Canaria tortuosa (Webb & Berthelot) Jim.

Jiménez-Mejías, Pedro & Vargas, Pablo, 2015, Taxonomy of the tribe Apieae (Apiaceae) revisited as revealed by molecular phylogenies and morphological characters, Phytotaxa 212 (1), pp. 57-79 : 74-75

Canaria tortuosa (Webb & Berthelot) Jim. -Mejías & P.Vargas, comb. nov.

Basionym: Ferula tortuosa Webb & Berthelot (1834: 161 , t. 77). Holotype: Webb & Berthelot 1834: t. 77. Epitype (here designated):—

CANARY ISLANDS. “Teneriffa, in rupestribus convallis Tamadaya”, 22 Jun 1855, Bourgeau 1353 (WAG!; iso-G, MPU, photo!). ≡ Seseli webbii Cosson (1856: 57) .

Notes: — Canaria tortuosa was originally described by Webb & Berthelot (1834) as Ferula tortuosa and later transferred to Seseli as S. webii by Cosson (1856) on the basis of the fruit characters. The genus Seseli was long considered to be polyphyletic and several attempts to divide it in different genera have been already made (cf. Spalik et al. 2004). However, S. webbii was never transferred to another genus, despite its distant relationship with the remaining members of the genus, which was already noted by several authors ( Spalik et al., 2004; Reduron et al., 2009). According to previous results (see above), our phylogenetic reconstructions show that Canaria may be closely related to the SW Moroccan endemic Sclerosciadium nodiflorum , which is also corroborated by the carpological features ( Fig. 3M,P ). The presence of well-developed apical sepal-like appendages and conspicuous tubercles in Sclerosciadium ( El Alaoui Faris & Ibn Tattou, 2007) , which are respectively absent and inconspicuous in Canaria , as well as the differences in petal color (white vs. yellow), supports the consideration of both as independent genera.

In the original description of Ferula tortuosa, Webb & Berthelot (1834) included a question mark (“ Ferula? tortuosa ”) and did not include a Latin diagnosis, but was accompanied by an analytical drawing. None of these apparent irregularities affect the valid publication of the name (ICN, McNeill et al 2012; see Art. 36.1 for names published with a question mark, and Arts. 38.5, 38.7 and 38.9 for the valid publication of names based on illustrations). The analytical drawing must be considered the original description and therefore the holotype ( Cheek 1989). When transferred to Seseli by Cosson (1856), the new name Seseli webii was given, to avoid homonymy with the already existing Seseli tortuosum L.

Webb & Berthelot (1834) clearly stated in the protologue of Ferula tortuosa that they did not observe fruits (“ Fructu ignoto …”). In concordance, the holotype plate lacks fruits too, although the taxon can be unambiguously recognized among Canarian umbellifers by the habit and leaf morphology. To avoid further taxonomical problems, and to ensure the precise application of the species name, we propose the designation of an epitype (ICN McNeill et al. 2012, art. 9.7; see also Martín-Bravo & Jiménez-Mejías (2009) for further discussion in epitipification). We select an specimen with ripe fruits (Bourgeau 1353), which was cited by Cosson (“… in convalle Tamadaya (…) Bourgeau pl. Can. Exsicc. ”; 1856) as epitype.

2. Modesciadium P.Vargas & Jim. -Mejías, gen. nov. Type: — Modesciadium involucratum (Maire 1922: 186) Vargas & Jim. -Mejías.

A new genus similar to Stoibrax , from which can be distinguished by the presence of bracteoles at the base of the second-level umbels.

Etymology: —The genus is named after our friend and colleague Modesto Luceño, Spanish botanist specialized in the Cyperaceae and flora of the Iberian Central Range, also expert in mosses and especially in male sexual structures. The etymology of the name indicates his nickname “Modes”, combined with the ancient Greek word Sciadium , which means “umbrella” together forming Modesciadium as an acronym.

Distribution: —This monotypic genus only comprises Modesciadium involucratum (see below). It is endemic to central southwestern Morocco (from Zaïane to N Sahara) where it inhabits forest clearings, steppes and rocky places, mainly in basic soils ( El Alaoui Faris & Ibn Tattou 2007).

Figures

FIGURE 3. Mericarps of species representing of all the genera of tribe Apieae (except Billburttia). Pictures represent the adaxial view of a single mericap unless specified otherwise. A. Foeniculum vulgare. B. Anethum foeniculoides, C. Anethum graveolens. D. Naufraga balearica (two mericarps on the pedicelle). E. Petroselinum crispum (lateral view). F. Ridolfia segetum. G. Ammi majus. H. Stoibrax involucratum. I. Apium graveolens. J. Apium annuum. K. Pseudoridolfia fennanei. L. Stoibrax dichotomum. M. Seseli webbii. N. Sclerosciadium nodiflorum. O. Deverra denudata. P.Deverra aphylla (two mericarps kept together).