Feddes Repertorium 108 (1997) 5-6,319-323 Berlin. August 1997

King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia University of Karachi, Botany Department, Herbarium, Karachi, Pakistan

ABDUL GHAFOOR

A new species of Anthemis L. (Asteraceae-Anthemidae) from Saudi Arabia

With one Figure, one Map and one Table

S u m m a r y Zusamrnenfassung

A new species of Anthemis L. (Asteraceae) is de- Eine neue Art der Gattung Anthemis L. (Asteraceae) scribed from Wadi Badanah, northern Saudi Arabia. aus dern Wadi Badanah. nordliches Saudi Arabien. Taxonomic description, chorology and an illustra- wird beschrieben. Taxonomische Beschreibung. tion are provided. Morphological relationships with Chorologie und eine Abbildung werden vorgelegt. other closely allied taxa are discussed. Die morphologischen Beziehungen zu nahver-

wandten Arten werden diskutiert.

Introduction

Anthemis L. is an actively evolving, mainly Eurasian, genus of Asteraceae, comprising about 100 species (MABBERLEY 1990). A num- ber of recent studies (YAVIN 1970, 1972; GRIERSON & YAWN 1975; FERNANDES 1976; IRANSHAHR 1986) from SW Asia and Europe have clarified several taxonomic confusions and described new taxa but the genus remained unattended from Saudi Arabia.

During the examination of material of the genus Anthemis L. for the Flora of Iraq in 1982 at the Kew Herbarium, the present author real- ised the need for the revision of this genus from Arabian Peninsula, an area in focus in recent 2 - 3 decades and badly demanding taxonomic studies on several plant groups. This paper is the first part of such a series. Lady Violet D i c k son 's collection comprising four speci- mens from the same population, mounted on the same herbarium sheet and named Anrhemis desertii BOISS. was different and could not be assigned to any of the species so far reported from Arabia and adjacent regions in taxonomic works of BOISSIER (1875), BLATTER (1921). EIG ( 1938), RECHINGER (1964), TACKHOLM

(1974), MIGAHID (l978), FEINBRUN-DOTHAN (1978). COLLENETTE ( 1985), IRANSHAHR (1986) and MANDAVILLE (1990). A new An- themis taxon, endemic to Saudi Arabia, needed recognition and is named to honour Lady Vio- let Dickson , who collected extensively for Kew in Kuwait and Eastern Saudi Arabia from 1942 to 1950.

Taxonomic description

Anthemis dicksoniae A. GHAFOOR sp. nova

Figure

Herba annua, 12-20 cm alta, fere a basi ra- mosa. Caulis suberectus vel adscendens, dilute purpureus, laxe vel subadpresse albo-pilosus. Folia subsessilia, pectinata, bipinnatisecta, 1.5-2.5 cm longa, 5-10 mm lata, dense albi pilosa, segmentis primariis 5-7, oblongis, 4- 5 mm longis, segmentis secondariis lineare- oblongis, 2.5-3.4 x c. 1 mm, obtusis, minute albo-mucronatis. Capitula radiata, 2 - 2 . 5 cm diam. Pedunculus efoliatus, 5--8 cm longus, in parte superiore nec incrassatus. Involucrum 3- seriatum, c. 1 cm diametro, phylla subadpresse

320 Feddes Repert., Berlin 108 (199 7 ) 5-6

Figure Anthemis dicksoniae A - habit; B - phyllaries: C - ray flower; D - disc flower; E - paleae and receptacle: F - an achene

A. GHAFOOR, A new species of Anrhemis L. from Saudi Arabia 32 I

albo-hirsuta. externa tnangulari-ovata. c. 3 mm longa anguste albo-membranacea acuta; interna oblongo-obovata, c. 4.5 x 1.25 mm. late mern- branaceo-marginata, rnargine erosa cum ap- pendice apicale. Receptaculum convexum; palea oblanceolatae, 3.5-4.25 x 1.25- 1.5 mm, apice mucronatae. Flore omne fertiles. radii feminei, 10- 15, tubus villosus. basi achaenia adherens; ligulae albae. 6-8 x 3.5-4.5 mm, apice obscure tridentatae. Flore disci herma- phroditi, glaber. tubus sparse glandulosus. c. 3 mm longus, basin nec globoso-inflatus, in parte inferiore alatus, luteus. Achaenia floscu- Ion radii leviter compressa, k quadrangularis, rhornbicus, distincte 10-costata, laevis. Achae- nia flosculori disci obpyramidales, 'c. 2 mm longae. albis, distincte 10-costata. nec tuber- culata. apice cum 0.25-0.5 mm longa, hyalina, fraglia. obtuso-dentata auricula unilateralia.

