hairs on the midpetaline
bands, especially towards the base of the corolla. The
owers are usually recorded as yellowish. Fig. 4 shows
the characteristic appearance of this species.

6. Bonamia cerradoensis J. R. I. Wood, sp. nov. sectionis

Trichanthae Myint, foliis infra tomentosis ad B.
agrostopolim (Vell.) Hallier f. accedens sed sepalis obtusis

BONAMIA (CONVOLVULACEAE) IN BOLIVIA

257

Fig. 4. Herbarium specimen of Bonamia boliviana (Navarro & Vargas 281) showing characteristic small leaves and short peduncles.

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258

fere glabris recedens; a B. balansae foliis infra tomentosis;

ab ambobus forma inorescenciae dignoscenda. Typus:
Bolivia, Santa Cruz, J. R. I. Wood, D. J. Goyder & F. Mamani
13125 (holotypus K, isotypi LPB, USZ).
http://www.ipni.org/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:77128345-1
Scrambling undershrub reaching 1 m; stems woody, wiry in
texture, reddish-brown, roughly and thinly pilose to
subtomentose on young parts, the ultimate parts very thin.
Leaves petiolate; petioles 4 8 mm long, densely villous;
laminas 3 9 1.8 5.5 cm, ovate to broadly oblong-ovate,
apex acute to obtuse and prominently mucronate, the
mucro up to 2 mm long, margin entire or slightly undulate,
base rounded to weakly cordate, adaxial surface green,
pubescent; abaxial surface paler, densely tomentose,
venation prominent, reddish-brown. Flowers in axillary,
pedunculate, compound cymes with up to 20 owers
forming somewhat elongate lateral inorescences c.
5 3 cm; bracts resembling leaves; peduncles 2 5 cm,
somewhat woody, pubescent; pedicels 3 4 mm, thinly
pubescent; bracteoles 1 3.5 0.2 0.5mm, liform to
linear-lanceolate, pubescent. Sepals 5; outer sepals 2,
6 3 4 mm, broadly oblong-elliptic, rounded, rigid in
texture, convex, brown, glabrous except ciliolate margins near apex, margin scarious, inner surface paler and
glabrous; inner sepals 3, 6 7 5 6 mm, elliptic to
suborbicular, apex rounded, at base narrowed into a
short false petiole, brown with scarious margins. Corolla
narrowly funnel-shaped, 1.9 2.3 cm long, 1.1 1.2 cm
wide at mouth, the basal tube cylindrical, c. 4 2 mm,
white, undulate, not lobed, the exterior with conspicuous
dark, appressed pilose midpetaline bands. Stamens inserted
just above the basal tube, 5, equal; laments 4 5 mm long,
thinly hirsute below; anthers 2.5 3 0.5 0.75 mm,
oblong. Ovary narrowly conical, the apex tapering into the
style, c. 4 mm long in total, glabrous; style glabrous,
persistent after the corolla has fallen, divided 4 7 mm
above the ovary into unequal arms, one 2 3 mm long, the
other 2.5 4.5 mm long; stigmas reniform, 0.25 mm in
diam. Capsule and seeds not seen. Fig. 5.
DISTRIBUTION & HABITAT. Found in degraded, periodical-

ly burnt cerrado or cerrado between 300 and 500 m in

Mato Grosso in Brazil and in the Chiquitania region of
eastern Bolivia (Map 1). In Bolivia it grows on the
undulating plain of the Pre-Cambrian Shield in areas of
cerrado intermixed with Chiquitano dry forest. No details
are known of the Brazilian habitat but it is probably
similar. All eld notes refer to cerrado in general.
SPECIMENS EXAMINED. BOLIVIA. Santa Cruz: Prov.
Velasco, P.N. Noel Kempff Mercado, 1.5 km S of
Pista Noel Kempff Mercado [1353'55"S, 6048'46"W],
290 m, 12 May 1994, B. Mostacedo et al. 1777 (MO,
USZ); 71 km from Concepcin on road to San Ignacio
de Velasco, 500 m, 26 February 1998, J. R. I.Wood, D. J.
Goyder & F. Mamani 13125 (holotype K, isotypes LPB,
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KEW BULLETIN VOL. 68(2)

