Nuytsia
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN HERBARIUM. VOLUME 21 (3) PAGES 91-156 201 1
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Department of Environment and Conservation
Cover
The Department of Environment and Conservation’s new Western Australian Conservation Science Centre, which incorporates the Western Australian Herbarium (PERTH).
Photograph: K.R. Thiele
Nuytsia
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN HERBARIUM VOLUME 21(3) PAGES 91-156 2011
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND CONSERVATION WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Nutysia Editorial Committee
Nuytsia is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes Scientific Editor Kevin Thiele
original papers and short communications on Managing Editor Beng Siew Mahon
the systematics, taxonomy and nomenclature of Subeditors Ryonen Butcher
Australian (particularly Western Australian) plants, Alex Chapman
algae and fungi. Terry Macfarlane Barbara Rye
Descriptions of taxa, revisions, identification Kelly Shepherd
guides, nomenclatural and taxonomic issues, Juliet Wege
systematic analyses and classifications, censuses, Curation Meriel Falconer
and information on invasive species are all con-
sidered.
Nuytsia is an open access journal in which papers Published by the Department of Environment
are made freely available on the web. There are and Conservation, Locked Bag 104, Bentley
no page charges. Delivery Centre, Western Australia 6983.
Information for authors and instructions for purchasing hard copies of each volume or © Copyright Department of Environment and part can be found on the journal’s website: Conservation 2011. All material in this journal http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/nuytsia. is copyright and may not be reproduced except
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ISSN 0085-4417
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Publication date for Nuytsia Volume 21(2): Postal address: 29 August 2011 Western Australian Herbarium Science Division Department of Environment and Conservation Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre Western Australia 6983
Enquiries regarding distribution and subscriptions should also be addressed to the Managing Editor.
Department of Environment and Conservation
Our environment, our future S
.
CONTENTS
Papers
Labichea rossii (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae), a new species from the Yilgarn Ranges, Western Australia. N. Gibson
A new and rare species of Ptilotus (Amaranthaceae) from a suburban wetland of the eastern Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia. R.W. Davis and C. Tauss
An assessment of some infraspecific taxa in Ptilotus (Amaranthaceae) from Western Australia. R.W. Davis
A revision of Dielsiodoxa (Ericaceae: Styphelioideae: Oligarrheneae). D.E. Albrecht and M. Hislop
Sida picklesiana (Malvaceae), a new species from the Murchison-Gascoyne region of Western Australia. A.S. Markey, S. Dillon, G.T.B. Cockerton and R.M. Barker
Two species of Jnocybe (fungi) introduced into Western Australia. N.L. Bougher and P.B. Matheny
Short Communication
Re-evaluation of some infraspecific taxa in Prilotus (Amaranthaceae). R.W. Davis
Validation of the name Drosera monticola (Droseracea
a species from the south-west of Western Australia. A. Lowrie
“a
Melaleuca marginata, a new name for Melaleuca coronicarpa (Myrtaceae). M. Hislop, B.J. Lepschi and L.A. Craven
Corrections
ee = = Sone Royal Botanic Gardens
Melbourme
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Nuytsia 21(3): 91-95 (2011) 91
Labichea rossii (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae), a new species from the Yilgarn Ranges, Western Australia
Neil Gibson
Science Division, Department of Environment and Conservation, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia 6983 Email: neil.gibson@dec.wa.gov.au
Abstract
Gibson, N. Labichea rossii (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae), a new species from the Yilgarn Ranges, Western Australia. Nuytsia 21(3): 91-95 (2011). A new rare species of Labichea Gaudich. ex DC. is described from a ridge of Banded Iron Formation in the ranges near Mt Holland. Unlike most species
in the genus, this new species, L. rossii N.Gibson, has very dissimilar petals more reminiscent of flowers from subfamily Faboideae.
Introduction
Labichea Gaudich. ex DC. currently comprises 14 species, of which eight occur in Western Australia, one in the Northern Territory, and five in Queensland (Ross 1985). Two of the Western Australian species are only known from their type locations. The genus was revised by Ross (1985) and subsequently appeared in Volume 12 of the Flora of Australia (Ross 1998).
In recent years considerable survey effort has been focused on the Banded Iron Formation and greenstone ranges of the Yilgarn Craton (Gibson ef al. 2007). This has resulted in the recognition and description of 21 taxa restricted to, or with their distributions centred on, these ranges (Wege ef al. 2007). A new species of Labichea was found in the most recent of these surveys in the northern Forrestania Greenstone Belt near Mt Holland along with tw other apparently undescribed taxa (Thompson & Allen, in review). The Labichea collections from this area are unifoliolate and have clearly differentiated wing, standard and keel petals, unlike the previously described species.
