OPTIMA Newsletter 38

This is the fourth contribution to Orobanchaceae
taxonomy by a group of NW
Spanish botanists (Grupo Botánico Cantábrico,
or GBC) headed by Luis Carlón, this
time with the addition of a Viennese coauthor
who is responsible for DNA sequencing;
the first three having appeared in 2002
to 2005 as Nos. 1-3 of the same journal. It
consists of a loose series of observations
concerning species growing in, but often not
limited to, Spain. Recent field work has led
members of the group to explore S France,
Portugal and the Canary Islands.
The authors split the genus commonly
known as Orobanche into three genera
which beyond doubt – whatever their rank –
constitute natural units, well defined both
morphologically and in molecular terms
(principally ITS sequences, as there appears
to have been some horizontal inter-group
gene transfer at the level of chromosome
DNA). These are Orobanche proper, Phelipanche
(also known as O. subg. Phelipanche
or sect. Trionychon), and Boulardia
(or subg. Ceratocalyx; unispecific, to accommodate
the peculiar O. latisquama).
Most of the present work concerns
Phelipanche, a group in which species delimitation
is notoriously critical and confused.
Four new Phelipanche species are
described, 5 new specific or subspecific
combinations validated, and in a number of
cases type material has been critically examined
and lectotypes were designated. Distribution
maps have been prepared, some
showing the Iberian and others the total
known distribution. Most importantly, some
drawings and many good colour photographs
are included, without which reliable
identification would scarcely be possible
(even with aid of the photographs, distinction,
unless supported by personal experience
in the field, is not an easy matter).
Sometimes the authors appear to be overly
optimistic in conveying their knowledge to
others, or they talk themselves into recognising
differences that vary according to the
species being compared. As an example,
Publications
flower position in P. mutelii when compared
with P. nana is said to be “erect to erectopatent”
(table 1) but in comparison to other
species is described as “patent, more rarely
erect” (table 2).
Although the authors’ missionary zeal in
defending their creed is a bit disproportionate,
they have made and continue to make
welcome, valuable contributions to a better
understanding of Orobanche sensu lato
W.G.
Monocotyledons
17. 16BGoar Grantovna OGANEZOVA –
Struktura semeni i sistema Lilejnyh.
– Institut Botaniki, Nacional’naja Akademija
Nauk Republiki Armenija, 2008
(ISBN 978-99941-2-109-0). 249 pages,
47 figures, one table; laminated cover.
When Huber in 1969 started to revolutionise
monocot systematics by his studies
of liliiflorous seeds, Oganezova soon set out
to investigate that very subject on her own.
Between 1978 and 1988 she performed an
enormous amount of work, studying primarily
the seed coat anatomy, embryology and
endosperm features, and additionally fruit
morphology and ontogenesis, of no less than
550 species of 182 different genera, currently
placed in 32 families of the former
Liliiflorae. Her present work was, basically,
written and ready for publication by 1991,
but only now could the opportunity be found
to get it printed.
Oganezova presents her results in the
frame of her initial set of 17 traditionally
defined, medium-sized families. While for
discussion she uses a modern family concept,
essentially based on molecular criteria,
she is rightly critical of the exclusive use of
DNA sequences for classification purposes.
She therefore endeavours to add her own,
original data so as to refine and consolidate
the concept and arrangement of liliiflorous
families. Whereas the families she now
2009 OPTIMA Newsletter No. 38 (11)