Calendula suffruticosa subsp. tazaensis A.C. Gonç. & P. Silveira, 2023

Gonçalves, Ana Carla, Ouhammoud, Ahmed, Amirouche, Rachid, Santos, Conceição, Figueiredo, Estrela & Silveira, Paulo, 2023, A taxonomic revision of Calendula (Asteraceae) in Morocco, including some taxa from Algeria and Tunisia, Phytotaxa 605 (1), pp. 1-83 : 53-58

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/phytotaxa.605.1.1
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/E82AFC0A-157A-CA56-66ED-F9DC852BFDE9
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Calendula suffruticosa subsp. tazaensis A.C. Gonç. & P. Silveira
status	subsp. nov.

Treatment

11m. Calendula suffruticosa subsp. tazaensis A.C. Gonç. & P. Silveira , subsp . nov. Type:— MOROCCO. Taza, Ras-El-Ma, Sidi Msbar, 1460 m, [34°07’58’’ N, 4°07’58’’ W], 11 May 2014, P. Silveira & A.C.R.S. Gonçalves 3334 (holotype RAB!; isotypes AVE!, MARK!).

Diagnosis:— Calendula suffruticosa subsp. tazaensis differs from C. suffruticosa subsp. suffruticosa , by having longer rostrate achenes

(21) 24–30.0 (31) mm [instead of (11) 16–23 (26) mm], and narrower cymbiform achenes 5.8–7.3 (8.3) mm wide [instead of (6.7)

7.7–10.8 (11.8) mm wide].

Description:––Perennial herbs. Stems (40) 40.5–81.5 (93) cm long, decumbent to erect, predominantly glandular pubescent distally, slightly white-arachnoid proximally. Basal leaves (6) 7.4–9.9 (10.5) × (0.9) 1.5–2.1 (2.6) cm, (0.2) 0.3–0.4 mm thick, oblanceolate, apex obtuse, or sometimes ± acute, margins sub-entire to sinuate-dentate, with glandular and non-glandular hairs to glabrescent, slightly white-arachnoid pubescent in the margins, becoming light green when dry. Capitula solitary, 3.2–4 (4.4) cm diameter. Outer achenes rostrate (21) 24–30 (31) × (2) 2.2–2.7 (2.8) mm, straight or slightly curved, without dorsal spines, sometimes with 1–2 teeth, at the base or at the apex; middle achenes bialate (16) 17,8–22,5 (25) × (7,3) 7,8–8,7 (10) mm, with a rostrum (3,3) 5,3–11 (13,7) mm; most frequently cymbiform (6.7) 8.5–11 (12.5) × 5.8–7.3 (8.3) mm, with ventral wings, frequently, surpassing the laterals; inner achenes vermiculate-alate (4.2) 6–7.5 (8.3) × (2.8) 4.5–4.8 (5.2) mm; vermiculate-exalate (3.3) 3.5–5.1 (5.7) × (1.2) 1.6–2.2 mm, circular. Figure 17 View FIGURE 17 .

Habitat and distribution:— Limestone rocks/cliffs, at an elevation of ± 300 m. It is found in sub-humid Mediterranean bio-climate. Endemic to Morocco with a restricted distribution in the western Taza Mountains (Jbel Tazzeka) .

Conservation status:— Data Deficient (DD) . The taxon is under numerous threats, especially due to climate change (extreme weather), and droughts. The species is rare and local with a small-restricted range; only one population is knwon, and few herbarium specimens exist (from the same region). The number of mature individuals is estimated to be <50 based on field observations. The AOO is 4 km 2. However, the information is inadequate to assess their extinction risk based on distribution, since other subpopulations may exist in the area.

Chromosome number:— 2n = 32.

Genome size:—3.42 ± 0.07 pg.

Eponymy:—For the Taza region in Morocco where it occurs.

Additional collections:— MOROCCO. Fès-Meknès: Taza, Ras-El-Ma, Sidi Msbar , [34°32’35” N, 4°25’55” W], 13 June 1993, J. M GoogleMaps . Montserrat , T . Abdelkader , J . Molero , J . Pallàs , J . Vicens & M . Veny JMM 3482 View Materials 4 (BC!).