Taxonomy
Labichea rossii N.Gibson, sp. nov.
Species nova L. punctata Benth. affinis, sed floribus brevioribus et petalis dissimilis et ovario sericeis absentibus differt.
Typus: vicinity of Mt Holland, Western Australia [precise locality withheld for conservation reasons],
30 September 2010, N. Gibson 4686 & E.M. Sandiford (holo: PERTH 08259712; iso: BRI, CANB, MEL).
92 Nuytsia Vol. 21 (3) (2011)
Labichea sp. Mt. Holland (W.A. Thompson & J. Allen 949), Western Australian Herbarium, in Florabase, http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au [accessed August 2011].
Subshrub to 40 cm high, stems sparingly branched, semi-erect, clothed with appressed uncinate hairs and with occasional longer spreading hairs. Leaves unifoliolate, lamina narrowly elliptic, 25—35(—45) mm long, 5—7 mm wide, pungent apically, reticulate, with scattered tubercular-based uncinate hairs above, and with scattered appressed uncinate hairs below especially on midrib and leaf margins; petiole to 1 mm long, finely sulcate adaxially. Stipules narrowly triangular or subulate, 1.5—2.5 x 0.6—-1 mm, glabrous, caducous. /nflorescence a 3—5-flowered raceme, much shorter than the subtending leaf; bracts ovate, (2.5—)3—4.5 x 2—2.5 mm, caducous. Pedicels 2—3 mm long, densely clothed with uncinated hairs. Sepals 5, becoming reflexed, the three outer ones 4—5 x 1.5—2 mm, acute apically, slightly cucullata, sparingly to densely clothed with uncinate hairs, the two inner sepals slightly shorter, almost glabrous with obtuse apex. Petals 4, yellow, dissimilar, wing petals 4—5 x 34 mm, standard 2.5—3 x 1.8—2 mm, keel 2.5—2.8 x 0.7—1 mm. Stamens 2, + equal in length; filaments 0.3—0.5 mm long; anthers 2.8-3.5 mm long. Ovary 1—1.8 mm long, with a moderate to dense cover of uncinate hairs. Style 1.5—2.5 mm long. Pods not seen.
Other specimens examined. WESTERN AUSTRALIA: [precise locality withheld for conservation reasons] Forrestania Greenstone Belt (Mt Holland area), 4 Oct. 2009, W.A. Thompson & J. Allen 949 (PERTH).
Distribution. Currently only known from one small ironstone ridge, less than one hectare in area, near Mt Holland (Figure 1).
Figure 1. Distribution of Labichearossii() in south-west Western Australia. IBRA Bioregion boundaries (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts 2008) are shown in grey.
N. Gibson, Labichea rossii (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae), a new species from the Yilgarn Ranges 93
Habitat. The type location is on a small ironstone ridge which is dominated by an Allocasuarina- Proteaceae-Myrtaceae shrubland with occasional emergent eucalypts. Labichea rossii grows out of cracks in the massive outcropping banded ironstone, often in the shade of larger shrubs (Figure 2). The characteristic associated species include Eucalyptus horistes, Allocasuarina acutivalvis subsp. acutivalvis, A. campestris, Banksia purdieana, Calothamnus quadrifidus subsp. seminudus, Hakea subsulcata, Melaleuca cordata, and Hibbertia exasperata.
Phenology. Flowers in late September and early October.
Conservation status. Labichea rossii was recently listed as Priority One under the Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) Conservation Codes for the Western Australian Flora. It is only known from the type location where it is locally common. The population is estimated to comprise approximately 100 plants. Despite extensive fieldwork being undertaken in the area over a two week period, no further populations were located. The two closest outcrops of Banded Iron Formation occur on Mt Holland and North Ironcap. No Labichea was found on Mt Holland while Labichea stellata J.H.Ross was found in similar habitats on North Ironcap. Both of these outcrops are less than 5 km from the L. rossii site.
Figure 2. Labichea rossii growing out of cracks in massive ironstone on a small Banded Iron Formation ridge near Mount Holland. The dying back of some of the branches is probably due to the below average winter rainfall in 2010.
94 Nuytsia Vol. 21 (3) (2011)
Etymology. Named in honour of Jim Ross, the recently retired head of the National Herbarium of Victoria (MEL), who has made a significant contribution to our understanding of the Fabaceae in Western Australia and who offered his unfailing assistance to Western Australian botanists during his stewardship at MEL.
