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Daphne libanotica: Re-evaluating a Lebanese Endemic Through Morphological Comparison

By Ramy Maalouf | March , 2025 (updated on August, 2025)

Introduction​

Daphne libanotica, a taxon first described by Mouterde in 1970, is endemic to Lebanon, yet its taxonomic status remains uncertain. Currently, major taxonomic databases, including Plants of the World Online (POWO), the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), and World Flora Online (WFO), treat D. libanotica as a synonym of the widespread Daphne pontica L. (POWO; GBIF; WFO, accessed 28 March 2025). However, the rediscovery of populations at several Lebanese sites, which align morphologically with Mouterde’s original description, challenges this synonymy. This article presents a critical assessment of the morphological and phenological differences between the Lebanese entity, here considered D. libanotica sensu Mouterde, and D. pontica as described in botanical literature, arguing that these differences justify its recognition as a distinct taxon. This re-evaluation is further supported by recent micromorpho-anatomical and molecular studies that reveal significant taxonomic complexity within the genus Daphne (Lee et al., 2022; Ozcan & Bak, 2025).

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Historical Background​

Paul Mouterde’s Nouvelle flore du Liban et de la Syrie (1970) provided the foundational diagnosis of Daphne libanotica based on specimens from Keserwan and Metn. Following these early collections, the taxon was not recorded for nearly 70 years, leading to concerns of its possible extinction (El Zein & Bou Dagher-Kharrat, 2021). The narrative shifted with the rediscovery of populations in Wadi Nahr el-Assi (2014) and Wadi Jhannam (2020), which were identified as D. pontica following the prevailing synonymy (El Zein & Bou Dagher-Kharrat, 2021). In 2023, a third population was discovered in Kfertay, Keserwan, by Mounir Maalouf. Field observations across these three contemporary sites reveal a high degree of morphological consistency, aligning remarkably well with Mouterde’s original diagnostic characters for D. libanotica.

Fig.1. Photos of Daphne pontica from kfertay - Lebanon

Fig.2. Daphne pontica in Goderdzi Pass (Georgia). Photos by Krzysztof Ziarnek, Kenraiz 2016

Morphological and Phenological Comparison​

​To evaluate the justification for synonymy, we compare the characteristics of the Lebanese entity against D. pontica as described in broader botanical literature.

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Mouterde's (1970) Description of Daphne libanotica

(Pl. CCXLIX, n. 1). — Bushy subshrub, 30-60 cm high. Upper branches leafy, reddish-brown (rouge-brun), very glabrous (très glabres). Leaves subcoriaceous (somewhat leathery), very glabrous, persistent, paler beneath (plus pâles en dessous), obovate-lanceolate (obovées-lancéolées), wedge-shaped at the base (en coin à la base), subsessile, 5 to 9 cm long, 1 to 2 cm wide. Floral peduncles axillary, puberulent (finely hairy), simple, 1-3 cm long, furnished at their base with short ovate-orbicular bracts measuring 2-4 mm, bearing 5 to 10 flowers at the apex. Flowers puberulent on both surfaces, pale yellowish-white (blanc-jaunâtre pâle), borne on a short pedicel, somewhat elongating after anthesis. Perianth lobes linear, acute, 2-4 mm, twice shorter than the cylindrical tube. Berry ovate, 6-8 mm, black.
Flowering: June-July. Fruit in November. Degraded woodlands.
L. Mi. Entre Dlepta et Mohrab (Vt, Mt, Thiéb, Gb, Pb), entre 'Arameun et Chahtoul (Mt, Pb).
S. Mi. Jaoubat Bourghal (Mt/Nahal). Mm. Slenfé (JL).
Aire géogr. — Endémique.

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Compiled Description of Daphne pontica (from various literature/websites):

General Habit and Growth: Daphne pontica is a small, evergreen shrub that typically grows to a height of 0.8 to 1 meter and can spread up to 1.5 meters in width, forming a rounded to spreading habit. The plant is multi-stemmed, with branches that are slender, often arching, and glabrous. It is a slow-growing species, taking 10 to 20 years to reach its mature size.
Leaves: The leaves are simple, undivided, and alternately arranged, often appearing clustered toward branch ends. They are obovate, measuring 2.5 to 10 cm in length and 1.3 to 3.2 cm in width. The leaves are sessile or nearly so, tapering gradually toward the base. The leaf surface is smooth, glossy, dark green, and leathery.
Flowers: Bloom in spring (typically April to May). Inflorescences are often borne in pairs on short peduncles from axils of reduced leaves, resulting in clusters of up to 10 flowers near shoot tips. Each flower is tubular, with a slender hypanthium (8–10 mm long). The perianth consists of four narrow, pointed, recurved lobes, pale yellow to yellowish-green. The flowers are typically described as glabrous.
Fruit: Fleshy drupes ripen June to August. Fruit is ovate, 8–10 mm long, typically black (subsp. pontica), though red-fruited subspecies exist (haematocarpa). Highly toxic.

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Analysis of Differentiating Characters

The key distinguishing morphological and phenological traits are summarized below:

The most critical distinctions are: the pubescence of the flowers and peduncles in D. libanotica versus the glabrous nature of D. pontica; the significantly different phenology, with the Lebanese populations flowering in August instead of spring; and the leaf morphology, where leaves are narrower and conspicuously paler on the underside, a key diagnostic trait noted by Mouterde and confirmed in the field.

 

Taxonomic Context and Supporting Literature

The argument to re-examine the status of D. libanotica is supported by the recognized taxonomic complexity of the genus Daphne.

  1. Molecular Phylogenetics: A pivotal study by Lee et al. (2022) using plastid and nuclear DNA revealed that the genus Daphne is non-monophyletic. This finding fundamentally challenges the current generic boundaries and indicates that taxonomic revisions are required, justifying a re-evaluation of taxa like D. libanotica.

  2. Micromorpho-Anatomical Data: A study by Ozcan and Bak (2025) on Turkish Daphne species confirmed that D. pontica is "completely glabrous." Their conclusion that micromorpho-anatomical characters are valuable for species delimitation supports the use of traits like pubescence as a valid basis for taxonomic distinction.

  3. Intraspecific Variation: The genus is known to harbor significant, recognized variation. For instance, Sajedi et al. (2022) described D. pontica subsp. haematocarpa based on its red fruit color. The formal recognition of a subspecies based on a single character strengthens the argument that the multiple, consistent differences in D. libanotica are sufficient for recognition at the species level.

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Conclusion and Future Research

The suite of consistent morphological and phenological differences, particularly the subshrub habit, reddish stems, narrower leaves paler beneath, consistent flower and peduncle pubescence, and later flowering season, strongly differentiates the Lebanese entity from Daphne pontica. The alignment of contemporary observations with Mouterde's historical description reinforces the existence of a stable, distinct taxon in Lebanon.

While this evidence challenges the current synonymy, a definitive resolution requires modern analytical methods. A comparative molecular phylogenetic analysis, using DNA from the Lebanese populations alongside samples of D. pontica from its wider range, is essential. Clarifying this taxonomy is not merely an academic exercise; it has direct conservation implications. If D. libanotica is a distinct endemic species, its conservation status (currently assessed as Critically Endangered in Lebanon under the name D. pontica; El Zein & Bou Dagher-Kharrat, 2021) warrants specific protective measures focused on its unique ecological niche.

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Acknowledgments

I extend my gratitude to Mounir Maalouf for the discovery of the Kfertay population and for the high-quality photographs that document the botanical details of this plant.

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References

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© Ramy Maalouf 2020 - 2025

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