ARTÍCULO

Phlomis lychnitis (Lamiaceae), an addition to the flora of Africa from Morocco

ABDELMONAIM HOMRANI BAKALI¹ & CYRILLE CHATELAIN²

¹ Regional Center of Agricultural Research of Errachidia, National Institute of Agricultural Research, Av. Ennasr, PO Box 415 Rabat Principale, MA-10090 Rabat, Morocco
² Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la Ville de Genève, CH-1292 Geneva, Switzerland

ORCID iD. A. HOMRANI BAKALI: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0719-7267, C. CHATELAIN: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6929-0008

Author for correspondence: A. Homrani Bakali (abdelmonaim.homranibakali@inra.ma

Editor: L. Sáez

ABSTRACT
Phlomis lychnitis (Lamiaceae), an addition to the flora of Africa from Morocco.— Phlomis lychnitis is here recorded for the first time within the African continent. So far, known only from Morocco in the Oriental High Atlas. Description of the species as well as first data about its ecology in Morocco together with geographical distribution and diagnostic features with the morphologically closest taxon sharing yellow-colored flowers are given. Photographic illustrations and an updated key to the Phlomis species in Morocco are also provided.
KEY WORDS: chorology; Labiatae; Lamiales; new record; Oriental High Atlas.

RESUMEN
Phlomis lychnitis (Lamiaceae), una adición a la flora de África desde Marruecos.— Phlomis lychnitis se registra por primera vez en el continente africano. Hasta el momento, sólo se conoce de Marruecos en el Alto Atlas Oriental. Se proporciona una descripción de la especie, así como los primeros datos sobre su ecología en Marruecos junto con su distribución geográfica y caracteres diagnósticos con la especie morfológicamente más cercana que comparte flores de color amarillo. También se proporcionan fotografías y una clave actualizada de las especies de Phlomis en Marruecos.
PALABRAS CLAVE: Alto Atlas Oriental; corología; Labiatae; Lamiales; nueva cita.

CONTENIDOS

INTRODUCTIONTop

Many efforts have been made in recent years to study and review the described flowering plants of Morocco in order to update their geographical distributions and collect botanical photographic records that can serve in studying specifically some emblematic genera such as Artemisia L., Thymus L., and others. Extensive prospections undertaken mainly by the first author (AHB) are resulting in the discovery of some new species to science and to Morocco (see e.g. Homrani-Bakali & Peltier, 2020aHomrani-Bakali, A. & Peltier, J. P. 2020a. Gypsophila struthium L. nouvelle espèce pour la flore du Maroc. Bulletin de l’Institut Scientifique, Rabat (Section Sciences de la Vie) 42: 59–62., bHomrani-Bakali, A. & Peltier, J. P. 2020b. Senna alexandrina Mill. xénophyte tropical signalé pour la première fois au Maroc. Al Yasmimina 13: 1–7.; Homrani-Bakali & Susanna, 2021Homrani-Bakali, A. & Susanna, A. 2021. Centaurea peltieri (Asteraceae), a new endemic species from the Oriental High Atlas of Morocco. Phytotaxa 523(2): 192–198. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.523.2.6, 2022Homrani-Bakali, A. & Susanna, A. 2022. Centaurea achilleifolia (Asteraceae), a new endemic species from the Oriental Middle Atlas of Morocco. Phytotaxa 542(1): 083–089. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.542.1.7). More recently, a prospecting mission undertaken in the Oriental High Atlas led to the discovery of a taxon belonging to the genus Phlomis L. that had not previously been reported for African flora, Ph. lychnitis L.

