Angelica archangelica (Apiaceae), a new species to ... - Bio.bas.bg

PHYTOLOGIA BALCANICA 18 (1): 5 – 9, Sofia, 2012 

Angelica archangelica (Apiaceae), a new species to Turkey: 

a contribution to its taxonomy and distribution 

Ruziye Daşkın & Gönül Kaynak 

Department of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Uludag University, 16059, 

Görükle, Bursa, Turkey, e-mail: ruziyeg@uludag.edu.tr (corresponding author) 

Received: January 25, 2012 � Accepted: March 15, 2012 

Abstract. Angelica archangelica (Apiaceae) collected from Mt Uludağ (NW Turkey), is reported for the first time for the 

flora of Turkey. The authors provide an expanded description, detailed photos and habitat preference of the 

species. Furthermore, its taxonomy and geographical distribution across the world are also discussed. 

Key words: Angelica archangelica, Mt Uludağ, taxonomy, Turkey 

Introduction 

The genus Angelica L. is widely distributes in northern 

temperature zone and comprises 110 species growing 

across the world (Mabberley 2008). In Europe it is represented 

by eight species (Cannon 1968): nine species 

in the former USSR (Shishkin 1974) and two in West 

Pakistan (Nasir 1972). Two varieties of A. sylvestris L., 

namely var. sylvestris and var. stenoptera Lallem., have 

been described from Turkey so far. Of these, A. sylvestris 

var. stenoptera is endemic and only known from 

the type locality (Chamberlain 1972; Davis & al. 1988; 

Güner & al. 2000). In this paper A. archangelica L. is 

recorded for the first time for the Turkish flora. Thus, 

the total number of Angelica species known from Turkey 

has now increased to two. 

Material and methods 

The material was collected during the floristic studies 

of Mt Uludağ, between 2003 and 2006, and was identified 

according to several Floras: Flora Europaea (Cannon 

1968), Flora of USSR (Shiskin 1972), Flora Nordica 

(Fröberg 2009), Flora of West Pakistan (Nasir 1974), 

and Flora of Turkey (Chamberlain 1972; Davis & al. 

1988; Güner & al. 2000). The species was described 

according to our observations of the collected specimens 

and the above-mentioned literature. Transverse 

sections of the fruit of A. sylvestris and A. archangelica 

are also given (Fig. 4). Terminology in these sections 

follows Liu & al. (2006). All collected materials were 

numbered and deposited in the Herbarium of Uludağ 

University, Department of Biology (BULU). 

Results 

Angelica archangelica L., Sp. Pl. 250 (1753) (Figs 1–2) 

Syn.: A. officinalis Moench in Methodus Plantas Horti 

Botanici et Agri Marburgensis, 81 (1794); A. officinalis 

Bernh., Syst. Verz. (Bernhardi) 170 (1800); A. 

archangelica L. var. himalaica (Clarke) Nasir in Fl. 

W. Pakistan 20: 126 (1972); A. archangelica L. subsp. 

himalaica (Clarke) G. Singh in Forest Fl. Srinagar 183 

(1987); A. archangelica L. subsp. himalaica (Clarke) G. 

Singh & G. M. Oza in Bull. Bot. Surv. India 16(14): 

168 (1974 publ. 1977); A. archangelica L. f. himalaica 

(Clarke) Weinert, Feddes Repert. 84 (4): 310 (1973). 

Typus: “Hab. in Alpibus Lapponiae, ad rivulos” Linn. 

5

6 Daşkın, R. & Kaynak, G. • Angelica archangelica, a new species to Turkey 

Fig. 2. Basal leaf (A) and ultimate segment of leaf (B) of A. archangelica 

(BULU 20389). 

Herb. 354.1 (LINN). Lectotype: sel. by Reduron, Nordic 

J. Bot. 22: 83 (2002). 

An erect perennial with pungent odour. Roots 

long, thick and fleshy. Stems up to 2 m, with ridges 

and grooves, hollow and tinged with purple, not glaucous. 

Basal leaves very large, 2-pinnate, glabrous. Primary 

leaflets 4–9 × 2–4.5 cm, angle to rachis 40–55°, 

ovate to elliptic, acutely serrate, acuminate; irregular 

in outline and incised, often distinctly decurrent 

on the rachis. Ultimate leaf segments 8.5–12 × 5.5– 

10 cm, with 3 acuminate to obtuse and distinctly decurrent 

lobes, sessile, usually doubly serrate, with 

acute to acuminate teeth; base attenuate to cordate; 

apical lobe 4.5–7.0 × 2.0–3.5 cm. Cauline leaves 2-pinnate, 

ca. 11 × 10 cm and with petioles strongly sheated 

at the base. Upper leaves reduced to inflated sheaths, 

Fig. 1. Angelica archangelica 

L. A, General view 

in the natural habitat. 

