Thymus richardii subsp. richardii Pers., Syn. Pl. 2: 130. 1806

Saez, Llorenc, Bogunic, Faruk, Cambria, Salvatore, Riera, Jesus & Bogdanovic, Sandro, 2021, On the identity of Thymus humifusus var. aureopunctatus (Lamiaceae) and taxonomic notes on the Th. richardii complex, PhytoKeys 186, pp. 139-158 : 139

1. Thymus richardii subsp. richardii Pers., Syn. Pl. 2: 130. 1806

Thymus serpyllum richardii ≡ Thymus serpyllum var. richardii (Pers.) Knoche, Fl. Balear. 2: 354. 1922.

Thymus serpyllum richardii ≡ Th. serpyllum subsp. richardii (Pers.) Malag., H. Bianor, Educador Botánico Baleares: 150. 1971.

Type.

Holotype (see Rosselló and Sáez 2001: 109): P-Lamarck.

Description.

Stems up to 47 cm long, procumbent to reptant. Leaf blade up to 13 × 7.7 mm, broadly ovate to elliptical, entire. Inflorescence 15-30 mm long, capitate to oblong; bracts up to 11 × 7.8 mm, similar to leaves, entire, glabrous. Calyx 6-8 mm long, glabrescent (sometimes glabrous), with eglandular hairs up to 0.3 mm long, occasionally with scattered stipitate glandular hairs; calyx tube 2.2-3.2 mm long, glabrescent (sometimes glabrous on the dorsal surface), with eglandular hairs up to 0.3 mm long on the ventral surface; central tooth of upper lip 1.3-2.2 mm long, lower teeth 2.8-3.8 mm long, with pectinate hairs up to 0.3 mm long. Corolla 7-11 mm long, rose to pinkish-purple (Fig. 4 , C, E).

Chromosome number.

2 n = 30 ( Morales 1995).

Distribution.

Endemic to Mallorca, Eastern Balearic Islands (Spain).

Habitat.

Cliffs, on humid and north-facing limestone rocks, 250-1430 m a.s.l.

Remarks.

This is a rare plant, documented from three localities in the north of Mallorca (Ternelles mountain, Formentor peninsula and Puig Major) of which we have only been able to verify its presence in the last locality, growing on cliffs with very difficult access. This taxon could be facing a population decline. Bianor (1917) at the beginning of the 20th century, considered it as abundant in the Puig Major ["Abondant dans les endroits peu accessibles"]. In fact, there are dozens of specimens from this mountain and which are preserved in various herbaria; mostly collected in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Currently, Th. richardii subsp. richardii is very scarce at the same locality where it was reported by Bianor (1917) and the plants are practically inaccessible if climbing techniques are not used. Another population located on a different slope of the same massif is also scarce and very difficult to access. This possible population decline could be due to a loss of potential habitat and intense predation by feral goats ( Capra hircus ).

Specimens examined.

Spain. Balearic Islands, Mallorca: Comma de n’Arbona, Puig Major , 12 June 1852, G. Vigineix (P 04436032, P 04436034); Majorque , 19 June 1869, Bourgeau (P 04436046); rochers des Arbonas [ n’Arbona], 17 Apr 1870, F. Barceló (COI 00045051, P 03389631); Coma de n'Arbona et Puig Major de Son Torrella , 1000-1300 m, 24 June 1885 and 29 July 1885, Porta & Rigo (P 04436045); Mallorca : Coma de n'Arbona , Sóller, 30 June 1879, A. Crespí ( BC 651145 , P 04407218); Puig Major, 1000-1400 m, 12 July 1917, F. Bianor (BC 50119); Féntes des rochers, Puig Major, 1000-1450 m, 12 July 1918, F. Bianor (BC 50118); Puig Major, Féntes des rochers, 1000-1500 m, 7 July 1919, F. Bianor, Pl. Espagne F. Sennen 3768 (BC 50123); Coma de n'Arbona , 18 June 1920, Gros ( BC 859198 , P 04407218); Coma de n'Arbona , 4 July, 1936, Kennedy 48 ( BC 103732 ); Sóller, escletxes dels espadats de la Coma de n'Arbona , July, 1958, L. Garcías Font ( BC 145169 ); Puig Major, Coma de n'Arbona , 27 June 1985, T. Rabassa (HBJS 5700); Puig Major, Escorca, 10 July 1986, L. Sáez ( MA 592837 ); Puig Major de Son Torrella , c. via des Bufador, Escorca, 31SDE8207, 1200 m, 14 June 2006, L.G. Valle & L. Sáez LS-6445 (L. Sáez, herb. pers.); Escorca, Puig Major, Penyal des Bufador , 31DE 8206, 1340 m, 30 June 2020, L. Sáez (L. Sáez, herb. pers.); Fornalutx, Coma N’Arbona, 31SDE8105, 1100 m, 17 June 2021, L. Sáez (L. Sáez, herb. pers.) .

Figures

Figure 4. Habit and detail of the inflorescence of Thymus humifusus var. aureopunctatus A, D from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Duzani, 3 July 2020; B from Bosnia and Herzegovina Dzepi, 10 July 2020 (photo F. Bogunic), and of Th. richardii subsp. richardii C, E from Spain, Balearic Islands, Mallorca, Coma de N'Arbona, 17 June 2021 (photo L. Saez).