Prunus ramonensis (Danin) Eisenman, 2015

Eisenman, Sasha W., 2015, Some nomenclatural adjustments and typifications for almond species in the genus Prunus sensu lato (Rosaceae), Phytotaxa 222 (3), pp. 185-198 : 190-191

Prunus ramonensis (Danin) Eisenman , comb. nov.

Basionym:— Amygdalus ramonensis Danin (1980: 283) .

Type:— ISRAEL. Central Negev Highlands, Nahal Eliav, 4 km SW of Har Ramon, 34° 39’E / 30° 38’N, banks of wadi with loessial alluvium. 16 April 1979, Avinoam Danin s.n. (holotype HUJ).

Note:—The collection date in the original basionym description does not match the date on the labels of specimens held at E and K (15 June 1979). According to Arts. 9.4 and 9.6 of the ICN ( McNeill et al. 2012), these specimens should be considered paratypes, rather than isotypes.

Amydalus ramonensis is endemic to Negev Highlands of Israel. The species is included by Shmida and Pollak (2007) in the Red Data Book: Endangered Plants of Israel, as well as in the Flora Palaestina ( Zohary 1972) , Analytical Flora of Eretz-Israel (Feinbrun-Dotan et al., 1998), and Distribution Atlas of Plants in the Flora Palaestina Area ( Danin 2004). Although Kurtto (2009) regarded A. ramonensis as a synonym of Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A. Webb , it is still maintained as a species on the flora of Israel website (http://flora.org.il/plants/AMYRAM/). Danin (1980), stated that A. ramonesis differs from P. dulcis [= A. communis Linnaeus (1753: 473) ] by having smaller glabrous ovate fruits, subspinecent branches and apiculate leaves. Danin (2000) explained, “According to Browicz & Zohary (1996), who “summed up their views for tree breeders” (as D. Zohary explained the essence of their paper, pers. comm.) this taxon should be sunk into the complex of Amygdalus communis L. subsp. microcarpa ( Post 1898: 302) Browicz & Zohary (1996: 236) . I keep regarding this taxon as an independent species until more comprehensive study proves otherwise.”

Additional specimens examined:— ISRAEL. Central Negev Highlands, Nahal Eliav, 4 km SW of Har Ramon, 34° 39’E / 30° 38’N, banks of large wadi with loessial alluvium. 15 April 1979, Avinoam Danin s.n. (paratypes E!, K! [digital images])