The endemic flora of Morocco

Morocco is characterized by high vascular plant diversity with an estimated 4200 species and subspecies of which 22% are endemic. This study presents an updated list of the endemic species in the Moroccan flora following the classification of APG III, including comments on their geographical distribution and ecoregions. The endemic flora contains 879 species and subspecies in 55 families and 287 genera. Three new combinations are proposed. The High Atlas, Middle Atlas and the Rif mountains are the three richest floristic regions for endemic species, but the endemics are not restricted to these floristic regions only. Conservation efforts are therefore necessary in both the Mediteranean and Saharan ecoregions to preserve the biodiversity and botanical richness of Morocco. In this updated checklist we propose a new combination (Verbascum demnatensis) and a new name (Verbascum hamidoui) in the genus Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae).

Identifying the generic limits of the Cheilanthoid genus Doryopteris

Morphology-based delimitation of genera in the Cheilanthoid ferns has proved to be problematic and understanding of the phylogeny and relationships amongst Cheilanthoid ferns based on morphological characters has posed even further difficulties, owing perhaps in large part to adaptation by many taxa to xeric habitats, as well as convergent evolution. It is only now with the application of DNA sequence data that relationships of species and genera are becoming clear. Here, we present results of cpDNA sequence data from species that have been traditionally placed in the genus Doryopteris and, based on both these results, and morphological and distribution data, this study helps clarify the concept of the genus Doryopteris its position within the Cheilanthoid ferns and the status of Lytoneuron. As a result, three genera are redefined: Doryopteris, Lytoneuron and Ormopteris.