B, Fruit. C, Inflorescence. 

Photo G. Kaynak, 

BULU 28222). 

which enclose the developing umbels. Umbels globose, 

10–20 cm across. Peduncles 2–22 cm, stout, glabrous. 

Bracts absent. Umbellules 30–40, 30–70-flowered, 

1–3.5 cm diam. Pedicels 0.3–1.7 cm, papillose all 

over. Bracteoles 8–13, persistent, linear, 0.8–1 × 0.2– 

0.7 mm, glabrous or papillose. Sepals 0.2 mm. Petals 

1.5–2.0 × 1.0 mm (excluding the ca. 0.5 mm long 

acuminate and incurved tip), olive-green to cream, 

ovate, cordate at base. Filaments 2.0–4.0 mm; anthers 

0.8–0.9 mm. Fruits oblong, slightly dorsiventrally flattened, 

glabrous. Mericarps 6–9 × 3.0–4.5 mm (excluding 

lateral ridges); dorsal ridges prominent and acute, 

the lateral ones developed as 0.2–0.8 mm wide wings 

(marginal wings) measured from the lateral veins. 

Chromosome number. 2n = 2x = 22. 

Habitat. On damp rocks and at watersides, under 

mixed forest of Pinus nigra-Fagus orientalis, between 

1450–1700 m, in Mt Uludağ, Turkey. 

Phenology. Flowering in June, fruiting July–August. 

General distribution. N & NE Europe, Himalayas 

in India, Pakistan, Nepal, former USSR and NW Turkey. 

Specimens examined: (Europe) unspecified, (B, 

digital image!). (Turkey). A2 (A) Bursa: Uludağ Mt; 

Keles, above Pınarcık village, on damp rocks, 1450– 

1500 m, 2003.07.09, G. Kaynak, R. Daşkın & Ö. Yılmaz, 

BULU 17338; İnegöl, Kıranköy village to Kıran Plataeu, 

at watersides, 1700 m, 2004.07.20, G. Kaynak, 

R. Daşkın & Ö. Yılmaz, BULU 20389; above Pınarcık 

village to Dutçalık Locality, 7. km, on damp rocks, 

1450–1500 m, 2006.07.17, G. Kaynak, R. Daşkın & K. 

Daşkın, BULU 28222.

Phytol. Balcan. 18(1) • Sofia • 2012 

Discussion 

There are no earlier records of Angelica archangelica 

from Turkey before this study. A comparison between 

our findings and the accounts given in Flora Europaea 

(Cannon 1968), Flora Nordica (Fröberg 2009) and Flora 

of West Pakistan (Nasir 1972) was made (Table 1). 

As can be seen from the Table, the species shows a variation 

in the length of peduncles, pedicels, bracteoles, 

and petal colour, as well as in the features of umbel 

rays and fruit. The species is native to N and NE Europe, 

South Greenland, N and C. Siberia, the Himalayas 

in India, Pakistan, and Nepal (Fig. 3). A big gap 

exists between the European and Asian continents in 

the distribution of the species. The population recorded 

from Uludağ (NW Turkey) is important, because 

it supports a connection between the European and 

Himalayan populations. The northern part of Uludağ 

is similar to Europe in terms of habitat and ecological 

conditions. The fact that the Euro-Siberian elements 

are dominant and that some species originating from 

Europe are present in the mountain verify this opinion 

(Daşkın & al. 2006; Daşkın & al. 2007; Daşkın & 

Kaynak 2010a, b, 2011). 

The species is close to A. sylvestris but mainly differs 

in its more irregular and incised, acutely serrate 

and decurrent on rachis leaf lobes, distinctly decurrent 

and 3-lobed ultimate segments, greenish to cream 

or whitish flowers, and fruits with rather thick mericarps 

(Cannon 1968; Fröberg 2009). The genus Angelica 

has fruits comprising two homomorphic mericarps 

that are laterally compressed and is one of the genera 

in the family Apiaceae that have fruits with marginal 

wings (Liu & al. 2006). Transverse sections of the fruit 

of A. sylvestris and A. archangelica show that the mericarps 

of A. archangelica are thicker, its marginal wings 

Table 1. A comparison of selected characters of Angelica archangelica in this study with different Floras. 

