Cistus munbyi

Cistus munbyi is a shrubby species of flowering plant in the family Cistaceae, with white flowers. Related to and resembling Cistus clusii, it is native to Morocco and Algeria in western north Africa.

Cistus munbyi
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malvales
Family:	Cistaceae
Genus:	Cistus
Species:	C. munbyi
Binomial name
Cistus munbyi Pomel[1]
Synonyms[1]
Cistus sericeus Munby, nom. illeg.

Description

Cistus munbyi has narrow linear leaves with a single prominent vein, generally 6–30 mm (0.2–1.2 in) long by 1–4 mm (0.0–0.2 in) wide, with edges that are turned down (revolute). The upper surfaces of the leaves are smooth, the lower surfaces have a dense covering of short stellate hairs. It has white flowers.^[2] C. munbyi resembles C. clusii, but the flower-bearing branches are longer and the flower stalks (peduncles) and sepals are covered with white hairs, making them appear silky ("sericeus").^[3]

Taxonomy

Giles Munby gave a description of this species under the name Cistus sericeus in 1847.^[3][4] The name had already been published by Martin Vahl in 1790, so that Munby's name is illegitimate.^[5] Auguste Nicolas Pomel published the currently used name in 1874,^[1] the specific epithet munbyi honouring Munbyi.

Phylogeny

Molecular phylogenetic studies place C. munbyi in a clade with Cistus clusii within the larger white and whitish pink clade of Cistus species, sister to all the remaining white and whitish pink flowered species.^[6][7]

Species-level cladogram of Cistus species.

Halimium spp.           Halimium spp.   PPC           Cistus crispus                 Cistus heterophyllus           Cistus albidus     Cistus creticus           Cistus asper     Cistus chinamadensis     Cistus horrens     Cistus ocreatus     Cistus osbeckiifolius     Cistus palmensis     Cistus symphytifolius     WWPC                 Cistus clusii     Cistus munbyi           Cistus inflatus     Cistus ladanifer     Cistus laurifolius     Cistus libanotis     Cistus monspeliensis     Cistus parviflorus     Cistus populifolius     Cistus pouzolzii     Cistus salviifolius     Cistus sintenisii     Purple   Pink   Clade   White   Whitish Pink   Clade

Species-level cladogram of Cistus species, based on plastid and nuclear DNA sequences.[6][8][2][7]

Distribution and habitat

Cistus munbyi is native to western north Africa, occurring at elevations of up to 100 metres (330 ft) along the Mediterranean coasts of Morocco and Algeria. It occurs in dry, sunny locations, generally in alkaline soils among bushy vegetation.^[2] Munby's description was based on a specimen from the cliffs east of Oran.^[3]