Cistus munbyi
# Cistus munbyi

Cistus munbyi is a shrubby species of flowering plant in the family Cistaceae, with white flowers. Related to and resembling Cistus clusii, it is native to Morocco and Algeria in western north Africa.

## Description

Cistus munbyi has narrow linear leaves with a single prominent vein, generally 6–30 mm (0.2–1.2 in) long by 1–4 mm (0.0–0.2 in) wide, with edges that are turned down (revolute). The upper surfaces of the leaves are smooth, the lower surfaces have a dense covering of short stellate hairs. It has white flowers. C. munbyi resembles C. clusii, but the flower-bearing branches are longer and the flower stalks (peduncles) and sepals are covered with white hairs, making them appear silky ("sericeus").

## Taxonomy

Giles Munby gave a description of this species under the name Cistus sericeus in 1847. The name had already been published by Martin Vahl in 1790, so that Munby's name is illegitimate. Auguste Nicolas Pomel published the currently used name in 1874, the specific epithet munbyi honouring Munbyi.

## Phylogeny

Molecular phylogenetic studies place C. munbyi in a clade with Cistus clusii within the larger white and whitish pink clade of Cistus species, sister to all the remaining white and whitish pink flowered species.

Species-level cladogram of Cistus species. :

| Halimium spp.    PPC     Cistus crispus       Cistus asper   Cistus chinamadensis   Cistus horrens   Cistus ocreatus   Cistus osbeckiifolius   Cistus palmensis   Cistus symphytifolius     Cistus heterophyllus     Cistus albidus   Cistus creticus   Halimium spp.   WWPC       Cistus clusii   Cistus munbyi     Cistus inflatus   Cistus ladanifer   Cistus laurifolius   Cistus libanotis   Cistus monspeliensis   Cistus parviflorus   Cistus populifolius   Cistus pouzolzii   Cistus salviifolius   Cistus sintenisii | Purple Pink Clade  White Whitish Pink Clade |
| - | - |

Species-level cladogram of Cistus species, based on plastid and nuclear DNA sequences. :

## Distribution and habitat

Cistus munbyi is native to western north Africa, occurring at elevations of up to 100 metres (330 ft) along the Mediterranean coasts of Morocco and Algeria. It occurs in dry, sunny locations, generally in alkaline soils among bushy vegetation. Munby's description was based on a specimen from the cliffs east of Oran.

