Cistus osbeckiifolius

Cistus osbeckiifolius
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Malvales
Family: Cistaceae
Genus: Cistus
Species: C. osbeckiifolius
Binomial name
Cistus osbeckiifolius
Webb[1]

Cistus osbeckiifolius is a shrubby species of flowering plant in the family Cistaceae, with pink to purple flowers.

Description

Cistus osbeckiifolius is a shrub usually up to 1.2 m (4 ft) tall, although it may reach 1.55 m (5 ft). Its three-nerved leaves are narrow, lanceolate to elliptical in shape, and slightly pointed at the apex.[2] They are densely covered with simple hairs.[3] The flowers are about 5 cm (2.0 in) across, with pink to purple petals.[2] The stigma is longer than the stamens.[3] The fruiting capsules are brown and covered with hairs.[2]

Taxonomy

Cistus osbeckiifolius was formally named in 1887[1] (the epithet was originally spelt osbeckiaefolius).[4] Philip Webb collected in the Canary Islands in 1828–1830. Although he gave this species a name and wrote a description, it was not published in his lifetime (he died in 1854).[5] In 1887, Heinrich Christ published Webb's description, along with those of other plants in Webb's herbarium.[4] The epithet osbeckiifolius means "with leaves like Osbeckia".

A 2011 molecular phylogenetic study placed C. osbeckiifolius as a member of the purple and pink flowered clade of Cistus species, along with other Canary Island endemics.[6]

A subspecies, C. osbeckiifolius subsp. tomentosus Bañares & Demoly, has been recognized (hence creating the nominate subspecies, C. osbeckiifolius subsp. osbeckiifolius), although as of March 2015 The Plant List does not accept this taxon.[1]

Distribution and habitat

Cistus osbeckiifolius is endemic to Tenerife in the Canary Islands. It is found at elevations of 1,400–2,400 m (4,600–7,900 ft) around Mount Teide, particularly in the region known as Las Cañadas. The climate is relatively dry and temperate to cold.[3][2]

Conservation

Cistus osbeckiifolius (as the subspecies osbeckiifolius) has been rated as "endangered" (EN) in the Spanish "Red List" (Libro Rojo de la Flora Vascular Amenazada de España). The species is considered at risk for several reasons: a limited area of distribution, restricted genetic diversity in all but one subpopulation, grazing by rabbits, the effects of fire, and human disturbance. In 2007 a fire destroyed one complete subpopulation.[2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Cistus osbeckiifolius", The Plant List, retrieved 2015-03-02
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Martín Osorio, V.E.; Wildpret de la Torre, W. & Alcántara Vernet, E. (2010), "Cistaceae Cistus osbeckiifolius Webb ex Christ subsp. osbeckiifolius" (PDF), Atlas y Libro Rojo de la Flora Vascular Amenazada de España - Adenda 2010 (in Spanish), Ministerio de Agricultura, Alimentación y Medio Ambiente, retrieved 2015-03-25
  3. 1 2 3 Guzmán, Beatriz & Vargas, Pablo (2010), "Unexpected synchronous differentiation in Mediterranean and Canarian Cistus (Cistaceae)", Perspectives in Plant Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, 12 (3): 163–174, doi:10.1016/j.ppees.2009.09.002, p. 167
  4. 1 2 Christ, H. (1887), "Spicilegium canariense: Cistaceae: C. osbeckiaefolius Webb", Botanische Jahrbücher fur Systematik, Pflanzengeschichte und Pflanzengeographie, 9 (1): 96, retrieved 2015-03-22
  5. ↑ Stafleu, Frans A. & Cowan, Richard S. (1988), "Webb, Philip Barker", Taxonomic literature (2nd ed.), vol. VII: W–Z, Utrecht: Bohn, Scheltema & Holkema, ISBN 978-90-313-0853-8, retrieved 2015-03-25
  6. ↑ Civeyrel, Laure; Leclercq, Julie; Demoly, Jean-Pierre; Agnan, Yannick; Quèbre, Nicolas; Pélissier, Céline & Otto, Thierry (2011), "Molecular systematics, character evolution, and pollen morphology of Cistus and Halimium (Cistaceae)", Plant Systematics and Evolution, 295 (1-4): 23–54, doi:10.1007/s00606-011-0458-7
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