Callitriche regis-jubae Schotsman (1973: 25)

Lansdown, Richard V., Rhazi, Laila, Saber, Er-Riyahi, Madihi, Mohammed El & Grillas, Patrick, 2022, The genus Callitriche (Plantaginaceae, Callitricheae) in Morocco, Phytotaxa 555 (1), pp. 53-72 : 62-64

7. Callitriche regis-jubae Schotsman (1973: 25)

Type: — MOROCCO. Daya , Entre Tiflet et Maaziz, pres El Khemis, 2 March 1970, J. Mathez, C.H. Andreas, H.D. Schotsman 7A (holotype RAB 077706 ; isotypes P! 00374825, WAG0000346 ) .

Distribution: — Callitriche regis-jubae is endemic to the Mediterranean, where it is known from Extremadura and Andalucia in the Iberian Peninsula, Morocco, Tunisia, and Italy ( Fennane et al. 2007, Ghrabi-Gammar et al. 2009, Prančl et al. 2020). There is also a fairly poor specimen from Tenerife (K) that could be this species, but is inadequate for formal confirmation. In Morocco it is frequent along the coast from Casablanca northwards, as well as in the Central Plateau ( Fig. 4B ). Elevation in Morocco: 0–1160 m.

Habitat and ecology: — Callitriche regis-jubae typically occurs in seasonal wetlands, as well as in seasonal pools in the channel of rivers, and ditches in inundated pasture. In Morocco it has been recorded from wet flushes, streams, cupular pools in granite, marshes, and seasonal pools. It was recorded with a wide range of species, of which 19% may be considered truly aquatic, 52% characteristic of seasonal wetlands, and 29% terrestrial, reflecting its association with seasonal wetlands. Typical associates include Callitriche brutia subsp. naftolskyi , C. mathezii , C. stagnalis , Crassula vaillantii , Elatine macropoda , Eleocharis palustris , Glyceria spicata Gussone (1843: 784) , Juncus bufonius , J. tenageia , Lotus conimbricensis Brotero (1805: 118) , Lythrum hyssopifolia , L. junceum , L. tribracteatum , Montia fontana von Linné (1753: 87) subsp. amporitana Sennen (1911: 110) , Nasturtium officinale , Plantago coronopus , Pulicaria arabica Bourg. ex Nyman (1879: 394) , Ranunculus ophioglossifolius , R. peltatus , and Trifolium michelianum Savi (1798: 159) .

Notes: — Callitriche regis-jubae was overlooked for a long time and is consequently poorly-known. It is apparently restricted to north-western North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula, and Italy. It appears to be most abundant in Andalusia ( CSIC 2009) and north-western Morocco. Its abundance in Morocco suggests that this region may be important for its conservation.

Recognition: — Callitriche regis-jubae can be distinguished from all other Callitriche species recorded from Morocco by the combination of yellow pollen and greyish-brown, pedunculate fruit that are wider than long.

Illustrations: —Figures in Lansdown [2008: 24 (8–8x), 92–93].

Specimens examined: — MOROCCO: Daya , entre Tiflet et Maaziz, près El khemis, 2 March 1970, J. Mathez, C.H. Andreas, H.D. Schotsman 7A (P) (Holotype). In wet flush, 1 km E of road junction, W along minor road from Tleta-des-Beni-Yder-Cherki to Moulay Abdesalam, southwest of Tetouan, 25 February 1995, S.L. Jury, M. Ait Lafkih, H. Abu Sbaik, R. Ziri 16152 ( RNG 9174 ) . Cursos de agua entre robledales y repoblaciones de Pinus radiata, Souk el Arba de Beni Hassim , vertiente occidentale del Jbel Bou Hassim, Tetouan, 6 June 1996, M. A. Mateos, J.M. Montserrat JMM-54423/10 ( RNG) . Mare de Tiflet , 381 m, 28 April 2019, R.V. Lansdown, L. Rhazi, P. Grillas, M. El Madihi, J. Snoeks ( RAB) .

Field records: —Cupular pools in granite near Mante (Aguelmous), 1163 m altitude, 30April 2019, R.V. Lansdown, L. Rhazi, P. Grillas, M. El Madihi, J. Snoeks. Mare de Abassine, 1066 m altitude, 30 April 2019, R.V. Lansdown, L. Rhazi, P. Grillas, M. El Madihi, J. Snoeks. Stream Tna Ounahal, 1129 m altitude, 30 April 2019, R.V. Lansdown, L. Rhazi, P. Grillas, M. El Madihi, J. Snoeks. Wetland complex at Mante (Aguelmous), 1163 m, 30 April 2019, R.V. Lansdown, L. Rhazi, P. Grillas, M. El Madihi, J. Snoeks.

Figures

FIGURE 4. Known distribution of Callitriche species in Morocco. A. C. obtusangula. B. C. regis-jubae. C. C. stagnalis. D. C. truncata subsp. occidentalis. E. C. truncata subsp. truncata. F. All records of all Callitriche species in Morocco.