Berberocarum, a new genus from the High Atlas Mountains (Morocco), with notes on some NW African Umbelliferae-Apioideae

In the Northwest Africa (Morocco), Carum is represented by 6 species,
which belong to little known taxa of Umbelliferae (Apiaceae). In order to
clarify the relationships of these species within Carum, we have conducted
detailed morphological studies and molecular sequence analysis based on
the nuclear DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and plastid rps16 intron
(rps16) region for four species, namely C. atlanticum, C. jahandiezii, C.
lacuum and C. proliferum. According to molecular data, Moroccan Carum
species form three isolated evolutionary lines distant from that of the
generitype C. carvi. The morphological study shows that fruits of C.
atlanticum belong to a carpological type markedly different from that of
other Carum species. Based on the correlation of obtained carpological and
molecular data, we have proposed to separate C. atlanticum to a new
monotypic genus Berberocarum, endemic to the High Atlas Mountains.