Figure 3. Jaltomata andersonii


A. Branch with flowers and leaves


B. Partial flower, longitudinal hand-section with lower left excised,
Ca - calyx,
Co - corolla,
OD - Ovarian disk,
T - trichomes at base of stamen,
the stamen otherwise removed 


C and D. Anther and part of filament, dorsal and lateral views, respectively.

 

Bar = 1 cm in A, and 1 mm in B and C.
 

Illustration by Luis Serazo
from T. Mione, S. Leiva G. & L. Yacher 620.

Jaltomata andersonii (Solanaceae) is distributed on the western slope of the Andes, in the Departments of Lima and Ancash, Peru, from 2300 to 3400 m of elevation. This species differs from others of the genus by having an unarticulated axis connecting the flower to the plant where all others have both a peduncle and a pedicel. The following combination of features also characterize this species: the hairs of leaves and axes are gland-tipped, the petiole is no longer than 1 cm, the flowers are solitary, the corolla is broadly crateriform-rotate, purple and up to 3.7 cm in diameter, and the filaments are extremely villous at their base. This species was discovered during fieldwork by Segundo Leiva G., Thomas Mione and Leon Yacher in 1998.

Mione and Coe (1992) placed the following binomials in synonymy with Jaltomata aspera (Ruiz & Pav.) Mione: Saracha ciliata Miers, Saracha lacrima-virginis Bitter, and Saracha urbaniana Bitter & Dammer. The type specimens of all of these binomials have a single relatively large flower per inflorescence, and were collected either on the west slope of the Andes or in the lomas [a fog-fed desert habitat of the west coast of South America having a high level of endemism (Dillon 1997)]. The species represented on this web page also has a single flower per inflorescence and is from the west slope of the Andes. Given these similarities, one may wonder if one of the aforementioned binomials represents the earliest name of J. andersonii.           

None of the above binomials represent the earliest name of this species for the following reasons. The type specimens of the above Saracha binomials have both a peduncle and a pedicel, and were described as producing red nectar.   According to the protologue of Jaltomata aspera (Ruiz & Pavón 1799) the type was collected in Amancaes and the flower is violet in the middle ("in centro violacea").   Amancaes is located within lomas habitat, and is within several hundred meters of sea-level [according to a specimen label of J. aspera collected at Amancaes (Weberbauer 5246a, US), and Dillon, Field Museum of Chicago, personal communication]. The description of the flower as violet in the middle suggests that the type produced red floral nectar, and red floral nectar has been documented for J. aspera (Vilcapoma S. and Granda P., Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, personal communication). In contrast, J. andersonii has a single unarticulated axis joining the flower to the plant (Figure 3A), lacks red nectar, and grows at high elevations, not in the lomas habitat.  Thus, all of the above Saracha binomials are synonyms of J. aspera, as originally reported (Mione and Coe 1992).

Jaltomata andersonii grows in treeless, usually dry, rocky habitats, and flowers in January, February and March.  

Jaltomata andersonii is most similar to J. quipuscoae.   Both species have one relatively large flower per inflorescence, a purple corolla, and are much-branching, low-growing perennial herbs that grow in Peru.   The similarity of these species is superficial: these two species are classified in two different sections of the genus (J. andersonii in section Hebecladus, and J. quipuscoae in section Modillonia).

Jaltomata andersonii grows to a height of 20 cm, while J. quipuscoa grows to 70 cm.   Jaltomata quipuscoae grows both in the lomas and the Andes, while J. andersonii grows only in the Andes.  

Jaltomata quipuscoae has both a pedicel and a peduncle, filaments are nearly glabrous, red floral nectar is produced, and it grows from 300 to 860 m and 2607 to 2625 m of elevation.  In contrast, J. andersonii has an unarticulated axis (by definition a peduncle, though the peduncle may have been lost) connecting the flower to the plant, the filaments are extremely villous at their base, red nectar is not produced, and grows at elevations from 2300 to 3400 m.  

The hairs of J. andersonii are soft to the touch and gland-tipped (as observed on living plants of Mione et al. 616, 620 and 622).  

The only specimen of J. andersonii collected in Department Ancash (Weigend & Dosert 97/173) had "brown and whitish green" (not purple) flowers and grows at a higher altitude than all other specimens. Study of this specimen again (January of 2007) revealed a single unarticulated axis instead of both a peduncle and pedicel, and extremely hairy filaments at base, just like the other specimens of J. andersonii. Leaf shape and size for this specimen matches the others.

Thomas Mione, Segundo Leiva G. and Leon Yacher were able to see both J. aspera and J. andersonii in bloom during January of 1998 because of the rains associated with the El Niño event of 1997/1998. We did not interview local people about uses, but the fruits of J. andersonii may be eaten, given that ripe fruits of most other South American species of this genus are consumed.

Figure 4.

Two anthers, both undehisced, from the
same flower of
Jaltomata andersonii.

Ventral face of
anther on left: note
the filament is inserted
on the lower ventral
face; dorsal face of
anther on right

Mione, Leiva G. & Yacher 616

Photo by Thomas Mione

Anthers had been
stored in 70%
ethanol for years
prior to photo

Units, vertically
along left, are mm

Figure 5.

Ovary Of
Jaltomata
andersonii
dissected
open to
show
thickness
of annular
disk around
base of
ovary, and
two locules.


Mione,
Leiva G.
& Yacher
616.

Ovary was in
70% ethanol
for years
prior to
this photo.