''Cistus munbyi'' is a

shrub A shrub (often also called a bush) is a small-to-medium-sized perennial woody plant. Unlike herbaceous plants, shrubs have persistent woody stems above the ground. Shrubs can be either deciduous or evergreen. They are distinguished from trees ...

species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...

flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...

in the family

Cistaceae The Cistaceae are a small family of plants (rock-rose or rock rose family) known for their beautiful shrubs, which are profusely covered by flowers at the time of blossom. This family consists of about 170(-200) species in nine genera that are ...

, with white flowers. Related to and resembling '' Cistus clusii'', it is native to

Morocco Morocco (),, ) officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is the westernmost country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to ...

and

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

in western north Africa.

Description

''Cistus munbyi'' has narrow linear leaves with a single prominent vein, generally long by 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. ''C. munbyi'' resembles '' C. clusii'', but the flower-bearing branches are longer and the flower stalks ( peduncles) and

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coined b ...

s are covered with white hairs, making them appear silky ("''sericeus''").

Taxonomy

Giles Munby Giles Munby (1813–1876) was an English botanist. His major work concerned plants in North Africa, where he lived for 15 years. Life Born at York, was the youngest son of Joseph Munby, a solicitor and under-sheriff of Yorkshire, but was orphaned ...

gave a description of this species under the name ''Cistus sericeus'' in 1847. The name had already been published by

Martin Vahl Martin Henrichsen Vahl (10 October 1749 – 24 December 1804) was a Danish-Norwegian botanist, herbalist and zoologist. Biography Martin Vahl was born in Bergen, Norway and attended Bergen Cathedral School. He studied botany at the University ...

in 1790, so that Munby's name is illegitimate. Auguste Nicolas Pomel published the currently used name in 1874, the specific epithet ''munbyi'' honouring Munbyi.

Phylogeny

Molecular phylogenetic studies place ''C. munbyi'' in a

clade A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...

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.

Distribution and habitat

''Cistus munbyi'' is native to western north Africa, occurring at elevations of up to along the Mediterranean coasts of

and

Algeria ) , image_map = Algeria (centered orthographic projection).svg , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Algiers , coordinates = , largest_city = capital , relig ...

. It occurs in dry, sunny locations, generally in

alkaline soils Alkali, or Alkaline, soils are clay soils with high pH (greater than 8.5), a poor soil structure and a low infiltration capacity. Often they have a hard calcareous layer at 0.5 to 1 metre depth. Alkali soils owe their unfavorable physico- ...

among bushy vegetation. Munby's description was based on a specimen from the cliffs east of

Oran Oran ( ar, وَهران, Wahrān) is a major coastal city located in the north-west of Algeria. It is considered the second most important city of Algeria after the capital Algiers, due to its population and commercial, industrial, and cultural ...

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15331572 munbyi Plants described in 1874 Flora of North Africa