Reinstatement of Squilla Steinh., a priority name against the illegitimate Charybdis Speta (Hyacinthaceae, Urgineoideae)

Squilla Steinh. was considered to be an orthographic variant of Scilla L., and therefore the new genus Charybdis Speta was created to include Scilla maritima L. and related taxa occurring in the Mediterranean. Molecular phylogenetic studies recovered Charybdis as distant from Urginea; this finding was also supported by morphology and phytochemistry data. However, after typification of Scilla using S. maritima by Rafinesque, Charybdis became illegitimate under Art. 52 of the Shenzhen Code as its name became superfluous when published. A binding decision was requested from the Nomenclature Committee for Vascular Plants (NCVP) on whether Scilla L. and Squilla Steinh. are sufficiently alike to be considered orthographic variants and, hence, to be confused. Most members of the committee favour treating Squilla as not confusable with Scilla, which leaves the former name available for the current concept of Charybdis. In this context, we reevaluate the taxonomy of the genus, accepting 12 species of which eight are accommodated in Squilla as new combinations. Conversely, one of the species of Charybdis is transferred here to Urginavia. Nomenclatural types (including designation of 13 lectotypes, one neotype and one epitype) and the most relevant synonyms are given for each accepted taxon. An identification key is also presented for Squilla to assist future taxonomic studies in this group. We also include a revision of the taxonomic circumscription of the taxa related to S. undulata.This work was partly supported by the grants ACIE18-03, UAUSTI18-02 and UAUSTI19-08 from the University of Alicante

Eliokarmos humanii (Hyacinthaceae, Ornithogaloideae), a new species from Namaqualand in South Africa and a new combination in the genus

A new species of the southern Africa endemic genus Eliokarmos, that includes the well-known chincherinchees, is described from the vicinity of Kotzesrus, Northern Cape Province of South Africa. Eliokarmos humanii sp. nov. is unique in the genus based on its single, slightly fleshy, suborbicular, convex leaf with ciliate margin, and the short subspiciform inflorescence with almost sessile flowers. A complete description is presented for this species, and data on morphology, ecology, and distribution are reported. In addition, Ornithogalum richtersveldensis, recently described from northwestern South Africa, is transferred to Eliokarmos based on its morphology and biogeography, and a new combination is presented for this species in the latter genus.This work was partly supported by H2020 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange Programme of the European Commission, project 645636: ‘Insect-plant relationships: insights into biodiversity and new applications’ (FlyHigh), and the grants ACIE18–03 UAUSTI18–02 and UAUSTI19-08 from the University of Alicante

Trimelopter cordifolium (Hyacinthaceae subfam. Ornithogaloideae), a new species from South Africa

The study of wild and cultivated material of Trimelopter from the Northern Cape province of South Africa revealed an undescribed species that shows a unique syndrome of morphological characters. We here describe Trimelopter cordifolium based on plants approaching T. psammophorum but differing in its small, cordate, psammophorous leaf, shorter inflorescence and pedicels, smaller flowers and bracts, and more prominently sculptured ovary. We provide a complete morphological description as well as data on ecology and distribution. We also report new data and illustrations of T. psammophorum, which complement its scarce description in the protologue.This work was partly supported by H2020 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange Programme of the European Commission, Project 645636: ‘Insect-plant relationships: insights into biodiversity and new applications’ (FlyHigh) and the complementary supporting funds UAUSTI19-08, UAUSTI22-05, ACIE18-03, ACIE21-01, ACIE22-01, VIGROB2021-166, and VIGROB2022-166 (University of Alicante, Spain)

Nomenclatural Type Identification of Names in North African Tamarix (Tamaricaceae)

Tamarix is native to Eurasia plus the northern and southern territories of Africa, with some species being introduced into America and Oceania. They are usually found in arid, desertic, or subdesertic areas, often on saline or subsaline soils, in Mediterranean, temperate, or subtropical climates. The genus is renowned for its complex taxonomy, which is usually based on rather variable or unstable characters, which leads to contrasting taxonomic treatments. As part of the taxonomic revision of Tamarix undertaken by the authors, ten names (i.e., T. africana, T. bounopoea, T. brachystylis var. fluminensis, T. malenconiana, T. muluyana, T. tenuifolia, T. tingitana, T. trabutii, T. valdesquamigera, and T. weyleri) published from material collected in the southwestern parts of the Mediterranean basin are taxonomically and nomenclaturally discussed after analysing their original material. Eight intended holotypes are corrected here to lectotypes; one epitype is designated for T. africana to warrant current use of the name; and one isotype, 30 isolectotypes, and 11 syntypes are also identified for the studied names. Further, the taxonomic identity of all names and their eventual synonymic placement are accordingly discussed.This work was partly supported by the European Commission through the H2020 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange Programme, project 645636: ‘Insect-plant relationships: insights into biodiversity and new applications’ (FlyHigh); and by the grants UAUSTI19−08, UAUSTI21−04, UAUSTI22−05, UADIF21−29, UADIF22−28, VIGROB21−166, VIGROB22−166, ACIE18−03, ACIE21−01, and ACIE22−01, from diverse programmes of Universidad de Alicante