Affinities and notes. Labichea rossii belongs to the small group of four taxa (L. punctata Benth., L. rupestris Benth., L. digitata Benth., and L. stellata) that possess equal anthers. It shows some affinities to the other unifoliolate taxon in this group L. punctata, which Ross (1985) considered to occupy an isolated position in the genus. However, L. rossii is easily separated from L. punctata by its smaller inflorescence and flowers, the lack of a silky indumentum on its ovary and its clearly differentiated wing, standard and keel petals (Figure 3). The unequal petals are more reminiscent of subfamily Faboideae than subfamily Caesalpinioideae and were consistent in all material studied. Of the 14 other species only the 5-foliolate L. stellata is reported as having unequal petals (Ross 1985). Some collections in PERTH of L. stellata (e.g. PS. Short 1700a, 1700b; N. Gibson & K. Brown 3737) exhibit clearly differentiated petals similar to those of L. rossii while other collections have largely undifferentiated petals (e.g. R.D. Royce s.n. 8 Oct. 1965). All collections of L. stellata from the Mt Holland area have markedly dissimilar petals but this form is not restricted to this area. Labichea rossii is clearly differentiated from L. stellata by its unifoliolate leaves, shorter status (to 40 cm), lack of spreading hairs on young branchlets, and by its racemes being shorter than the subtending leaf.
Labichea rossii, L. deserticola J.H.Ross and L. obtrullata J.H.Ross have the most restricted distributions reported for the genus with L. deserticola (currently listed as Priority One, Smith 2010) only known from the type collection of Helms collected in 1891 from the Great Victoria Desert, and L. obtrullata (also listed as Priority One, Smith 2010) only known from two collections on Gabyon Station near Yalgoo made in 1962 and 1963 (Ross 1985, 1998). All three taxa urgently need further survey work to accurately determine their conservation status.
Standard Keel
Figure 3. Dissected flowers of Labichea rossii showing clearly differentiated wing, standard and keel petals which are unusual in this subfamily (both from N. Gibson 4686 & E.M. Sandiford). Scale bar 5 mm.
N. Gibson, Labichea rossii (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae), a new species from the Yilgarn Ranges 95
Acknowledgments
I would like to acknowledge Wendy Thompson and Jessica Allen for bringing this species to my attention and Jim Ross for his comments on their collection. I also thank Paul Wilson who kindly corrected the Latin diagnosis and Kelly Shepherd for her skill in image processing.
References
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (2008). Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia (BRA), Version 6.1. http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/nrs/science/bioregion-framework/ibra/index.html [accessed 8 May 2008] 4
Gibson, N., Coates, D.J., Thiele, K.R. (2007). Taxonomic research and the conservation status of flora in the Yilgarn banded iron formation ranges. Nuytsia 17: 1-12.
Ross, J.H. (1985). A revision of the genus Labichea Gaudich. ex DC. (Caesalpiniaceae). Muelleria 6: 23-49. Ross, J.H. (1998). Labichea. In: Flora of Australia. Vol. 12, pp. 146-157. (CSIRO Publishing: Collingwood. Vic.)
Smith, M.G. (2010). Declared Rare and Priority Flora List for Western Australia. (Department of Environmentand Conservation: Kensington, Kensington, WA.)
Thompson, W.A. & Allen, J. (in review) Flora and vegetation of greenstone formations of the Yilgarn Craton: the northern Forrestania Greenstone Belt [Mt. Holland area].
Wege, J.A., Shepherd, K.A. & Butcher, R. (2007). Preface. Nuytsia 17.
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Nuytsia Vol. 21 (3) (2011)
. Nuytsia 21(3): 97-102 (2011) 97
A new and rare species of Ptilotus (Amaranthaceae) from a suburban wetland of the eastern Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia
Robert W. Davis and Catherine Tauss'
Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Environment and Conservation Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia, 6983 ‘Corresponding author, email: cate@iinet.net.au
Abstract
Davis, R.W. & Tauss, C. A new and rare species of Ptilotus (Amaranthaceae) from a suburban wetland of the eastern Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia. Nuytsia21(3): 97-102. Ptilotus christineae R.W.Davis & Tauss, currently known from only one small population in the Greater Brixton Street Wetlands, about 14 km from the centre of the city of Perth, is described and illustrated. A key to Ptilotus R.Br. of the Swan Coastal Plain Biogeographical Region is provided.