Phlomis is one of the largest genera in the subfamily Lamioideae (Lamiaceae), with about 90 accepted species distributed in Asia, southern Europe and northern Africa (Salmaki et al., 2012Salmaki, Y., Zarre, S., Ryding, O., Lindqvist, C., Scheunert, A., Bräuchler, C. & Heubl, G. 2012. Phylogeny of the tribe Phlomideae (Lamioideae: Lamiaceae) with special focus on Eremostachys and Phlomoides: New insights from nuclear and chloroplast sequences. Taxon 61(1):161–179. https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.611012; Govaerts et al., 2018Govaerts, R., Paton, A., Harvey, Y., Navarro, T. & García Peña, M. R. 2018. World Checklist of Lamiaceae. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved December, 2022, from http://apps.kew.org/wcsp/). Mathiesen et al. (2011Mathiesen, C., Scheen, A. C. & Lindqvist, C. 2011. Phylogeny and biogeography of the lamioid genus Phlomis (Lamiaceae). Kew Bulletin 66(1): 83–99. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-011-9257-0 ) indicate that the Phlomis s. l. lineage has a Central Asian origin in an area around western China. On the other hand, Hedge (1986Hedge, I. C. 1986. Labiatae of South-West Asia: diversity, distribution and endemism. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Section B: Biological Sciences 89: 23–35. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0269727000008873) indicates Turkey and Iran as the main centers of diversification in the Mediterranean region. In North Africa, Phlomis counts nine taxa (six species and three subspecies), where Morocco is the richest country with seven taxa (five species and two subspecies) (see e.g. Fennane et al., 2007Fennane, M., Ibn Tattou, M., Ouyahya, A. & El Oualidi, J. (Eds.) 2007. Flore Pratique du Maroc 2 (Série Botanique, 38). Travaux de l’Institut Scientifique, Université Mohammed V, Rabat.; Dobignard & Chatelain, 2012Dobignard, A. & Chatelain, C. 2012. Index synonymique de la flore d’Afrique du Nord 4. Dicotyledoneae: Fabaceae à Nymphaeaceae. Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la Ville de Genève, Genève.; APD, 2023APD [African Plant Database] 2023. Phlomis L. in North Africa. Retrieved January, 2023, from https://africanplantdatabase.ch/en/search/phlomis/fna/1/fsa/0/fta/0/bdm/0/page/1).

In this paper, we report for the first time to African continent from Morocco the presence of Phlomis lychnitis. A short description and a comparison with the most morphologically closest species sharing yellow-colored flowers in Morocco [Ph. crinita subsp. mauritanica (Munby) Murb.] are highlighted.

MATERIAL AND METHODSTop

The work is based on field surveys, analysis of relevant literature and examination of voucher specimens deposited in the Herbarium of the Scientific Institute of Rabat in Morocco (RAB Herbarium). Morphological observations and measurements of the new record and the closest species were carried out based on fresh plant material collected from the wild in Morocco. Phlomis lychnitis was collected from Ait Ben Azzo, while Ph. crinita subsp. mauritanica was collected from Bab Taza and Ighri in the Rif and Anti-Atlas mountains, respectively. Characters were measured using a ruler, a vernier caliper and an Olympus SZX7 Stereo-Microscope.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONTop

Taxonomic treatment

Phlomis lychnitis L., Sp. Pl.: 585 (1753)

Description: Suffrutescent or sub-shrubby plant up to 60 cm in height, sometimes with stolons. Many stems arched then erect, cottony-whitish, densely hairy, with many basal leaves. Leaves narrow 3–11 × 0.5–1.0 cm, lanceolate, the cauline somewhat wider, oblong, progressively becoming bracts, entire, pubescent above, with stellate hairs, which sometimes have a longer branch, strongly veined-reticulate, white-tomentose below, the young woolly with attenuated petioles, those with opposite leaves welded together, the cauline ones are sessile. Inflorescence formed by 4–8 whorls with 6 flowers each, ± close at the apical part, cupped. Bracts soft straight, setaceous, 1.5–6.0 × 1.5–3.0 cm, sessile, forming a cup between 2 opposite ones, broadly ovate, the lower ones long acuminate, those above ovate and acute, not or barely exceeding the flowers, long hairy on the margin with tangled hairs; bracteoles 12–16 mm long, 2–3 per calyx, linear, with long, feathery hairs. Calyx 14–18 mm long, with 5–8 mm teeth, acute. Corolla 22–27 mm long, deep yellow; glabrous, tube included in calyx; upper lip helmet-shaped, covered on the outside with stellate hairs, ciliate; lower lip with central convex lobe, the lateral ones, triangular; opening between them almost horizontal. Stamens generally recurved within the upper lobe, following its curvature; anthers with soldered theca aligned in the direction of the filament, so they appear to be one, with lateral dehiscence. Recurved style. Nucules 4–6 × 2–4 mm, ovoid, subtrigonous, brown.

