Foeniculum sanguineum Triano & A. Pujadas (Apiaceae) new species from the South-Western Mediterranean Region

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Foeniculum sanguineum Triano & A. Pujadas (Apiaceae) new species from the south western Mediterranean Region. Foeniculum sanguineum Triano & A. Pujadas, sp. nov., from the south western Mediterranean Region (Spain & Morocco) is described. Its characterization and a comparative study with the related species Foeniculum vulgare Mill., has been carried out through morphological, cytological, chemical and molecular analysis. F. sanguineum is distinguished primarily for its red petals, pink pollen in fresh, and red stylopod. It is a diploid species (2n= 22). A high proportion of limonene and piperitenone oxide (absent in F. vulgare) has been found in the essential oil composition of the dry fruits of F. sanguineum and a high amount (about 50 %) of α-phellandrene in its roots and stems. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using the internal transcribed spacer sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS) and the chloroplast rbcL gene sequences. ITS analysis supports the existence of the new species, while revealing sequence divergence both at the intraspecific and at the interspecific levels. A Single-nucleotide-polymorphism (SNP) sequence divergence found in the slow evolving chloroplast gene provided additional support for the novel species characterization, for which the name Foeniculum sanguineum is proposed.

Chemical Variability of the Essential Oils from Two Portuguese Apiaceae: Coriandrum sativum L. and Foeniculum vulgare Mill.

“…Since the study of Pujadas Salvà et al in 2015 [ 33 ], the genus Foeniculum has changed from being considered monospecific, including just F. vulgare Mill., to also include F. sanguineum Triano and A. Pujadas. This species shows not only distinctive morphological and molecular characters of F. vulgare but also distinct chemical ones.…”

“…This species shows not only distinctive morphological and molecular characters of F. vulgare but also distinct chemical ones. Pujadas Salvà et al [ 33 ] showed that this species fruits’ EOs were characterized by high limonene (60%) and piperitone oxide content (21%), with the later compound not being detected in F. vulgare fruits’ EOs. In the current study, the limonene content was always <7%, and piperitone oxide was not detected.…”

“…The genus shows a high level of morphological variability, and other sources may consider various taxonomic classifications [ 33 , 34 ], but there seems to be consensus on the terminology of bitter fennel and sweet fennel. European Pharmacopoeia 10 [ 30 ] as well as Portuguese Pharmacopeia IX [ 31 ] assign three monographs to this genus, two to the fruit and another to the EO.…”