Striatula (Hyacinthaceae, Urgineoideae), a new genus from South Africa and southern Namibia

Within the framework of the taxonomic revision of subfamily Urgineoideae of Hyacinthaceae, we here describe the new genus Striatula from South Africa and southern Namibia. Striatula is at first sight related to Rhadamanthus species, but can be easily distinguished by the one or two flat, ovate to elliptic, sulcate leaves which are appressed to the ground. This genus includes Rhadamanthus platyphyllus, a species native to the Western, Eastern and Northern Cape Province of South Africa, and the more recently described Drimia oliverorum from Namibia. A morphological description for Striatula is presented, including the most important characteristics and the necessary new combinations.This work was partly supported by the University of Graz (Austria), Fundación Ramón Areces (Spain), H2020 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange Programme of the European Commission, project 645636: ‘Insect-plant relationships: insights into biodiversity and new applications’ (FlyHigh), the grant ACIE18–03 UAUSTI18–02 from the University of Alicante (Spain)

Triandra pellabergensis (Hyacinthaceae subfam. Urgineoideae), a new genus and species from Pella se Berge, Northern Cape Province, South Africa

Within the framework of a taxonomic revision of subfamily Urgineoideae based on morphological, genetic and phytogeographic data covering numerous samples from its whole range of distribution, we here describe a new genus and species from Pella se Berge in northwestern South Africa. Triandra gen. nov. is easily characterized by the absence of stamens associated with the outer tepal whorl, therefore having only three stamens per flower, a character previously unknown in Hyacinthaceae. Triandra pellabergensis sp. nov. produces hypogeal bulbs with filiform proteranthous leaves, spurred bracts, lax racemes with few, nodding, nocturnal flowers and erect capsules with the withered tepals persisting atop. The new species resembles Urginea revoluta in general morphology, although this latter species has six stamens per flower, a different seed morphology, a distinct phytogeographic pattern, and a distant phylogenetic relationship. A complete morphological description is presented for the new genus and species, including data on its biology, ecology and distribution.This work was partly supported by H2020 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange Programme of the European Commission, project 645636: ‘Insect-plant relationships: insights into biodiversity and new applications’ (FlyHigh), and the grants ACIE18–03 UAUSTI18–02 and UAUSTI19-08 from the University of Alicante

A taxonomic revision of Tenicroa (Hyacinthaceae, Urgineoideae) – including four new species and two new combinations

Within the framework of a taxonomic revision of Hyacinthaceae subfamily Urgineoideae (Asparagaceae tribe Urgineeae) combining morphological and genetic data from numerous samples across its whole range of distribution, we here present a taxonomic revision of Tenicroa. Species of Tenicroa have a very intricate history and therefore, unlike many others, they have been placed by time in eight different genera. Tenicroa is characterized by having (mostly) synanthous leaves and sheathing cataphylls with raised darker transversal ridges, diurnal stellate flowers with white tepals having a distinct narrow, reddish-brown or greenish band, subbasifixed anthers, and the ovary elliptic-oblong to oblong, with an elongate, deflexed and often sigmoid style, and a papillate stigma. In this context, we here describe four new species (T. applanata, T. fibrosa, T. namibensis, T. polyantha) and present two new combinations (T. flexuosa, T. unifolia) in this genus. An identification key is provided for the 12 accepted species in the genus.This work was partly supported by the University of Graz (Austria), Fundación Ramón Areces (Spain), H2020 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange Programme of the European Commission, project 645636: ‘Insect-plant relationships: insights into biodiversity and new applications’ (FlyHigh), the grant ACIE18–03, UAUSTI18–02 and UAUSTI19–08 from the University of Alicante (Spain)

What Is Wrong with Frankenia nodiflora Lam. (Frankeniaceae)? New Insights into the South African Sea-Heaths

