Study of some European wild hybrids of Erica L. (Ericaceae), with descriptions of a new nothospecies: Erica nelsonii Fagúndez and a new nothosubspecies: Erica veitchii nothosubsp. asturica Fagúndez
Author
Fagúndez, Jaime
Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade da Coruña, 15071 A Coruña, Spain.
jaime.fagundez@gmail.com
text
Candollea
2012
2012-07-01
67
1
51
57
journal article
3096
10.15553/c2012v671a7
bac2ce3a-2d0b-4bb8-9919-abbdd295518f
2235-3658
5762387
4. Cross-pollination of
Erica tetralix
and
E. ciliaris
During the study of seed morphology of
E. tetralix
and related species (
FAGÚNDEZ & IZCO, 2009
) one of the samples collected from an
E. tetralix
population clearly differed from the rest of the population with respect to the shape of the seeds and secondary sculpture. The seed morphology and details of the secondary ornamentation of this sample and a regular population of
E. tetralix
and
E. ciliaris
are shown in
Fig. 2
. The seeds of
E. tetralix
are ovoid or ellipsoid, of ca.
0.4 mm
, with a reticulate primary ornamentation and a smooth to vermiculate secondary sculpture of outer periclinal walls (
FAGÚNDEZ & IZCO, 2009
). The seeds of
E. ciliaris
are similar in size, but with an oblong-ellipsoid shape, a very faintly reticulate pattern and an indented secondary ornamentation (
FAGÚNDEZ & IZCO, 2009
). In this intermediate population, seeds are largely ellipsoid or ovoid, with a slightly reticulate pattern and an indented secondary ornamentation.
The parent plants were studied and the population was visited at the same locality in flowering time (Cercedo,
July 2007
, see specimens studied). This population is part of a humid heathland with
Ulex
L.
where
Erica ciliaris
is abundant and
E. tetralix
occurs whenever soils are moist. The plants are
E. tetralix
with no intermediate characters. Thus, we conclude that these seeds are product of the pollination of
E. tetralix
plants with pollen from
E. ciliaris
.
Erica
×
watsonii
(
E. ciliaris
×
E. tetralix
)
is the most common of the European hybrids, described by
BENTHAM (1839: 665)
from plants found by H. Watson and well known in the British Isles (
HOOKER & ARNOTT, 1850: 255
) and France
EYRAUT, 1900
;
ROUY, 1908: 109
). There are also references from the Iberian Peninsula (
PEREIRA- COUTINHO, 1939: 550
;
BAYER, 1993: 506
) although we have not found any material or precise localities. In the British populations of
E. ciliaris
, where
E.
×
watsonii
is common, a very low percentage of seedlings have intermediate values for
E. ciliaris
and
E. tetralix
and may produce hybrid plants (
ROSE, 2007
). In Spain no intermediates are commonly found although both species coexist in many localities (pers. obs.).
The indented surface in the secondary sculpture of the
E. ciliaris
seeds is uncommon for the European species of the genus. We have only recorded this feature in
E. ciliaris
and some populations of
E. sicula
Guss.
(
FAGÚNDEZ & IZCO, 2011
). The outer periclinal walls of the testa cells are collapsed to the inner walls that present pits, allowing the cell surface to display this indented pattern.
Specimens examined. –
(sub.
E. tetralix
).
SPAIN
.
Pontevedra
:
Cercedo
,
Quireza
,
42º34’48’’N
8º27’54’’W
,
690 m
,
28.IX.2006
,
2.VIII.2007
,
Fagúndez
3266
(
SANT
)
.
A Coruña
:
Carnota
,
O Pindo
,
11.XI.1999
,
Fagúndez
s.n.
(
SANT-BG
[119])
.
Ciudad Real
:
Cabañeros
,
2.X.2000
,
Fagúndez
s.n.
(
SANT-BG
[211])
.
(sub.
E. ciliaris
).
SPAIN
.
Cádiz
:
Los Alcornocales
,
25.IX. 2002
,
Fagúndez
&
Reyes
s.n.
(
SANT-BG
[266]).
PORTUGAL
:
Matas de Faia
,
11.IX.2001
,
s.coll.
(
SANT-BG
[273]).