Abstract
Biscutella raphanifolia is a species distributed in N Algeria and Tunisia, characterized by the presence of large, lyrate basal leaves, amplexicaul cauline leaves, and paniculate-branched inflorescences. It has been traditionally considered the only perennial taxon from B. sect. Biscutella, lifespan being the strongest argument used to differentiate B. raphanifolia from other annual taxa such as B. algeriensis, B. confusa or B. didyma var. coriophora, with which it shares both morphological characters and distribution. Reevaluation of morphological characters in the light of phylogenetic trees from plastid (rpl32-trnL and trnV) and nuclear (ITS region) sequence data support a new circumscription of B. raphanifolia to include all those annual taxa. As a result, the new combination B. raphanifolia var. algeriensis is established, descriptions are provided for both varieties, and synonyms and lectotypes are indicated or designated for the names concerned.Citation: Vicente A., Alonso M. A. & Crespo M. B. 2016: Taxonomic circumscription of the N African endemic Biscutella raphanifolia (Brassicaceae) based on morphological and molecular characters. — Willdenowia 46: 411–422. doi: http//dx.doi.org/10.3372/wi.46.46309Version of record first published online on 21 November 2016 ahead of inclusion in December 2016 issue.
Highlights
The genus Biscutella L. includes annual herbs or dwarf shrubs distributed throughout Europe, N Africa and SW Asia, with a centre of high diversity in the Mediterranean basin
Lyratae Malin.) comprises annual or rarely perennial species with petals gradually tapering at the base and lateral intrastaminal nectaries (Malinowski 1911; Olowokudejo 1986a; Guinea & Heywood 1993); they are distributed in the Mediterranean basin and SW Asia (Machatschki-Laurich 1926; Maire 1967; Hedge 1968)
The aim of the present work is to study the taxonomic circumscription of B. raphanifolia and to explore the eventual relationships with B. algeriensis, by combining both morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on sequence data from two plastid and one nuclear (ITS) regions
Summary
The genus Biscutella L. includes annual herbs or dwarf shrubs distributed throughout Europe, N Africa and SW Asia, with a centre of high diversity in the Mediterranean basin. Morphologically well differentiated, are recognized in the genus, to which sectional rank is usually applied (cf Raffaelli 1992; Guinea & Heywood 1993): Biscutella sect. Lyratae Malin.) comprises annual or rarely perennial species with petals gradually tapering at the base and lateral intrastaminal nectaries (Malinowski 1911; Olowokudejo 1986a; Guinea & Heywood 1993); they are distributed in the Mediterranean basin and SW Asia (Machatschki-Laurich 1926; Maire 1967; Hedge 1968)
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