On the biology, biogeography, and taxonomy of Arachnitis Phil. nom. cons. (Corsiaceae) in respect to a new record from Bolivia

Abstract

A new locality of Arachnitis uniflora from a forest in the central Andes of Bolivia is described. Thus, the species, hitherto well known only from Patagonia, shows a remarkable disjuction probably caused by climatic changes at least 10-11 000 yr BP. The different habitat conditions of the two populations are characterised. A first complete description, including micromorphological characters, of Bolivian specimens is given. A. uniflora has protandric bisexual flowers which show a considerable growth during anthesis. The morphological plasticity of A. uniflora is discussed in respect of the second species A. quetrihuensis, and attention is drawn to the position of Arachnitis within the Corsiaceae. A neotype of A. uniflora is designated.