Blackwell Science, LtdOxford, UKBOJBotanical Journal of the Linnean Society0024-4074The Linnean Society of London, 2003? 2003 143? 433442 Original Article THAPSIA FROM NORTH-WESTERN AFRICA A. J. PUJADAS-SALVÀ and L. PLAZA-ARREGUI Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 143, 433–442. With 4 figures Studies on Thapsia (Apiaceae) from north-western Africa: a forgotten and a new species ANTONIO J. PUJADAS-SALVÀ* and LAURA PLAZA-ARREGUI Departamento de Ciencias y Recursos Agrícolas y Forestales, ETSIAM, Universidad de Córdoba, E-14080 Córdoba, Spain Received December 2002; accepted for publication July 2003 Following a revision of Thapsia (Apiaceae) in north-western Africa, the name Thapsia platycarpa is resurrected and lectotypified for a species that grows between Algeria and Morocco, and a new species Thapsia cinerea is described from the Rif region of north-eastern Morocco. Morphological features that differentiate between these and other spe- cies (T. villosa, T. garganica, T. transtagana and T. gymnesica) are discussed. An identification key for the plants of the area is presented. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 143, 433–442. ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS: Algeria – Morocco – Umbelliferae. INTRODUCTION lata (Vahl) Mast., evergreen oak forests of Quercus ilex ssp. ballota (Desf.) Samp. and pine forests of Pinus Thapsia (Apiaceae, tribe Laserpitieae) is a small halepensis Mill. (Benabid, 1984). genus of about eight species distributed in the Medi- Pomel (1874) described T. stenoptera and terranean area. Its centre of diversity is located in the T. microcarpa and pointed out their affinity with western Mediterranean and extends to the Atlantic T. villosa. He also described T. stenocarpa, coasts of Portugal and Morocco. T. platycarpa and T. lineariloba, indicating their rela- Taxonomically, Thapsia is a complex genus. Thus tionship with T. garganica. These taxa by Pomel have Tutin (1968) cites only three species (T. garganica L., been forgotten or simply accepted as mere variants or T. maxima Mill. and T. villosa L.) in Flora Europaea. forms of similar species. We believe that at least one of Subsequent studies have added, characterized or dif- them, T. platycarpa Pomel, presents different morpho- ferentiated other species such as T. gymnesica Ros- logical features that confirm its taxonomic rank as a selló & A. Pujadas (Pujadas, Rosselló & Barceló, 1991; species. Christiansen et al., 1997), T. transtagana Brot. (Smitt Only Battandier (1888: 371–372) and Battandier & et al., 1995), T. minor Hoffmanns. & Link and Trabut (1902: 456) recognize T. platycarpa and the T. nitida Lacaita (Bayer & López-González, 1996; other species of Pomel, although they relegate them to Pujadas-Salvà, 2000a,b). the rank of variety. T. platycarpa has been ignored The area where the two species are found is located since then by the authors who have studied the flora of in north-west Africa between Algeria and Morocco. North Africa (Table 1). This area has a semi-arid Mediterranean climate with Studies of the flora in the region near Melilla and some subhumid enclaves. The predominant vegetation the northern border area between Morocco and Alge- is thermo-Mediterranean with scarce meso-Mediter- ria, where T. platycarpa is relatively common and ranean vegetation in mountainous zones (Benabid, where the new species T. cinerea can be found, do not 2000). The climax vegetation is composed of sclero- make reference to these taxa. Sennen & Mauricio phyllous forests with formations of Tetraclinis articu- (1933: 50) only record the presence of T. villosa and of T. garganica var. decussata (Lag.) DC.; Pau (1934: 333) cites T. villosa var. dissecta Boiss.; Urrestarazu- *Corresponding author. E-mail:[email protected] Gavilán (1984: 118) only cites T. garganica © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 143, 433–442 433 434 A. J. PUJADAS-SALVÀ and L. PLAZA-ARREGUI Table 1. Taxa cited in north-west Africa Author Taxon Bonnet & Barratte (1896: 184) T. garganica L. T. villosa L. Pitard (1912: 51) T. garganica L. T. villosa L. Jahandiez & Maire (1932: 548–549) T. garganica ssp. decussata (Lag.) Maire T. villosa var. dissecta Boiss. T. villosa var. microcarpa (Pomel) Batt. T. villosa var. stenoptera (Pomel) Batt. Emberger & Maire (1941: 1090) T. garganica ssp. decussata var. angusta Faure & Maire Nègre (1962: 114) T. garganica L. Quézel & Santa (1962: 656) T. garganica L. (incl. T. decussata Lag.) T. villosa L. Lebrun & Stork (1978: 335). T. garganica ssp. decussata var. angusta Faure & Maire Pottier-Alapetite (1979: 612–613) T. garganica ssp. decussata (Lag.) Maire T. garganica L. ssp. garganica T. villosa L. Jafri (1985: 111) T. garganica L. T. decussata Lag. González-Bueno et al. (1988: 171) T. villosa L. (= T. decussata). Sennen (1936) does not provide any In the Herbarium at the University of Montpellier new information regarding Thapsia. The bibliograph- II, we managed