Ononis tridentata subsp. angustifolia (Lange) Devesa & G. López (1997: 258)

Ferrer-Gallego, P. Pablo, 2023, Original elemets and typification of the names included in the Ononis tridentata complex (Fabaceae), Phytotaxa 598 (1), pp. 32-58 : 49-50

Ononis tridentata subsp. angustifolia (Lange) Devesa & G. López (1997: 258)

The protologue of the name Ononis tridentata f. angustifolia included a brief diagnosis “foliis lineari lanceolatis v. lineari-cuneatis, integerrimis v. 2-5-dentatis” preceded by the reference to two works: “ O. tridentata Cav. ic. tab. 152, Barr. ic. 300; Willk. Strand- und Steppengew. p. 115” ( Lange 1865: 152).

The references cited in the protologue ( Barrelier 1714: ic. 300, Cavanilles 1793: Tab. 152) included illustrations of this species that can be considered as original elements used by Lange to describe Ononis tridentata f. angustifolia . The Cavanilles’s drawing illustrates a stem with leaves, flowers, and fruits, and several details of a flower, fruit, and seed (figures a [Calix], b [Petala expansa, ubi 1 vexillum, 2 alae, 3 carina], c [Genitalia], d [Legumen], and e [Semen]) ( Cavanilles 1793: 42, Tab. 152). The Barrelier’s drawing “Cicer sylvestre, fruticans, angustifolium, non serratum, Hispanicum” illustrates a stem with flowers and fruits, and several details of the leaves, a separate flower and a separate fruit ( Barrelier 1714: ic. 300). These two illustrations certainly matche with the current concept of the name and could be chosen as lectotype.

Cavanilles (1793: 42) cites the following provenances as localities of Ononis tridentata “Habitat copiose prope Llanera in montibus vulgo Port de Carcer: crescit etiam inter Domeño et Chelva; Xixona et Tibi; Ialance et Cofrentes; Eldam et Noveldam”. In the Cavanilles herbarium at MA there is a herbarium sheet, with code MA 61824, that bears material of this species collected by Cavanilles himself in “prope Eldam” (Alicante province) in May 1791. On the other hand, there is a specimen collected by Cavanilles and preserved at BM, with barcode BM001122985. This material is a stem with leaves and flower, and is annotated “ Ononis tridentata L. Cav. ! Ic.” handwritten by Cavanilles, and “Cavanilles, 1803” handwritten by J.E. Smith. This material (specimens at MA and BM) could have been used by Cavanilles as voucher to illustrate the species in his drawing number 152 (see Cavanilles 1793), but it cannot be treated as original material of O. tridentata subsp. angustifolia .

In the protologue are cited several gatherings, as: “Specimina hujus formae vidi ex Aragonia: 2 mill. a Zaragoza (herb. Vahl)! Barranco del maduro pr. Castellote (Pardo)! Serrania de Cuenca inter Mira et Villora (Willk. Nr. 530)! Valenc. inter Alicante et Alcoy (Boiss. et Reut.)! Sierra Castalla supra Alicante (Leresche)! Rio de Aguas (prov. Almeria) 1 Decbr. 1852 c. fl. et fr.!” ( Lange 1865: 152).

Devesa & López González (1997: 258) indicate that they have not seen original material for this name. On the other hand, Bolòs & Vigo (1984: 531) mentioned that they could not see the type of Lange’s name, and many of the localities cited by Lange in the protologue correspond to the distribution area of O. tridentata var. tridentata . In addition, Bolòs & Vigo (1984: 531) recognize “ var. edentula Webb in Bourg.” within O. tridentata and include the geographic provenance “Xàtiva” (taken from the locality indicated in the exsiccatum of Bourgeau “S. Felipe de Xativa”) as the classic locality. However, the Philip Barker Webb’s name ( Ononis tridentata α [var.] edentula Webb ex Willk. in Willk. & Lange) was not effectively published in Bourgeau’s exsiccatum but in Willkomm’s publication (in Willkomm & Lange 1877: 413) (see below).

Among the gathrings mentioned by Lange in the protologe. I have located several relevant specimens that can be treated as syntypes preserved in the Martin Vahl herbarium at C and Willkomm herbarium at COI. I found a specimen at C that has belonged to Vahl’s herbarium and partly fits to the description included in the protologue. This specimen, without code, belongs to the gathering cited by Lange in the protologue as “Specimina hujus formae vidi ex Aragonia: 2 mill. a Zaragoza (herb. Vahl)!”, and bears a stem with leaves, and is annotated (on back of the sheet): “ Ononis / tridentata / varietas glandulosa” and “Legi copiose in Arragonia / mens, Aug: 1787. / 2 mill. à Sarragoza” ( Fig. 11 ). This specimen is undoubtedly original material of the name Ononis tridentata f. angustifolia , and is not in direct conflict with the protologue. However, the specimen is in direct conflict with the current usage of the name and can be ascribed to Ononis tridentata subsp. tridentata (with leaflets blade obovate-cuneate, less than six times longer than wider, with 3–9 teeth in the upper half). A lectotypification of O. tridentata f. angustifolia using this specimen would be technically sound, but it would be undesirable in terms of nomenclatural stability since it does not represent the current concept and use of the name O. tridentata subsp. angustifolia .

The specimen with barcode COI00053677 belonging to the collection mentioned in the protologue as “ Aragonia […] Barranco del maduro pr. Castellote (Pardo)!”. This specimen consists of three stems, with leaves and flowers, accompanied by an original handwritten label from the Willkomm herbarium, annotated as: “Herbarium Willkommii. / Ononis tridentata L. / Abundat in Aragoniae australis collibus aridis. / Legit. Loscos Salvador Pardo. / 18”. On the other hand, the specimen with barcode COI00053673 are three stems, with leaves, flowers, and fruits. This material was collected in Cuenca, between Mira and Villora, it is well-preserved and is accompanied by an original label from the Willkomm herbarium, annotated as: “Willkomm. it. hisp. secund. / 530. / Ononis tridentata L. / angustifolia Lge. / Serrania de Cuenca in argillosis pinetorum inter / Mira et Villora. / Aug. 1850. / α β edentula Wbb.” ( Fig. 12 ). There is a duplicate specimen of this material preserved at P, with barcode P03447781 [the three stems are mounted on the right half of the herbarium sheet]. This material is accompanied by the same printed label that the sheet at COI.

On the same sheet at P, with barcode P03447781 (QR-code PL01757605), is mounted (on the left half of the sheet) a specimen (two stems) that can be treated as a syntype mentioned by Lange in the protologue as “Valenc. inter Alicante et Alcoy (Boiss. et Reut.)!”. This material is accompanied by a label annotated as “ Ononis tridentata Cav. / Montes Regni Valentini. / Boissier et Reuter. in collibus gypsosis / inter Alicante et Alcoi. / Julio 1858.”.

In all cases the material cited above matches with the traditional concept and current use of the name O. tridentata subsp. angustifolia (see e.g., Devesa & López González 1997, Devesa 2000, López González 2001). In conclusion, I designate as the lectotype of the name the specimen COI00053673. This specimen is a well preserved and very complete material, and show relevant diagnostic characters (e.g., leaflets linear, more than six times longer than wider, glabrous).

Figures

FIGURE 11. Original material of Ononis tridentata f. angustifolia Lange, preserved in the Martin Vahl herbarium at C. Image reproduced with permission of the Natural History Museum of Denmark.

FIGURE 12. Lectotype of Ononis tridentata f. angustifolia Lange, COI (barcode COI00053673). Image courtesy of the herbarium COI, reproduced with permission.