USZ); 20 km E of San Silvestre, camino a San Ignacio

[1551'25"S, 6137'06"W], 411 m, 2 April 2006, M.
Dematteis, M. S. Ferucci, G. Pieszko & J. D. Urdampilleta
2151 (CTES, K); 20 30 km N of Santa Rosa de la Roca
[1541'24"S, 6131'23"W], 419 m, 13 April 2013, J. R. I.
Wood. B. Williams & G. Gutirrez 27804 (K, LPB, USZ).
BRAZIL. Mato Grosso do Sul, Rodovia Coxim-Silviolandia,
area do Exercito [1816'S, 5430'W], 300 m, 26 Feb.
1994, A & V. J. Pott 6628 (CTES).
CONSERVATION STATUS. Although only known from one
collection in Brazil and four in Bolivia, two from nearby
locations, this species must be categorised as Data
Decient (DD). Its wide distribution, its extent of occupancy being over 97,000 km2, suggests that it might be
classied as Least Concern (LC) but this would be
premature given the small number of collections and the
very dispersed pattern of distribution. However, the habitat
where it grows is unremarkable and plant collections have
only been made casually without systematic search. There
is no reason why this species is not more common apart
from the absence of additional collections.
PHENOLOGY. Found in ower in February and April so
probably owering in the second half of the summer
rainy season from about January to April.
NOTES. This species is supercially similar to several
others described from sect. Trichantha, which are all
similar woody climbers having white owers with distinctive brown midpetaline bands and hirsute seeds.
Following Myint & Wards key (1968: 145ff.) Bonamia
cerradoensis will key out near to B. balansae but is
immediately distinguished by its more numerous owers
and leaves tomentose on the abaxial surface. It is
probably closer to B. agrostopolis but it is easily distinguished by the near glabrous sepals and the clearly
lateral inorescences, which, in none of the specimens
seen, show any tendency to become aggregated towards
the branch tips. The somewhat elongate axillary inorescences appear to be unique to this species.
7. Bonamia subsessilis Hassl. (Hassler 1911: 149).
Type: Paraguay, Fiebrig 4764, lectotype G, selected by
Myint & Ward 1968: 229, isolectotypes BM, GH, K, L).
Bonamia mattogrossensis Hoehne (1922: 45). Type:
Brazil, Mato Grosso, Hoehne 4655 (lectotype R,
selected by Myint & Ward 1968: 230).
Bonamia mattogrossensis var. obtusifolia Hoehne (1922:
46). Type: Brazil, Mato Grosso, Hoehne 3039 (lectotype R, selected by Myint & Ward 1968: 231).
DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. An uncommon plant of the

Chiquitania in Bolivia, Mato Grosso in Brazil, and

Paraguay. It appears to be rare as there are no collections
from Paraguay in either CTES or FCQ and very few are
known from Brazil. In Bolivia it is known from four
locations, in three of which it grows in scrub around large
rock outcrops (Map 1).

BONAMIA (CONVOLVULACEAE) IN BOLIVIA

259

Fig. 5. Bonamia cerradoensis. A habit; B adaxial leaf surface; C abaxial leaf surface; D ower bud; E outer sepal; F inner sepal; G
corolla opened out to show stamens; H ovary, style and stigmas; J immature capsule showing persistent style. A, J from Dematteis
et al. 2151, B H from Wood, Goyder & Mamani 13125. DRAWN BY ROSEMARY WISE.

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260

SPECIMENS SEEN. BOLIVIA. Santa Cruz: Prov. Velasco,

Cerro Pelao [1431'54"S, 6129'32"W], 450 m, 22
March 1994, R. Guilln et al. 1108 (LPB, USZ); El
Refugio, 2.5 km N of the house along Rio Paragua
[1445'44"S, 6102'53"W], 160 m, 20 May 1994, R.
Guilln & S. Coria 1416 (MO, USZ); Aeropista de El
Refugio [1445'54"S, 6101'58"W], 179 m, 18 April
2004, J. R. I. Wood & H. Huaylla 20726 (K, LPB, USZ).
Prov. Chiquitos, Chochis, at base of La Torre above el
Sanctuario [1804'30"S, 5901'30"W], 17 March 2005,
J. R. I. Wood & A. Haigh 21893 (LPB); Robor, c. half
kilometre N of town crossing railway [1819'17"S,
5945'14"W], 315 m, 23 March 2011, J. R. I. Wood, D.
Villarroel & M. Mendoza 27290 (K, USZ).
CONSERVATION STATUS. Clearly uncommon but widely
distributed in three countries and under no immediate threat. It should be categorised as Data Decient
(DD) but merits more careful study.
PHENOLOGY. Flowers in March and April.
NOTES. Although similar in indumentum to Bonamia
agrostopolis this species is readily identied by the
relatively narrow spicate lateral inorescences, in
which the owers are subsessile. The inorescences
are usually axillary only but occasionally become
aggregated towards the branch tips. The large, softly
tomentose, suborbicular leaves (often exceeding 9 9
cm) seem also to be characteristic.

Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to the curators of the herbaria at BM,
BOLV, CTES, FCQ, K, LPB and USZ for providing access
to their specimens, to Dan Austin for drawing my
attention to Breweria venulosa and to M for sending an
image of the type so quickly. I am also grateful to
Dick Brummitt for advice on the typication of
Vellozos specimens and to Rosemary Wise for
preparing the illustrations that accompany this
paper. Field work in Bolivia was partly self-nanced
and partly supported by the Darwin Initiative Projects 162/11/010 and 16004, which is gratefully
acknowledged, as is also the help and companionship of the teams from the two projects.
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