Characters This study Flora Europaea Flora Nordica Flora of W Pakistan 

Leaves 2-pinnate 2-pinnate to ternate 2-pinnate to ternate 2–3 pinnate 

Leaf lobes 4–9 × 2–4.5 cm 

ovate to elliptic 

Ultimate leaf segments 8.5–12 × 5.5–10 cm 

3-lobed, decurrent 

not indicated not indicated 4–15 × 2–3 cm 

lanceolate to ovate 

not indicated 

3-lobed, decurrent 

6.5–13 × 8–17 cm 

with shallow sinuses 

Peduncle length 2–22 cm not indicated 10–13 cm 8–15 cm 

not indicated 

with decurrent bases 

Number of bracts 0 0–few 0–8 not indicated 

Umbel rays 30–40, glabrous numerous, puberulent 22–54, papillose 15–40, not indicated 

Pedicel length 3–17 mm not indicated 9–15 mm 5–8 mm 

Number of bracteoles 

Bracteole size 

Number of flowers/ 

umbellule 

Petal colour 

Petal size 

(excl. petal tip length) 

Fruit shape 

Fruit size 

Dorsal ridges of fruit 

Lateral ridges of fruit 

8–13 

0.8–1 × 0.2–0.7 mm 

30–70 

olive-green to cream 

1.5–2 × 1 mm 

oblong 

6–9 × 3–4.5 mm 

prominent 

acute 

with 0.2–0.8 mm wide 

wings 

not indicated 

not indicated 

not indicated 

greenish-white to cream 

not indicated 

oblong to elliptic 

5–8 ×3.5–5 mm 

prominent or not 

acute to obtuse 

not indicated 

2–13 

2.5–18 × 0.2–15 mm 

34–68 

green-grey to olive or 

white to greenish-white 

1–1.9 ×0.7–1.4 mm 

broadly oblong 

or rectangular 

3–9 × 1.1–2.2 mm 

prominent or not 

not indicated 

with 0.2–0.9 mm wide 

wings 

not indicated 

not indicated 

numerous 

white 

not indicated 

oblong to sub- 

quadrate 

6–8 × 3–4 mm 

prominent 

not indicated 

not indicated 

7

8 Daşkın, R. & Kaynak, G. • Angelica archangelica, a new species to Turkey 

Fig. 3. Geographical distribution of A. archangelica L. across the 

world. N and NE Europe, South Greenland, N and C. Siberia ( ), 

NW Turkey ( ), India, Pakistan, and Nepal ( ). 

are wider and the number of valecular vitta on each 

mericarp exceed that of A. sylvestris (Fig. 4). 

Angelica archangelica is subdivided into two subspecies 

in Flora Europaea (Cannon 1968), Flora Nordica 

(Fröberg 2009). Angelica archangelica subsp. archangelica 

is distributed in the mountains and has long 

bracteoles and large fruits with acute ridges. On the 

contrary, A. archangelica subsp. littoralis (Wahlenb.) 

Thell. is distributed at seashore and has short bracteoles 

and small fruits with rounded ridges. A comprehensive 

investigation of the species taxonomy in 

Norway has indicated a correlation between habitat 

and fruit morphology in the southern, but not in the 

northern parts. Generally, the fruits are larger in subsp. 

archangelica than in subsp. littoralis. Furthermore, 

several characters, i.e. length/width ratio of the apical 

leaflet, number and size of bracteoles and petal colour, 

can be used in delimiting the two subspecies (Cannon 

1968; Fröberg 2009). The species is known 

for the flora of W. Pakistan as A. angelica var. 

himalaica (Nasir 1972). 

According to Flora Nordica (Fröberg 2009), 

A. a. subsp. archangelica is sweetly fragrant in 

taste, with rather easily compressed, not glaucous 

stem and petioles, elongated apical leaflet 

(length/width ratio 1.5–2.7), 8–13, 4–18 × 0.3– 

1(–1.5) mm large bracteoles, flowers with 

green-grey to olive-green petals, and fruits with 

6–9 × 4–6 mm large mericarps. On the contrary, 

subsp. A. a. littoralis is sharp in taste, with a 

usually distinctly glaucous, hard stem and petioles, 

rounded apical leaflet (length/width ratio 

1.2–1.6), 2–12, 2.5–5 × 0.2–0.4 mm large bracteoles, 

flowers with white to greenish white petals, 

fruits with 5–6.5 × 3.5–4.5 mm large mericarps. 

Since A. archangelica has been cultivated 

for a long time, many intermediates occur between 

the two subspecies. This makes difficult 

the taxonomy of the species. Therefore, our 

specimens can be classified as belonging to subsp. 

archangelica, according to the above-mentioned 

characters, but we assume that they are 

given at a species level in this paper. 