Introduction
The Eremaean Botanical Province of Western Australia is the centre of diversity for Prilotus R.Br., a large and almost exclusively Australian genus (Townsend 1993; Western Australian Herbarium 1998_). Only thirteen Prilotus taxa (about 10% of those known from Western Australia) occur in the Swan Coastal Plain Biogeographical Region (SCP; Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts 2008). Two of the SCP taxa, Ptilotus christineae R.W.Davis & Tauss, described herein, and P. sericostachyus subsp. roseus (Moq.) Benl, are endemic to this region; both are helophytes that have only been recorded from the fragmented remnants of the native vegetation on the eastern side of the plain. Prilotus sericostachyus subsp. roseus has not beth collected since 1906 and is likely to be extinct.
The diminutive Ptilotus christineae was first recognized as a new species by the second author in 2010 during a flora and vegetation survey of the Greater Brixton Street Wetlands (GBSW) that was conducted for the V & C Semeniuk Research Group. The GBSW comprise about 120 ha of remnant native vegetation of the lower catchment of the Yule Brook in the Perth suburbs of Kenwick and Wattle Grove; they are part of a gently sloping alluvial fan formation that extends from the foothills of the Darling Range to the Canning River. The complex stratigraphy and hydrology of this area manifests as a very diverse array of fine-scale plant habitats (V & C Semeniuk Research Group 2001). The GBSW are renowned as one of the most floristically-rich areas of the SCP and they have been formally recognized as Bush Forever Site 387 (Government of Western Australia 2000). There are at least five other Ptilotus taxa (P. declinatus Nees, P. drummondii (Moq.) F.Muell., P. esquamatus (Benth.) F.Muell., P. manglesii (Lindl.) F.Muell. and P. stirlingii (Lindl.) F.Muell. subsp. stirlingii) that have been previously recorded in the GBSW (Keighery & Keighery 2000).
98 Nuytsia Vol. 21 (3) (2011)
Apart from the GBSW, most of the alluvial soils of the lower catchment of the Yule Brook were cleared of native vegetation many years ago for farming. Despite the proximity of Kenwick to the city, the seasonal waterlogging or inundation of much of this area previously rendered it uneconomical for urban development. Most of the land surrounding the GBS W is still currently zoned rural but it is under review with regard to re-zoning for industrial purposes. Prilotus christineae, in common with much of the biota of the GBSW, is subject to threats from the surrounding land-uses and catchment management practices.
The discovery of P. christineae in the GBSW highlights the remarkable floral biodiversity that continues to persist, albeit precariously and sometimes overlooked, in the Perth Metropolitan Region of the SCP.
Taxonomy
Ptilotus christineae R.W.Davis & Tauss, sp. nov.
Ptiloto spathulato (R.Br.) Poir. affinis sed habitu rhizomato, spica leviter interrupta, et stamina 5 (quae in P. spathulato 3) statim dignoscenda.
Typus: Kenwick, Western Australia [precise locality withheld for conservation reasons], 23 October 2010, C. Tauss, K.R. Thiele & R. Davis CT 4136 (holo: PERTH 08247269, iso: CANB).
Ptilotus sp. Brixton (C. Tauss 4136), Western Australian Herbarium, in FloraBase, http://florabase. dec.wa.gov.au/ [accessed 4 May 2011].
Perennial herb to 8 cm high. Rhizome glabrous, 1-1.8 mm in diam., branched. Shoots annual, well-spaced. Flowering stems erect, one per shoot, with indistinct, pink ribs, glabrous or with sparse, white, sub-verticillate hairs. Basal leaves glossy, spathulate, 8-35 mm long, 2-10 mm wide, glabrous or with very sparse hairs. Cauline leaves alternate, oblanceolate to spathulate, 8-15 mm long, 2—5 mm wide, glabrous or with very sparse hairs. Inflorescence spiciform, terminal, ovate, maturing to loosely cylindrical, 30-45(—50) mm long, 18-25 mm diam. Bracts broadly obovate, 4.2—5 mm long, translucent; midrib pink-maroon with sparse, white, sub-verticillate hairs abaxially, becoming glabrous toward margins. Bracteoles similar to bracts, 5—6 mm long, apices slightly recurved. Flowers shortly pedicellate. Outer tepals, lanceolate, concave, 9-9.4 mm long; adaxially white with pink margins, glabrous except for proximal, long, white, contorted, nodose hairs; abaxially pink, densely hairy, the hairs long, white and sub-verticillate. Inner tepals, similar to outer tepals but narrower, 8.5—8.7 mm long; margins narrowly involute; apices glabrous, translucent. Staminal cup symmetrical, 0.8—1 mm long, glabrous. Stamens 5; filaments and anthers white, ageing to pinkish. Style + straight, central to sub-central, white, 1.8-2 mm long. Ovary stipitate, glabrous, green. Seed not seen. (Figure 1)
Other specimens examined. WESTERN AUSTRALIA: [precise locality withheld for conservation reasons], Kenwick, 16 Oct. 2010, C. Zauss 4102 (PERTH 08273065).
