Scrophularia cabulica Benth.

Ranjbar, Massoud & Rahchamani, Narges, 2018, The species of Scrophularia L. (Scrophulariaceae) with white margined leaves in Flora Iranica, Adansonia (3) 40 (6), pp. 67-87 : 83-86

Scrophularia cabulica Benth.

( Fig. 13 )

In Prodromus Systematis Naturalis Regni Vegetabilis 10: 316 (1846). — Typus : AFghanistan. In regno Cabulico, Griffith 623, lectotype and isolectotype here designated, (lecto-, P [ P03412686 !]; isolecto-, K[K001096273, K001096274, K001096322]!, LE [ LE00017098 ]!, W[W0017303]!, P [ P03412682 , P03412684 , P03412686 ]!). S. elegantissima Rech. f. & Wendelbo, Botaniska Notiser 117: 366

(1964) ( Fig. 14 ). — Typus: AFghanistan. Loman (Lomar)

inter Qurabagh et Sang-I Masha, 33°15’N, 67°30’E, 2400 m,

30.VI.1962, Rechinger 17424 (holo-, W[W19640005875!];

iso-, B[B100278243]!, ED[ED00327360]!, G[G00343799]!,

K[K001096307]!, M[M0175818]!, S[S1028586]!). PHENOLOGY. — Flowering and fruiting from April to July. CONSERVATION STATUS. — Based on GeoCAT tool (Bachman et al. 2011), the extent of occurrence (EOO) of Scrophularia cabulica is estimated to 4968.740 km 2. This species is known from about seven disjunctive populations, representing about four different localities. The limited taxon could be categorized as Endangered (EN) according to IUCN Red List criteria ( IUCN 2012 ) . OTHER SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — AFghanistan. Badghis, Aitchison 491 ( P0342685 !) ; Chacar, N Sang-e Masha, 2700 m, 1.X.1973, Anders 11189 ( KU 020154!) ; Chaharburja an der Straβe von Orozgan nach Malestan, 2820 m, 29.VI.1978, Podlech 31942 ( KU20156 !) ; Haji, 7 km to Malestan, 2800 m, 29.VI.1978, Podlech 31971 ( KU20157 !) ; 3 km Gidergu an der Straβe von Orozgan nach Malestan, 2740 m, 29.VI.1978, Podlech 31934 ( KU20588 !) .

DESCRIPTION

Perennial herb, 50-75 cm tall, erect, at the base woody. Stems numerous, brown to gray, light brown at the base, circular, glabrous. Lower leaves on the stem, opposite to alternate, green, glabrous, lanceolate, obtuse to acute, 20-50 × 5-10 mm, petiolate, petiole to 15 mm long, venation pinnate, prominent and green, entire to serrate, with 4-6 teeth in one side; to 0.5 mm long, angle of teeth 70-90º, obtuse to acute, apical and basal sides of tooth straight. Upper leaves on the stem, opposite to alternate, green, glabrous, lanceolate, obtuse to acute, 5-10 × 3-5 mm, sessile to petiolate, petiole to 5 mm long, venation pinnate, prominent and green, entire. Inflorescence 40-50 cm long, bracteate, paniculate, cymous dichasium, many-flowered. Bracts lanceolate, entire, acute, to 3 mm long, green, glabrous to sparsely short glandular hairs. Bracteoles linear to lanceolate, entire, acute, to 1 mm long, green, glabrous or with sparsely short glandular hairs. Peduncle 5-15 mm long, pedicel 1-2 mm long, glabrous or with sparsely glandular hairs, glabrous or with sparsely glandular hairs. Calyx 2-3.5 × 2-2.5 mm, sepals equal, broadly ovate to triangular, acute, 1/2 corolla length or shorter, green, with almost broadly white margin to 0.5 mm, glabrous. Corolla 4-5× 4.5-5 mm, ventricose, lobes unequal, upper lobe 1 mm larger, obtuse, yellowish when fresh, brown in dried status, glabrous. Stamens 4, fertile, exserted, 4-4.5 mm long, filaments white, sparsely glandular points, anthers yellow. Staminode linear. Ovary globose to ovoid, 1.5-2 × 1.5-2 mm, glabrous. Style terminal, filiform, 3-4 mm long, glabrous. Capsule globose, 4-4.5 × 4-5 mm, mucronate, mucro to 1 mm long, light brown, glabrous. Seeds ovate to triangular, 1.5-2 × 0.3- 0.5 mm, dark brown to black.

