Primulaceae

Raab-Straube, Eckhard von & Raus, Thomas, 2025, Euro + Med-Checklist Notulae, 18, Willdenowia 55 (1), pp. 107-144 : 131

Primulaceae

Lysimachia baudoi Véla , nom. nov. ≡ Anagallis platyphylla Baudo in Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., ser. 2, 20: 345. 1843 ≡ Anagallis arvensis var. platyphylla (Baudo) Durieu, Expl. Sci. Algerie, Atlas , livraison 20: 30. 1869 [“1855”] ≡ Anagallis arvensis subsp. platyphylla (Baudo) Batt. in Battandier & Trabut, Fl. Algerie, Dicot.: 723. 1890 ≡ Lysimachia arvensis subsp. platyphylla (Baudo) Véla in Willdenowia 51: 157. 2021, non Lysimachia platyphylla Merr. in Contr. Arnold Arbor. 8: 134. 1934.

Anagallis platyphylla Baudo was described as a species distinct from both A. monelli L. s.l. and A. arvensis L. s.l. with the following diagnosis ( Baudo 1843): “Herba A. arvensis latifoliae cum flore Monnelli coeruleae. – Caul[is]. tetrapterus, antherae lineares”. I already postulated the exclusion of A. platyphylla from the variability of A. arvensis subsp. arvensis ( Véla 2021) contrary to the opinion of Pujadas (1997), particularly due to the constancy of corolla size (15–19 mm vs 6–12 mm) and the chorology (Algerian-Tunisian endemic vs Palearctic widespread). Recently, a major study has been published on molecular phylogeny and cryptic speciation between red- and blue-flowered forms of Lysimachia arvensis s.l. and L. monelli s.l. ( Jiménez-López & al. 2022). In summary, the corolla colour in the two collective species is neither a polymorphism nor a late convergence but an early divergence, making both species groups polyphyletic. In addition to the ploidy level, the phylogenetic history and discrete morphological criteria infer specific rank for each investigated taxon: L. arvensis (L.) U. Manns & Anderb. (red A. arvensis ); L. loeflingii F. J. Jiménez & M. Talavera (blue A. arvensis = A. arvensis subsp. latifolia (L.) Arcang.); L. foemina (Mill.) U. Manns & Anderb. ( A. foemina Mill. ); L. monelli (L.) U. Manns & Anderb. (blue A. monelli L.); L. collina (Schousb.) F. J. Jiménez (red A. monelli = A. monelli subsp. collina (Schousb.) H. Lindb. ); and L. talaverae L. Sáez & Aymerich (≡ A. arven s i s subsp. parviflora (Hoffmanns. & Link) Arcang. ). Unfortunately, the overlooked “ L. arvensis subsp. platyphylla ”, a ruderal annual with large, blue flowers, presumed to be an endemic of Algeria and Tunisia, has not been sampled. In this context, the most parsimonious hypothesis is to consider “ L. arvensis subsp. platyphylla ” no longer as a subspecies of the red L. arvensis . It is also likely neither a subspecies nor a sister species of L. collina because of the flower-colour criterion nor of L. monelli and L. foemina because of flower colour and shape of leaves ( Véla 2021). It seems more probable to consider it a subspecies or sister species of L. loeflingii and/or L. talaverae , preferably the tetraploid L. loeflingii , considering the same ruderal ecology in synanthropic environments, contrary to L. talaverae , which is diploid and grows in primary, oligotrophic habitats. POWO (2024b) currently considers “ L. arvensis subsp. platyphylla ” as a synonym under the unplaced name “ A. platyphylla Baudo ”. In order to allow taxonomic placement, taking into account the latest findings by Jiménez-López & al. (2022), I propose to accept the taxon in the genus Lysimachia Tourn. ex L. at specific rank. Because the validly published name L. platyphylla Merr. already exists, designating a taxon native to N Sumatra ( Merrill 1934), a replacement name for the N African species is needed. E. Véla