REVISION OF ANACYCLUS 



127 



Fig. 20 Distribution of Anacyclus clavatus. 



wings up to 1-2 mm, those from the centre of the disc with wings c. 0-3 mm in diameter, wings 

 truncate or with bluntly pointed auricles. Pappus an anterior lacerate corona. 



Flowering period: February-July. 

 Chromosome number: 2n= 18. 



Observations: This species is most closely related to Anacyclus homogamos and A. linearilobus. 

 They are similar in many respects, but A. homogamos can be readily distinguished by its generally 

 smaller habit and hermaphrodite discoid capitula, and A. linearilobus by the greatly dissected 

 leaves and longer spines on the receptacular scales. 



Variation: Anacyclus clavatus varies considerably in habit, pubescence and ligule characters. 

 As a consequence, different morphs have been given a variety of names. The name var. tomentosus, 

 for example, is one of the most commonly used names, since many populations are densely 

 pubescent. This character, as with habit and ligule length, is a continuously variable feature; so I 

 find little reason to give formal taxonomic ranks to apparently distinctive populations. 



Distribution and ecology: See Fig. 20. Anacyclus clavatus is a pernicious weed occupying a con- 

 siderable range in Mediterranean Europe and Africa. It is a dominant plant in disturbed habitats 

 of north Morocco, Algeria, Tunis and Libya and occurs abundantly in similar habitats in many 

 coastal and inland places of Spain, France, Italy, Jugoslavia, Greece and Turkey. Also it often 

 appears as a casual in various parts of Russia and northern Europe. 



Collections: 386 collections have been examined, mainly from southern Europe and north Africa. 



6. Anacyclus homogamos (Mai re) Humphries, comb, et stat. nov. 



Anacyclus valentinus subsp. dissimilis var. homogamos Maire in Bull. Soc. Hist. not. Afr. N. 23 : 189- 

 190 (1932). Orig. coll.: Maire s.n. (1929), 'In arvis et pascuis Imperii maroccani australis: prope 