TYPIFICATION NOTES

Bentham (1846: 316) introduced S. cabulica based on the specimens of Griffith with herbarium number 623 from Afghanistan. But in Flora Iranica ( Grau 1981) this species is cited as synonym for S. deserti , S. elegantissima Rech. f. & Wendelbo ( Rechinger & Wendelbo 1964: 366) and S. edelbergi Rech. f. ( Rechinger 1958: 103). Grau (1981: 266) believed that the type sheet at the Hookerianum herbarium is heterogenous.The left individual (K001096322) is clearly a fragment of the species described as S. elegantissima . The right individual (K001096321) is an old rhizome with some lateral shoots, which are possibly not completely typical. The identity of this individual cannot be unambiguously clarified and two species come into consideration, i.e., S. deserti or S. edelbergii written on the label. It seems S. deserti is correct because of the white margin of some right fragment. On the other hand, another sheet in Hookerianum herbarium (K001096274) has an author’s handwriting and hand drawing of staminode shape, which refers to diagnostic characters of the species. Another specimen belonging to Benthamianum herbarium (K001096273) has the number of “77” in Prodromus Systematis Naturalis RegniVegetabilis ( Bentham 1846) , which was written by Bentham. Additionally, the epithet “ cabulica ” was likely written on the sheets by Bentham himself. The specimens to describe S. cabulica are imperfect and its original description is also incomplete and should be amended. For example in the original description is cited “humilis”, while the mentioned sheets have tall plants (50-60 cm). Hence, the name S. cabulica cannot be considered as synonym for several species and needs lectotypification. The original material of S. cabulica cited is certainly a syntype, which is represented by two specimens of Griffith 623 in Hookerianum herbarium, both of them can be considered for lectotypification.The sheet (K001096274) is the most unambiguous one, with a single label and a single plant fragment, and a part of the description written on it by the author.These are good indications that this specimen can be preferred in lectotypification. Grau made no lectotypification of this name and only discussed the identity of one specimen mix with two fragments and neglected the other specimen.In this mix sheet of K herbarium (K001096321 and K001096322), the right specimen (K001096321) is different from the left specimen (K001096322) and also from other sheets (K001096273 and K001096274). The specimen is probably S. deserti and other specimens are S. cabulica that should be separated from each other. So, S. cabulica cannot be considered as synonym for S. deserti . Scrophularia edelbergii is written on the sheet of S. cabulica (W0017303), so this name is cited as synonym for S. edelbergii . However, both species are not the same and the synonymy also is not correct. The left specimen is apparently similar to two other sheets of K herbarium and also to other specimens in LE, P and W herbaria. So it should be considered as a valid species and needed a correct lectotype. The protologue cites a single syntype “ Griffith 623 ” and based on labels of sheets “ Griffith 3874 ” is the same gathering and therefore is also a type collection. But the protologue provides a restriction, not only citing “ Griffith 623 ” but also indicating that particular specimens of this gathering were examined in “Hookerianum herbarium”. For this reason the two specimens in Hookerianum herbarium are syntypes and those of other herbaria are isosyntypes. So the specimens in Hooker’s collection have priority and should be designated as a lectotype. The K specimens are surely original material and good candidates for lectotype but they are incomplete and have not the diagnostic characters of the plant. On the other hand, P specimens have labels cited “Donné par Sir William Hooker, 1863” with numbers 3874, 3875 and 3876. It seems, that the specimens are the same and can be one collection. Also, the specimens are complete and exhibit the plant traits well. Since the specimens in “herb.Hook.” are indicated in the protologue, the P specimen with number 3874 (P03412686) can be selected as lectotype. Rechinger & Wendelbo (1964: 366) introduced S. elegantissima from Afghanistan based on the specimens collected by Rechinger. Grau (1981: 278) referred to this species and cited S. cabulica as its synonym. In fact, Grau (1981: 266) with regard to the mix sheet of K herbarium, proposed S. cabulica should be rejected. In the present research, by finding further specimens of the species in other herbaria during our research, S. cabulica is considered as a valid species.Additionally, it seems that Grau’s diagnosis is correct to equate the two mentioned species. But based on priority principle, S. cabulica is an earlier name and S. elegantissima is considered as its synonym. In original description of S. elegantissima , authors selected W specimen (W19640005875) as holotype for the species and then there is no problem in its typification.

Figures

FIG. 13. — Lectotype of Scrophularia cabulica Benth. (Griffith 623, P03412686).

FIG. 14. — Holotype of Scrophularia elegantissima Rech.f. & Wendelbo (Rechinger 17424, W19640005875).