Taxonomic remarks: Phlomis lychnitis is distinguished from Ph. crinita by the shape of the leaves (linear or linear-lanceolate, width <1.1 cm) and the bracts with different shape arranged in the form of a closed cup around the whorl with a large base enveloping the flowers (Figs. 1 and 2, Table 1) (see e.g. Morales, 2010Morales, R. 2010. Phlomis L. In: Morales R., Quintanar, A., Cabezas, F., Pujadas, A. J. & Cirujano, S. (Eds.), Flora iberica 12. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid: 206–214.).

Figure 1. Voucher specimen of the Moroccan Phlomis lychnitis L. of Ait Ben Azzou in RAB Herbarium. [View full size] [Descargar tamaño completo]

Figure 2. Illustration of some differential characters between Phlomis lychnitis L. (left letter without apostrophe) and Ph. crinita subsp. mauritanica Maire (right letter with apostrophe): (A), plant; (B), stem trichomes; (C), basal leaves; (D), leave trichomes; (E), form of inflorescence; (F), form of bracts around the whorl; (G), corolla; and (H), bracteole (photograph: A. Homrani Bakali). [View full size] [Descargar tamaño completo]

Studied material: Morocco, Draâ-Tafilalet: Midelt, Ait Ben Azzou, 1490–1600 m, 32° 39′ 49.284′′ N, 4° 20′ 0.12′′ W, 11.VI.2022, Homrani Bakali (RAB 113642) (Fig. 1).

Distribution and habitat in Morocco: Phlomis lychnitis grows on the southern side of the Atlas Mountains, in a drier environment in the Drâa-Tafilalet region, Midelt, in a small area of the mountain of Ait Ben Azzou (Fig. 3). It was found on limestone cliffs at 1490–1600 m a.s.l.

Figure 3. Locality of Phlomis lychnitis L. (blue diamond) and herbarium collections of Ph. crinita subsp. mauritanica Maire in Maghreb (white circle). Dots in Spain and Portugal are taken from GBIF (2022GBIF [Global Biodiversity Information Facility] 2022. Phlomis lychnitis L. Retrieved June 27, 2022, from https://www.gbif.org/fr/species/3887383). [View full size] [Descargar tamaño completo]

General distribution: France, Portugal, Spain (GBIF, 2022GBIF [Global Biodiversity Information Facility] 2022. Phlomis lychnitis L. Retrieved June 27, 2022, from https://www.gbif.org/fr/species/3887383; POWO, 2022POWO [Plants of the World Online] 2022. Phlomis lychnitis L. Retrieved 11 December, 2022, from https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:453955-1) and Morocco (North Africa, present work).

Conservation status: Populations of Ph. lychnitis L. are strictly limited to the specific ecological conditions of Ait Ben Azzo Mountain. This population is very limited (less than 5000 km²) and only protected from overgrazing on an abrupt slope. Since the population is of small size and occurs only at unique habitat types only, we provisionally propose a conservation status of “critically endangered” (only one plant that was not on the abrupt slope escaped from the heavy grazing in the zone). More inspection efforts are needed in the oriental High Atlas of Morocco to circumscribe the distribution of the species and better evaluate its status and distribution.

Historical records: There are three samples identified as Ph. lychnitis collected by Michel Gandoger in Morocco and deposited in the Geneva Herbarium (Cabo Tres Forcas IV.1908, Midjiga VII.1908, Zeluan IV.1909), but the veracity of the geographic origin of these samples can be questioned. Indeed, many of Gandoger’s samples are probably from false locations, as mentioned by Laínz (1956Laínz, M. 1956. Un enigma de Gandoger a la luz de su herencia. Anuário da Sociedade Broteriana 2: 41–43.) and Montserrat (1999Montserrat, J. M. 1999. Plantas falsas de Marruecos. Lagascalia 21(1): 246–248.). The three Moroccan localities (Midjiga, Zeluan and Cap des Trois-Fourches) mentioned by Gandoger’s were not confirmed by the many botanical inventories carried out in these regions. Subsequently, no Moroccan floras have mentioned the presence of this species (Valdés et al., 2002Valdés, B., Rejdali, M., Achhal El Kadmiri, A; Jury, S. L. & Montserrat , J. M. (Eds.) 2002. Catalogue des plantes vasculaires du nord du Maroc, incluant des clés d’ídentification 2. CSIC, Madrid.; Fennane et al., 2007Fennane, M., Ibn Tattou, M., Ouyahya, A. & El Oualidi, J. (Eds.) 2007. Flore Pratique du Maroc 2 (Série Botanique, 38). Travaux de l’Institut Scientifique, Université Mohammed V, Rabat.).