to find Pomel’s original material, a ical references to T. decussata by Caballero (1917: 24) herbarium sheet with a flowering specimen and with and Sennen (1932: 269), however, actually correspond an added infructescence. In the protologue Pomel indi- to T. platycarpa herbarium material. cates the locality of Garrouban, Milliana, which coin- cides with the one referred to in the voucher as O. MATERIAL AND METHODS Ghar-Rouban. It has been impossible to find any other of Pomel’s materials, for which we can consider that This paper represents part of a critical review of the this is a valid lectotype for T. platycarpa. North African plants of the genus Thapsia housed in On the herbarium sheet there are two labels, the the herbaria BC, BCF, G, MA, MAF, MPU and RNG. original from Pomel ‘Thapsia garganica? [garganica Specimens of T. platycarpa have been compared crossed out] platycarpa/(haec ut praecedens species with the original material of Pomel, T. platycarpa, distincta)/(O. Ghar-Roban) (Pomel)’ and another which is conserved in the MPU Herbarium. Macro- posterior ‘UNIVERSITÉ D’ALGER/HERBIER DE morphological data used to contrast T. platycarpa and L’AFRIQUE DU NORD’/Thapsia garganica L./var. T. cinerea with similar species with which they may be platycarpa Batt./= T. platycarpa Pomel! confused have been obtained from the herbarium material housed in BC, BCF, COA, COI, G, GDA, DESCRIPTION GDAC, JACA, MA, MAF, MGC, MPU, RNG, SALA and SALAF. The description provided by Pomel (1874) is very brief. To facilitate identification we have provided a more complete description and an original illustration RESULTS AND DISCUSSION (Fig. 2). LECTOTYPIFICATION OF THAPSIA PLATYCARPA HERBACEOUS PERENNIAL 45–60 cm. STOCK with Thapsia platycarpa Pomel in Bull. Soc. Sci. Phys. abundant fibres. LOWER LEAVES 23–42 cm. Sheath Algérie (1874: 313) 12–24 mm wide. Petiole glabrous or sometimes hispid- = T. garganica var. platycarpa Batt., Fl. Algér. (1888: ulous. Lamina (15)19–30 ¥ 16–26 cm, triangular to 372) rhomboid in outline (2)3–4 pinnatisect, ultimate lobes (1)4–10(20) ¥ (0.5)0.9–2(3) mm, linear-oblong, obtuse Lectotype designated here: O. Ghar-Rouban, Pomel to subacute, shortly acuminate. Rachis glabrous or (MPU!). (Fig. 1) glabrescent at base, villous in the middle, more dense © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 143, 433–442 THAPSIA FROM NORTH-WESTERN AFRICA 435 Figure 1. Thapsia platycarpa Pomel. Lectotypus voucher (MPU). © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 143, 433–442 436 A. J. PUJADAS-SALVÀ and L. PLAZA-ARREGUI B C A 5mm 5mm 1mm E F 1mm H G D 2mm 2mm 1cm 5mm 2mm Figure 2. Thapsia platycarpa Pomel. A, D–G. Morocco, Taza, Djebel Berkane, RNG. H–I. Morocco, Nador, Mont Gour- ougou, RNG; B, C. Spain, Melilla, MA 88998. A, appearance. B, lamina upper surface detail. C, lamina lower surface detail. D, male flower. E, petal, dorsal view. F, petal, ventral view. G, hermaphrodite flower showing androecium and gynoecium. H, fruit. I, transverse section of mericarp. © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2003, 143, 433–442 THAPSIA FROM NORTH-WESTERN AFRICA 437 in the upper part, sometimes hispidulous on rachis. DISCUSSION Upper (adaxial) surface reticulate, canaliculate, Pomel (1874) described the affinity of Thapsia platy- densely hispidulous, green; lower (abaxial) surface carpa with T. garganica, owing to the large fruits of reticulate, densely hispidulous on the main nerves similar size of both plants. However, T. platycarpa has and on the revolute margin, glaucous rarely pale hispidulous leaves with shorter and narrower lobes. green. UPPER LEAVES 11–25 cm, similar to the lower Although T. transtagana has large fruit similar to that leaves, frequently uppermost leaves reduced to a of T. platycarpa,inT. platycarpa the lobes of its linear- broad sheath. INFLORESCENCE, umbels subhemi- oblong leaves are smaller in size and much shorter spherical, bracts absent, rarely very short up to and narrower. 2 mm; primary rays 9–14(18), 6–11 cm, subequal. The size and leaves of T. platycarpa approximate Ultimate umbels subhemispherical rarely subglobose, T. gymnesica in appearance although the former can bracteoles absent, secondary rays 29–53. PETALS be clearly distinguished by its yellow petals and much oblong to obovate, inflexed, acuminate, deep yellow larger fruit. (yellowish-white when dry). ANTHERS whitish. FRUITS The main differences between T. platycarpa, ¥ (15)19–25 (9)13–15 mm, elliptical to oblong. Seed T. garganica, T. transtagana and T. gymnesica are ¥ part 13–18 (2)2.2–3.5 mm, fusiform, brown. Wings shown in Table 2. (3)4–6(7) mm wide, straw or silvery coloured, apex acute and falcate sometimes obtuse triangular, over- lapping or open apex, wings are greatly variable in DIAGNOSIS AND DESCRIPTION OF THAPSIA CINEREA form even in the same umbella. STYLES shorter than Based on comparative morphological studies we pro- wing cleft. pose the recognition of a new species: T.