Table A comparison of some important features of related taxa

T y p u s : Saudia Arabia. Wadi Badanah vicinity, in depressions. 1500 ft., growing in profusion with A. pseudocotula no. 688. branched plant. 7'-9" high, fine grey leaves towards base of flower stalks, fls. white. 17. 04. 1950. V. Dickson 689 (K!)

Differt ab A. wettsteiniana HAND.-MAZZ. folia minora, phylla interna minora, paleae magnae, flores radii tubus villosus, tubus flore disci nec globoso-inflatus, achaenia nec tuber- culata; ab A. hyalina DC. pedunculo nec incrassati, phyla intema nec appendiculata: receptaculum nec conicus.

Annual herb, 12-20 cm tall branched from the base, stem suberect to ascending, light purplish, sparsely to densely subappressed whitishpilose. Leaves subsessible, pectinate, bipinnatisect, 1.5-2.5 cm long, 5- 10 mm wide, densely whitish-pilose, primary segments 5-7, oblong, 4-5 mm long, secondary seg-

A. dicksoniae A. wetrsreiniana A. hyalina A. haussknechrir

Leaves

Capitula

Peduncle9

Inner Phyllaries

Receptacle

Paleae

Ray Flowers

Disc Corollas

Achenes

2-pinnatisect. 15-25 x 5-10 mm

2-2.5 cm across

unthickened. 5-8 cm long

oblong-obovate. 4.5 x 1.25 mm, upper half whitish- transluscent, obtuse

2-pinnatisect, 20-40 x 15-25 mm

( I .5)2-23-3) cm across

thickened upwardly. 4-6 cm long

oblong-lanceolate. 6-7 x 1.5-2 mm, upper half long mem- branous, f obtusish

convex

oblanceolate.

flat, persistent

corolla tube hairy

not inflated in fruit

3.54.5 x I .25-1.5 mm.

c. 2 mm. all smooth. outer ? rhombic. auricle 0.25-0.5 mm long. obtusely toothed

f convexo-conical

spathulate or oblong- spathulate. 2.5-3 mm, keeled, deciduous

corolla tube glabrous

2 inflated in fruit

c. 2 mm, obconical- turbinate. tuberculate. outer nearly smooth, bald; inner with 0.5- 1 mm long auricle

2-3-pinnatisec t. 30-50 x 15-20 mm

2.5-3.5 cm across

(2-)3-pinnatisect. 1 5 4 5 x 10-25 mm

1.5-2.5 cm acros

thickened, arcuate. 1.5-2 cm long

oblong-obovate. 5-7 x 2-2.5 mm. upper half glossy, brownish scarious. obtuse

broadly conical

lanceolate-oblance- olate, 3-3.5 mm, keeled, persistent

corolla tube glabrous

not inflated in fruit

2-2.5 mm, obscurely ribbed to ribless. ob- pyramidate. 4-angled, smooth, outer with short auricle, inner bald

k thickened, 4-S cm long

oblong-ohlanceolate. 6-7 x 1.5-2 mm. pale brown scarious. acute-acuminate

shortly conical

oblanceolate, c. 4 mm. ? keeled, eroded-fimbriate

corolla tube glabrous

globose inflated in fruit

1.75-2 mm. finely striate tubercled, outer bald; inner with an erose-dentate unilateral arincle

322 Feddes Repert., Berlin 108 ( 1997) 5 -6

scurely 3-fid at apex. Disc florets glabrous, corolla tube sparsely glandular, c. 3 mm long, winged below, not inflated in fruit, yellow. Ray achenes f compressed, k 4-angled, rhombic, 10-costate, smooth. Disc achenes obpyrami- date, c. 2 mm long, white, 10-costate, not tu- berculate, apex with 0.25-0.5 mm long, hya- line, brittle, obtusely toothed unilateral auricle.

ments linear-oblong, 2.5-3.5 mm long, c. 1 mm wide, obtuse, minutely whitish- mucronate. Capitula radiate, 2-2.5 cm in dia- meter, peduncles leafless, 5-8 cm long, hardly thickened in fruit. Involucre 3-senate, cup-shaped, c. 1 cm across, phyllaries hairy outside, outermost triangular-ovate, c. 3 mm long, narrowly whitish membranous margined, median oblong-ovate, ca. 4.5 x 1.25 mm, broad white membranous on margins, apex k obtuse, whitish-transluscent erose-margined append- age. Receptacle convex; receptacular bracts oblanceolate, 3.5-4.25 mm long, 1.25- 1.5 mm wide, mucronate-acuminate. Ray flowers 10- 15, female, fertile, corolla tube hairy, ligules white, 6-8 mm long, 3.5-4.5 mm wide, ob-

30"

2 6 O

2 2 O

18'

1 4"

Relationships to other taxa

Anthemis dicksoniae belongs to sect. Anthemis which consists of both annuals and biennials with persistent, oblong to oblanceolate, abruptly and shortly acute or acuminate recep-

3 L Q 38O 429 46 50" 5 40 5 8 O I I I I I I I

S U D A

.. . - .