Fig. 4. Transverse sections of fruit of A. sylvestris, BULU 

26232 (A) and A. archangelica, BULU 28222 (B). co – comissure; 

cv – commissural vitta; en – endosperm; maw – marginal 

wings; vv – valecular vitta.

Phytol. Balcan. 18(1) • Sofia • 2012 

As a result of this study, the total number of the Angelica 

species recorded from Turkey has increased to 

two. Distribution of these taxa in Turkey is shown in 

Fig. 5. The following key is offerred for the genus Angelica 

in Turkey: 

1. Terminal leaf lobes coarsely dentate, usually simple 

and not decurrent; umbels rays puberulent; flowers 

pinkish-white ............................................................ 

...................................................................... A. sylvestris 

References 

Cannon, J.F.M. 1968. Angelica L. – In: Tutin, T.G. & al. (eds), Flora 

Europaea. Vol. 2. pp. 357-358. Cambridge Univ. Press, Cambridge. 

Chamberlain, D.F. 1972. Angelica L. – In: Davis, P.H. (ed.), Flora 

of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands. Vol. 4. pp. 431-432. 

Edinburgh Univ. Press, Edinburgh. 

Daşkın, R. & Kaynak, G. 2010 a. Vascular flora of the Uludag Mt 

(Bursa, Turkey) I. – Phytol. Balcan., 16(3): 367-384. 

Daşkın, R. & Kaynak, G. 2010 b. Vascular flora of the Uludag Mt 

(Bursa, Turkey) II. – Phytol. Balcan., 16(3): 385-411. 

Daşkın, R. & Kaynak, G. 2011. Conservation status of five endemic 

species distributed in Northwest Turkey. – Phytol. Balcan., 17(2): 

213-219. 

Daşkın, R., Yılmaz, Ö. & Kaynak, G. 2006. Presence of Cirsium 

erio phorum (L.) Scop. (Asteraceae) in Turkey. – Turk. J. Bot., 

30(6): 461-465. 

Daşkın, R., Yılmaz, Ö. & Kaynak, G. 2007. A new record for the 

flora of Turkey: Dactylorhiza maculata (L.) Soó subsp. maculata 

(Orchidaceae). – U.U.J.Biol. & Envirom. Sci. (JBES), 1-(1): 11-14. 

2 • Phytol. Balcan. 18(1) • 2012 

1a. Basal leaves lanceolate to ovate, with usually serrate 

ultimate segments; fruit wing 1–1.5 mm wide .............. 

........................................................................ var. sylvestris 

1a * . Basal leaves ovate, with crenate ultimate segments, 

fruit wing 0.3–0.8 mm wide .................. var. stenoptera 

1 * . Terminal leaf lobes acutely serrate, 3-lobed and 

distinctly decurrent; umbels rays glabrous; flowers 

greenish to cream ......................... A. archangelica 

Fig. 5. Distribution of genus Angelica in 

Turkey. A. sylvestris L. var. sylvestris ( ), 

A. sylvestris var. stenoptera Lallem. ( ) 

and A. archangelica L. ( ) 

Davis, P.H., Mill, R.R. & Tan, K. (eds). 1988. Flora of Turkey and the 

East Aegean Islands. Vol. 10. Edinburgh Univ. Press, Edinburgh. 

Güner, A., Özhatay, N., Ekim, T. & Başer, K.H.C. (eds). 2000. 

Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands. Vol. 11. Edinburgh 

Univ. Press, Edinburgh. 

Fröberg, L. 2009. Angelica L. – In: Flora Nordica electronic version 

code 6 b. – http://www.floranordica.org/Review/-Review_public/ 

accounts/Angelica.html (accessed 20.06.2009). 

Liu, M.R., Plunkett, G.M., Lowry, P.P. II, van Wyk, B.E. & Tilney, 

P.M. 2006. The taxonomic value of wing types in the order 

Apiales.– Amer. J. Bot., 93: 1357-1368. 

Mabberley, D.J. (ed.). 2008. Mabberley’s Plant-book. A portable dictionary 

of plants, their classification and uses. 3 rd edit. Cambridge 

Univ. Press, Cambridge. 

Nasir, E. 1972. Angelica L. – In: Nasir, E. & Ali, S.I. (eds), Flora 

of West Pakistan. Vol. 20, pp. 126. Univ. of Karachi, Pakistan. 

Shishkin, B.K. 1974. Angelica L. – In: Shishkin, B.K. (ed.), Flora of 

USSR. Vol. 17, pp. 11-33. Translated from Russian by the Israel 

Program Scientific Translations Ltd, Jerusalem. 

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