CONCLUSIONSTop

The flora of Morocco still brings new discoveries due to its climatic and topographical diversity, and the complexity of its territory. Since the publication of the last volume of the Flore Pratique du Maroc (Fennane et al., 2014Fennane, M., Ibn Tattou, M. & El Oualidi, J. (Eds.) 2014. Flore Pratique du Maroc 3 (Série Botanique, 40). Travaux de l’Institut Scientifique, Université Mohammed V, Rabat.), more than 30 new species have been described (Alonso et al., 2015Alonso, M. A., Crespo, M. B., Juan, A. & Sáez, L. 2015. Helianthemum (sect. Helianthemum) raskebdanae (Cistaceae), a new species from northeastern Morocco. Phytotaxa 207(3): 253–264. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.207.3.3; Andrés-Sánchez et al., 2015Andrés-Sánchez, S., Gutiérrez-Larruscain, D., Rico, M. & Martínez-Ortega, M. 2015. Overlooked singularity and tiny plants: the Filago desertorum clade (Gnaphalieae, Asteraceae). 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Plant and Fungal Systematics 66(2): 114–121. https://doi.org/10.35535/pfsyst-2021-0010 ; Barone et al., 2022Barone, G., Domina, G., Bartolucci, F., Galasso, G. & Peruzzi, L. 2022. A nomenclatural and taxonomic revision of the Senecio squalidus group (Asteraceae). Plants 11: 2597. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11192597 ). This highlights the importance of conducting field explorations. The case of Phlomis lychnitis is a good example, which allows us to completely re-evaluate the distribution area of this taxon.

Hereafter, an updated diagnostic key is proposed for the species of the genus Phlomis in Morocco.

Updated dichotomous key for Moroccan species of Phlomis (cf. Fennane et al., 2007Fennane, M., Ibn Tattou, M., Ouyahya, A. & El Oualidi, J. (Eds.) 2007. Flore Pratique du Maroc 2 (Série Botanique, 38). Travaux de l’Institut Scientifique, Université Mohammed V, Rabat.; Morales, 2010Morales, R. 2010. Phlomis L. In: Morales R., Quintanar, A., Cabezas, F., Pujadas, A. J. & Cirujano, S. (Eds.), Flora iberica 12. Real Jardín Botánico, CSIC, Madrid: 206–214.):

1. Corolla purplish, pinkish or white; basal bracts lanceolate-linear, not cusped ............2

-. Corolla yellow, yellowish-brown; basal bracts ovate-rhombic, cusped .......................5

2. All leaves petiolate ...........................................................................................3

-. Cauline leaves petiolate, upper ones sessile or subsessile .......................................4

3. Bracteoles linear-lanceolate, 1.8–3.5 mm wide; calyx ca. 2 cm long; corolla pale
pink; herbaceous plant, sometimes lignified ............Ph. bovei subsp. maroccana Maire

-. Bracteoles linear-lanceolate to oblong, 2–3 mm wide; calyx 1.1–1.3 cm long;
corolla purple or pink, rarely white; shrub up to 200 cm .......................Ph. purpurea L.

4. Herbaceous plant; basal leaves attenuated; bracteoles subequal or longer than
calyces; calyx with spinescent teeth ...............................................Ph. herba-venti L.

-. Suffrutescent or herbaceous plant; basal leaves with wedge-shaped base;
bracteoles shorter than calyces; calyx with no or barely mucronate teeth
....................................................................................Ph. antiatlantica J.P. Peltier

5. Basal leaves linear or linear-lanceolate, up to 12 mm width; bracts often arranged
in a closed cup around the whorl, inflorescence generally unbranched ......Ph. lychnitis L.

-. Basal leaves ovate, ovate-lanceolate or oblong-elliptic, more than 30 mm wide;
open bracts on whorl, inflorescence generally branched
.......................................................................Ph. crinita subsp. mauritanica Murb.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSTop

The main author is grateful to Brahim Ouahzizi (PhD student) and El Mustapha Sekkour for their help during botanical excursions.

REFERENCESTop