Photo of Jaltomata paneroi by Dennis Hansen taken in a greenhouse in Europe from seeds sent by Mione. Note the Red Nectar at the base of the flower.

Jaltomata paneroi Mione & S. Leiva, Rhodora 99: 283-286. 1997.

TYPE: Peru. Dept. Cajamarca, Prov. Cajamarca, carretera Cajamarca-Celendín, aprox. 9 km NW de La Encañada, frente al poblado de Quinuamayo, 3,324 m, 2 Jul 1987, José L. Panero, I. Sanchez, S. Leiva G. and C. Sagástegui 854 (HOLOTYPE: CONN; ISOTYPES: CPUN; specimens of plants grown from seeds of the type collection: CONN, MO, NY).

Frutex pilis dendriticis simplicibusque dense vestitus. Folia dense pubescentia. Pedunculi et pedicellique breves. Corolla campanulato-rotata, viridis, 10-lobata, nectar copiosum rubrum ad basim exudans.

Perennial shrub to 1.5 m high with a dense vestiture of short, dendritic and unbranched, uniseriate trichomes. Leaves simple, ovate, the apex acute, the margin entire or subentire, to 6 cm long X 4 cm wide, densely pubescent on both surfaces with intermixed unbranched, forked, and dendritic trichomes to 0.5 mm long, the trichomes never gland-tipped. Inflorescence umbelliform, 3--4 (6) flowered. Peduncles axillary, 3--5 mm long; pedicels 7--10 mm long, both densely vestitured. Calyx 13 mm in diameter during anthesis (flattened against ruler for measuring), abaxially densely pubescent, the lobes acuminate, at fruit maturity to 25 mm diameter. Corolla campanulate with a revolute limb, green, 5 lobes alternating with 5 smaller lobules, 23--25 mm in diameter when pressed, 5--10 mm deep; corolla veins with dendritic trichomes abaxially. Nectar blood-red, copious. Stamens 5, elongating during anthesis, ultimately 9--10 mm long; filaments pubescent at base, with unbranched or occasionally forked trichomes to 0.6 mm long; anthers 2.0--2.9 mm long prior to dehiscing, 1.5--1.6 mm long after dehiscing. Pollen grains 61,000--121,000 per flower, 35--40 µm in diameter. Style 7.3--10.7 mm long; stigma bilobed, 0.84--1.0 mm X 0.78--0.88 mm, exserted beyond anthers 1.5--4.5 mm; ovules 110--180 per ovary. Infructescence one or two fruited. Berries 10--11 mm X 14--15 mm, glabrous, orange in greenhouse. Seeds 1.52--1.68 mm long X 1.24--1.41 mm wide X 0.44--0.52 mm thick, suborbicular to reniform, alveolate, 300 per fruit (n = 1 fruit collected in Peru on specimen 705).

Jaltomata paneroi occurs in Peru, Department of Cajamarca, between 3,200 and 3,550 meters of elevation along roadsides with shrubs. The type was collected on a very steep slope with acidic black soil, in an area that is generally moist but somewhat dry in July and August. Flowering and fruiting occur in June and July.

This species is similar to both J. herrerae of southern Peru and J. dendroidea of La Libertad, Peru: these also produce blood-red nectar in the base of the corolla. J. herrerae is glabrate and has larger (to 4.5 cm in diameter and to 2 cm deep) cream to white corollas.

This species was also described by Mione (1992) and Leiva (1998). The specific epithet was chosen to honor José L. Panero, who sent the holotype and seeds to T. M.

Seeds of Panero et al. 854 were grown as Mione 533. Flowers of Jaltomata paneroi remain open 3--5 days (n = 5 flowers) in the greenhouse (observations were made at the University of Connecticut, Storrs). Anthers remain undehisced for a few hours after anthesis. Filaments are parallel to the style during the life of the flower, and the corolla remains open at night. In contrast, in many other Jaltomata the filaments are oriented such that the dehisced anthers are positioned a few mm away from the stigma, and the corolla closes at night, reopening the next morning. A few fruits were set in a pollinator-free greenhouse (without manual pollination) during the spring of 1992. Thus the species is self-compatible. Fruits of J. paneroi are eaten and considered tasty (Leiva 1998).

Follow this link to see other species of this genus that are self-compatible.
Follow this link to see other species of this genus that produce red nectar.

Other Specimens: PERU. Dept. Cajamarca, prov. Cajamarca:
Jalca de Kumulca (ruta a Celendín), 17 Jun 1975, A. Sagástegui A. et al. 8111 (F, HUT, MO, NY);
Quinuamayo, entre La Encañada y jalca de Kumulca, 17 Jun 1975, I. Sánchez V. 1613 (F, CPUN);
La Encañada-Kumulca (ruta a Celendín), 28 Jun 1994, S. Leiva G. and J. Guevara 1130 (F, HAO, HUT).

For illustration to be added:

(A) Habit. (B) Flower. (C) Corolla expanded. (D, E, F) Stamen in ventral, dorsal and lateral view, respectively; these share a scale bar. (G) Gynoecium. (H) Berry with calyx. Drawn from S. Leiva and J. Guevara 1130.

Literature Cited