Stauracanthus Link
Genus composed in North Africa of 2 species distributed along humid and subhumid mountains on the NW region. Recently molecular phylogeny studies relate Stauracanthus (a paraphyletic genus) to Ulex and intend to include this genus within Ulex (The Plant List). However both the morphology and the chromosome number (Ulex basic nº ×=16; Stauracanthus, polyploid with basic nº ×=12) lead to consider them independently. In addition, using a paleogeographic criteria, based on the basal position of Stauracanthus in the group’s evolution, makes it convenient to maintain them differentiated, as does Paloma Cubas (although in her most recent studies she mentions the phylogenetic trees). See also its descriptions in Flora iberica.
Cubas, P., 1984. Estudio taxonómico de los géneros Ulex L. y Stauracanthus Link en la Península ibérica. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. MADRID. 284 pp.
Key to species
1 Flowers 7-11 mm long, calyx lip with 2 small teeth at the apex. Pod 6.5-13 mm long, with 2-4 seeds Stauracanthus boivinii
1 Flowers 11-17 mm long, with the calyx lip split halfway into 2 lanceolate lobes. Pod 15-25 mm, with 4-6 seeds Stauracanthus spectabilis
Updated by: H. Sainz & J. Charco.