Rubus carpetanus (Rosaceae), a new species from the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract

Rubus carpetanus is a new endemic Rubus species included in the series Hystrix. It is located in Spain, in the Central Range of the Iberian Peninsula, specifically in the Carpetanian Mountains. It grows in acid soils, high humidity, near riversides, alongside oak and pine forests. In the Iberian Peninsula there is only one other species belonging to this series, Rubus brigantinus Samp., located in the NW Iberian Peninsula. Each has a different distribution and very different characteristics, such as stems (procumbent, purplish, obtusely angled with stellate hairs in R. carpetanus, while arching-prostrate, reddish, bluntly angled with single hairs in R. brigantinus), prickles and pricklets (slightly declined with broad and puffed base in R. carpetanus, while straight and thin at the base in R. brigantinus), stalked glands, leaves and leaflets (terminal leaflet longly acuminate in R. carpetanus, while shortly acuminate in R. brigantinus) and the colour of the flowers (white petals, ovate and not imbricated in R. carpetanus, while light pink, spathulate and sometimes imbricated in R. brigantinus).

Keywords:

• Rubus carpetanus
• Rubus brigantinus
• ser. Hystrix
• endemic
• taxonomy
• biogeography
• Iberian Peninsula
• Central Range
• Spain

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the herbaria MAF, MA and PO for their kind support (especially to the keeper of PO, Cristina Vieira). Our profound gratitude for Eliana Linares, for helping us with the map. We also thank Brian Crilly for his linguistic assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Authors contributions

Research design: JAVO; performance research: JAVO & AGM; collection and organization of plants data: JAVO & AGM; bibliographical and herbarium queries at MAF, MA and PO: JAVO & AGM; composition of images: JAVO, manuscript writing: JAVO & AGM; revised by both authors.