1 I I I I I

3 6 O 40 a 44O 48 a 52 a 5 6 O 60 a

2 8 0

2LQ

20"

16'

120

Map The area of distribution of Anthemis dicksonine

A. GHAFOOR. A new species of Anthemis L. from Sai Jdi Arabia 323

tacular bracts. The achenes in this section are obpyramidate. obconical to cylindrical. suban- gular or squarish in transverse section and glabrous to unilaterally auriculate at the apex.

In the Middle East. the species of sect. An- rhemis that most closely resemble A. dicksoniae (ser. Mefampodinae YAWN) in general mor- phology are: A. hyalina DC. (ser. Hyalinae YAWN), A . haussknechtii BOISS. & REUT. (ser. Haussknechtianae YAWN) and A. nerrsteiniana HAND.-MAZZ. (ser. Melampodinae YAWN). It exhibits chequered relationship with all of them but its closest relative seems to be A. wett- steiniana HAND.-MAZZ. from which it differs in its smaller leaves, smaller inner phyllaries, larger receptacular bracts, hairy ray corolla tube, basally non-inflated disc corollas and all achenes smooth. The distinctions and similari- ties between A. dicksoniae and its allies are presented in the Table.

Chorology and ecology

A. dicksoniae is an endemic of Wadi Badanah (northern Saudi Arabia), located near the centre of a broad topographical region known as Al- Widyan (Map), a plateau of hard upper creta- ceous limestone, intricately dissected by nu- merous seasonal water channels that flow only after rare heavy rains. The general drainage of this complex dendritic wadi system is from the west and the lava capped highlands in central Arabia descending towards the north-east and mesopotarnian basin. Many of the smaller channels join to form large wadis extending nearly to the Euphrates. Annual rainfall in this region is about 70 mm (measured at Ar'ar). The vegetation is well-developed only in local basin and the channels, where soils range from silts to shallow sands.

A. dicksoniae occurs in depressions along with A. pseudocotula which commonly prefers light sandy-loam soils of fallow fields.

A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t s

The Keeper, herbarium. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew is thanked for loan of specimens. Mr. I. C. Hedge (E) kindly corrected the latin diagnosis and made useful comments for improving the manu-

script. Thanks are due to Mr. J. P. Mandavi l le (Aramco, Dahran) for providing environmental data. Mr. M. Raf iqudd in (KUH) is gratefully acknowl- edged for executing the illustration.

References

BLATTER, E. 1921: Flora Arabica. - Rec. Bot. SUIT India 8 (2): 253-254.

BOISSIER, E. 1875: Flora Orientalis 3: 315-320. - Basileae, Genevae and Lugduni.

COLLENETTE, S. 1985: An illustrated guide to the flowers of Saudi Arabia. 137 pp. - Essex.

EIG, A. 1938: Taxonomic studies on the Oriental species of the genus Anrhemis. - Palaest. J. Bot.

FEINBRUN-DOTHAN, N. 1978: Flora Palaestina. 3: 326-339. -Jerusalem.

FERNANDES, R. B. 1976: Anthemis L. - In: TUTIN, TH. G. et al. (eds.), Flora Europaea 4: 145- 159. - Cambridge.

GRIERSON, A. J. C. & YAWN, Z. 1975: Anthemis L. - In: DAVIS, P. H. (ed.): Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands 6: 174-221. - Edinburgh.

IRANSHAHR, M. 1986: Anthemis L. - In: RECHINGER, K. H. (ed.), Flora Iranica 158 (6): 5-44. - Graz.

MABBERLEY, D. J. 1990: The Plant Book. - Cam- bridge.

MANDAVILLE, J. P. 1990: Flora of Eastern Saudi Arabia: 297-299. - London et Riyadh.

MIGAHID, A. M. 1989: Flora of Saudi Arabia, 3rd ed. 2: 247-251. -Riyadh.

RECHLNGER, K. H. 1964: Flora of Lowland Iraq: 614-622. - Weinheim.

TACKHOLM. V. 1974: Students Flora of Egypt, 2nd ed.: 572-575. -Cairo.

YAVIN, Z. 1970: A biosysternatic study of Anthemis sect. Mantra (Compositae). - Isr. J. Bot. 19:

YAVIN, Z. 1972: New taxa of Anthemis from the Mediterranean and S. W. Asia. - Isr. J. Bot. 21:

1: 161-224.

137-154.

168-178.

Address of the author:

Abdul Ghafoor. General Directorate of Research Grants Programs, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, P.O. Box 6086, Riyadh- I 1442. Saudi Arabia, and University of Karachi, Department of Botany. Her- barium. Karachi, Palustan.

Manuscript received: February, 24th. 1997