The taxonomic identity and phylogenetic relationships of several southern African perennial taxa related to Frankenia repens are discussed. In particular, F. nodiflora Lam., a misunderstood species described from the Cape region and synonymised to F. pulverulenta, is restored for plants endemic to salt-pans and riverbeds in the coastal lowlands across the Cape Flats (Western Cape province, South Africa). Further, a revision of morphologically close plants, usually identified as F. pulverulenta or F. repens, also occurring in similar saline ecosystems of the inland western South Africa revealed the existence of two distinct new entities not matching any described taxa of the genus. Molecular analyses of nuclear ribosomal (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region) DNA sequence data together with morphological divergence allow recognition of those taxa at species rank, within an independent lineage close to F. repens. In consequence, two new sea-heath species are described in the so-called “F. repens group”: F. nummularia from the Nama-Karoo Biome (Western Cape and Northern Cape provinces), and F. anneliseae from the Succulent Karoo Biome (Northern Cape province). Full morphological description and type designation are reported for each accepted species as well as data on ecology, habitat, distribution, and taxonomic relationships to other close relatives are given. Further, an identification key is presented to facilitate recognition of the southern African taxa of Frankenia.This work was partly supported by H2020 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange Programme of the European Commission, project 645636: ‘Insect-plant relationships: insights into biodiversity and new applications’ (FlyHigh) and by the grants UAUSTI19-08, UAUSTI21-04, UAUSTI22-05, UADIF21-29, UADIF22-28, VIGROB21-166, VIGROB22-166, ACIE17-01, ACIE18-03, ACIE21-01 and ACIE22-01, from diverse programmes of Universidad de Alicante. L.M. acknowledges logistic support of the Iluka Chair in Vegetation Science and Biogeography at Murdoch University, Perth, Australia

Molecular phylogenetics of subfamily Urgineoideae (Hyacinthaceae): Toward a coherent generic circumscription informed by molecular, morphological, and distributional data

The taxonomy and systematics of Urgineoideae (Hyacinthaceae) have been controversial in recent decades, with contrasting taxonomic treatments proposed based on preliminary and partial studies that have focused on morphology and/or solely plastid DNA sequence data. Some authors have recognized only two genera, with a very broadly conceived Drimia, while others have accepted several genera that, although better defined morphologically, were doubtfully monophyletic. Here, we present phylogenetic analyses involving four plastid DNA regions (trnL intron, trnL-F spacer, matK, and the trnCGCA-ycf6 intergenic region), a nuclear region (Agt1), and a selection of 40 morphological characters. Our study covers 293 samples and ca. 160 species of Urgineoideae (ca. 80% of its global diversity). Bayesian inference, maximum likelihood, and maximum parsimony analyses were performed to derive the phylogenetic patterns. The combination of data yielded phylogenetic trees with 31 well-defined clades or lineages, most corresponding to previously described genera, although some have required description or revised circumscription. As with other monocot families, a considerable degree of homoplasy was observed in morphological characters, especially in those groups with unspecialized flowers; nonetheless, consistent syndromes of traditional and novel characters are shown to support clade recognition at genus rank. The forthcoming revised classification of Urgineoideae is outlined here

Calicotome villosa (Poir.) Link (Fabaceae), new for the Valencian Community flora

Se cita por primera vez la presencia de Calicotome villosa en los territorios iberolevantinos. Es ésta una especie ampliamente repartida por la Cuenca Mediterránea, que en la Península Ibérica presenta una distribución Bética y Luso-Extremadurense, con preferencia por suelos ácidos, en el piso de vegetación termomediterráneo subhúmedo-húmedo. En esta ocasión se ha recolectado en la partida de las Albarizas, en el término municipal de Villena (Alicante), dentro del piso mesomediterráneo seco, y sobre suelos arcillosos básicos. Esta nueva localidad, que es la primera referencia de C. villosa en la flora de la Comunidad Valenciana, permite ampliar considerablemente tanto el área corológica como el comportamiento ecológico de esta especie en la Península Ibérica.The presence of Calicotome villosa is cited for the first time in the Ibero-Levantine territories of the Iberian Peninsula. This is a species widely distributed through the Mediterranean Basin, which is found in the Betic and Luso-Extremadurensian territories of southern Iberian Peninsula, where it mostly occurs in acid soils within the thermomediterranean subhumid-humid bioclimatic stage. The species was recently gathered in Las Albarizas area, in the municipality of Villena (Alicante Province), growing on basic clayish soils within the mesomediterranean dry stage. The new location, which is the first record of C. villosa for the Valencian flora, allows to considerably expand both the chorological area and the ecological behaviour of this species in the Iberian Peninsula