INCEER, H. (2024). Lectotypification of the name Achillea brachyphylla (Anthemideae, Asteraceae). Candollea 79: 171–173. In English, English abstract. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15553/c2024v791a9
Within the genus Achillea L. (Anthemideae, Asteraceae) from Turkey, the name Achillea brachyphylla Boiss. & Hausskn. was originally described by Edmond Boissier (1810–1885) in his Flora Orientalis based on two syntypes collected by Carl Haussknecht (1838–1903). A lectotype is designated here for this name. The specimen is deposited in Boissier' herbarium in Geneva (G-BOIS).
Introduction
The genus Achillea L. (Anthemideae, Asteraceae) includes c. 110–140 species, mostly distributed in Europe, Asia, and North Africa (Ehrendorfer & Guo, 2006; Oberprieler et al., 2007). Its centre of diversity is located in SE Europe and SW Asia, and the taxa are highly variable in morphology, life cycle, and ecology (Guo et al., 2004; Baltisberger & Widmer, 2016).The genus Achillea encompasses c. 60 accepted taxa in Turkey, 33 of which are endemic (Semiz et al., 2022).
Achillea brachyphylla Boiss. & Hausskn. is a perennial herb with thick, woody rootstocks, primary root strongly developed, caespitose (Arabaci & Yildiz, 2008). It is morphologically related to A. membranacea (Labill.) DC. and A. oligocephala DC. (Huber-Morath, 1975). Achillea brachyphylla differs from A. membranacea in having a shorter stem, tomentose involucre, ovate-lanceolate outer phyllaries apically acute, and obtuse-oblong paleae; it differs from A. oligocephala in having a larger involucre and longer ray florets (Arabaci & Yildiz, 2008).
Achillea brachyphylla was described by Edmond Boissier (1810–1885) in his Flora Orientalis (Boissier, 1875: 273) based on two collections of Carl Haussknecht (1838 – 1903) from Turkey. Those collections are to be considered as syntypes. The taxonomic treatment of the genus Achillea in the Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands did not designate a lectotype for this name (Huber-Morath, 1975). Hence, a lectotype for the name A. brachyphylla is designated here on the best-preserved material. Scan of the lectotype can be found in the CHG (2024) website.
Typification
Achillea brachyphylla Boiss & Hausskn. in Boiss., Fl. Orientalis 3: 273. 1875.
Type: “Hab. in calcareis Mesopotamiae propre Surug et Orfa et in monte Gebel Taktak (Haussk!). Fl. Mai”.
Lectotypus (designated here): Turkey. Prov. Şanlıurfa: “inter Surug et Orfa”, V.1865, Haussknecht s.n. (G-BOIS [G00150025] image!; isolecto-: B [B100093148] image!, E [E00414097] image!, JE [JE00011029] image!, K [K000928408] image!, W [W0027047, W0027048] images!). Syntypus: Turkey. Prov. Şanlıurfa: “Dhebel Taktak”, V.1867, Haussknecht 536 (BM [BM000945997] image!, G-BOIS [G00150024] image!; G [G00412361] image!; JE [JE00011029] image!,K [K000928409] image!, W [W0027049] image!).
Distribution and ecology. – Achillea brachyphylla is endemic to Turkey and it has a restricted distribution in SE Anatolia. The species is an Irano-Turanian element and grows on calcareous rocky slopes and steppes (Huber-Morath, 1975; Arabaci & Yildiz, 2008).
Notes. – In the protologue of Achillea brachyphylla BOISSIER (1875: 273) cited: “Hab. in calcareis Mesopotamiae propre Surug et Orfa et in monte Gebel Taktak (Haussk!). Fl. Mai”. Two Haussknecht collections are deposited in Boissier's herbarium (G-BOIS). One specimen was collected in May 1865 between Suruç and Şanlıurfa (G-BOIS [G00150025]) and the other in May 1867 in the region of Tektek Dağları (G-BOIS [G00150024]).
Since G00150025 (Haussknecht s.n.) is taxonomically informative and better preserved than G00150024, it is designated here as the lectotype of Achillea brachyphylla. Several duplicates of both the lectotype and the remaining syntype have been located. A specimen in Herbarium Haussknecht in Jena (JE00011028) bears the collection number “578” and was collected by Haussknecht on limestones on 6 May 1865 between “Surug & Kifri”. This specimen is not considered as original material of A. brachyphylla.
The colour of the ray florets of Achillea brachyphylla was reported as ochroleucous (off-white colour or white tinted with yellow) by Boissier (1875), whereas Huber-Morath (1975) inaccurately described them as white. On the other hand, Arabaci & Yildiz (2008) stated the colour as yellow, becoming ochroleucous at the time of fruiting; this information was based on field observations in the type locality of the species.
Acknowledgements
The author thanks Joel Calvo (G) and Martin Callmander (G) for their through reviews of the original manuscript, which resulted in numerous improvements to this article.
Published by the Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de Genève Open access article under Creative Commons Attribution Licence (CC BY 4.0)
