Molecular and morphological evidence supports the resurrection of a neglected species of Daucus (Apiaceae) from North Africa

A neglected species of Daucus (Apiaceae), D. mauritii, endemic to northern Morocco, is revived. A full description, illustrations and photographs are provided, and a lectotype is designated. This species has previously been synonymized under D. muricatus. However, although D. mauritii shares morphological features with D. muricatus and D. aureus, it shows a unique combination of characters that warrants recognition as a distinct species. Analysis of (internal transcribed spacer, ITS), trnQ-rps16 intergenic spacer and rps16 intron sequences indicates that D. mauritii is closely related to D. aureus. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 169, 320–337.