Scorpiurus

Scorpiurus L.

Scorpiurus is a taxonomically complex genus, native in the Mediterranean area, Macaronesia, western Asia and northeastern Africa. Species delimitation is very controversial but most recent works only recognize two species: S. muricatus and S. vermiculatus L. (Mabberley 2008, Sell & Murrell 2009; compare for instance with Talavera & Domínguez 2000). All other taxa are given infraspecific rank, mostly under the former. Both species have been recorded as aliens in Belgium.

1. Flowers usually 2-5 in a head (rarely solitary). Stem and peduncle glabrous or with +/- appressed hairs. Fruit smooth to spiny === Scorpiurus muricatus

1. Flowers usually solitary (rarely 2 or more). Stem and peduncle with patent hairs. Fruit with blunt tubercles === S. vermiculatus

 


References

Domínguez E. & Galiano E.F. (1974a) Revisión del género Scorpiurus L. I. Parte experimental. Lagascalia 4: 61-84.

Domínguez E. & Galiano E.F. (1974b) Revisión del género Scorpiurus L. 2. Parte sistematica. Lagascalia 4: 259-280.

Heyn C.H. & Raviv V. (1966) Experimental taxonomic studies in the genus Scorpiurus (Papilionaceae). Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 93: 259-267.

Lambinon J. & Dieu J.-M. (1990) A propos de quelques adventices d’origine méditerranéenne observées à Slins (province de Liège, Belgique). Nat. Mosana 43(1): 1-5.

Mabberley D.J. (2008) Mabberley’s plant-book (3th ed.). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: XVIII + 1021 p.

M'Hammedi Bouzina M., Abdelguerfi Laouar M., Abdelguerfi A. & Guittonneau G.G. (2005) Autoécologie et distribution du complexe d'espèces Scorpiurus muricatus (S. sulcatus - S. subvillosus) en Algérie. Acta Bot. Gallica 152: 11-23.

Sell P. & Murrell G. (2009) Flora of Great Britain and Ireland. Vol. 3 Mimosaceae – Lentibulariaceae. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: XXVIII + 595 p.

Talavera S. & Domínguez E. (2000) Scorpiurus. In: Talavera S. & al. (eds.), Flora Iberica, vol. 7(II). Real Jardín Botánico, Madrid: 935-942.

Van Ooststroom S.J. & Reichgelt Th.J. (1964) De in Nederland adventief gevonden vormen van Scorpiurus muricatus. Gorteria 1(4): 37-39.

Taxonomic name: 
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith