Miguel Cueto

Selection of an endemic flora reserve network and its biogeographical significance in the Baetic ranges (Southern Spain)

Abstract The Baetic mountains are a very important centre of plant diversity and endemicity. The current environmental legislation includes many of these localities. In order to assess the current reserves network and to propose a selection of protected areas, and to examine the biogeographic distinctiveness of that selection, we applied to the orophilous endemic flora a variety of algorithms (some of which were never used for Europe before) on the Baetic ranges. In order to preserve this natural heritage, it would be necessary to protect at least twelve massifs, considering the siliceous portion of Sierra Nevada as a great priority area. The most notable gaps in the legislation are the ranges of Gádor, Revolcadores and La Pandera. The selected localities were characterized by their great biogeographical distinctiveness. The distinctiveness of the obtained selections stresses their reliability and also emphasizes the suitability of the biogeographic researches of the flora of the Baetic ranges for conservation objectives.

Two hybrids ofThymus hyemalisLange (Labiatae) from Southeastern Spain

Two new hybrids in the genusThymus, Th. × indalicusBlanca et al., nothosp. nov. [=Th. baeticusBoiss. exLacaita ×Th. hyemalisLange subsp.hyemalis] andTh. × enicensisBlanca et al., nothosp. nov. [=Th. hyemalisLange subsp.hyemalis × Th. zygisLoefl. ex L. subsp.gracilis (Boiss.)R. Morales] are described. Until now no hybrids ofTh. hyemalis have been described, due to its early period of flowering and because it hybridizes with closely related species, making rather difficult the detection of such hybrids.