Phenology. In 2010, the annual shoots of Prilotus christineae and P. manglesii, which grow in the same habitat, became evident in late June. By the time the flowers of P. christineae reached anthesis in early October, most of the other annual and geophytic herbs at the site were desiccated and the soil
99
R.W. Davis & C. Tauss, A new and rare species of Ptilotus (Amaranthaceae)
SSS
SSS SF SIS
z ZLLP
oO
Mee SNS
K.R. Thiele & R. Davis CT 4136) .A—habit; B— gynoecium; C—subverticillate i) adaxial surface, ii) abaxial surface; F — outer tepals, i) adaxial surface, ii) abaxial
surface; G. inner tepals, i) adaxial surface, ii) adaxial surface with stamens and ovary in situ, iii) abaxial surface.
,
Figure 1. Ptilotus christineae(C. Tauss,
hairs; D — bract; E — bracteole.
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0.05 mm; D-G = 2.5 mm.
“C=
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= 20mm; B= 1mm
Scale bars: A
100 Nuytsia Vol. 21 (3) (2011)
surface was dry. Ptilotus manglesii commenced flowering at the end of October and for a short period, both Ptilotus were observed in full flower together.
Etymology. The specific epithet honours the contribution of Dr Christine A. Semeniuk to wetland science; her work also illuminates the study of wetland plant habitats.
Distribution and habitat. Ptilotus christineae is currently known from only one small population at the type location. The total area of occupancy of this species is estimated to be less than 0.2 ha.
Ptilotus christineae inhabits a seasonally inundated flat (floodplain) at an elevation of about 6.5 m above sea level. The site is underlain by pale grey, muddy-sand to sandy-mud alluvium (Guildford Formation) of the Pinjarra Plain (V & C Semeniuk Research Group 2001). The regional, unconfined, groundwater in most of this area of the GBSW is generally at about ground level in late winter. At a local scale, the hydrology and stratigraphy of the wetlands is complex with small, confined (artesian) aquifers and shallow aquitard layers of ferricrete or calcareous muds or clays that perch rainwater for varying lengths of time (V & C Semeniuk Research Group 2001). In 2010, despite record-breaking low rainfall in the region, the site inhabited by P. christineae was shallowly inundated for a short period in winter.
Ptilotus christineae was recorded in patchy Melaleuca acutifolia open scrub over Verticordia plumosa var. brachyphylla and Hypocalymma angustifolium sens. lat. open heath over Meeboldina cana- Chorizandra enodis open rushes and sedges and mid-dense, species-rich native annual herbs and geophytes. Common associates of this vegetation included Acacia lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa sens. strict., Borya scirpoidea, Bulbine semibarbata, Burchardia multiflora, Centrolepis aristata, Diuris aff. laxiflora, Drosera heterophylla, D. menziesii subsp. menziesii, D. tubaestylis, Gahnia trifida, Hyalosperma cotula, Pheladenia deformis, Podolepis gracilis, Pogonolepis stricta, Ptilotus manglesii, Sowerbaea laxiflora, Stylidium divaricatum and Tribonanthes australis. Naturalized alien taxa in this assemblage included Heliophila pusilla, Romulea rosea var. communis and Sparaxis bulbifera.
Threats. Ptilotus christineae is threatened by off-road vehicles, hydrological and climatic change, nutrient enrichment of groundwater, invasive naturalized alien plants (particularly Sparaxis bulbifera, Morea flaccida and Hyparrhenia hirta, which are prevalent in the area), rabbits and frequent fires.
The current municipal drainage scheme does not consider the environmental water requirements of the vegetation in the GBSW. Subsequent to the extensive vegetation clearing in the Yule Brook catchment and the resulting increase in the volume of runoff, the brook was excavated to mitigate the flooding of adjacent properties and to convey rainwater (part of which previously infiltrated into the groundwater in the GBSW) directly into the Canning River. The GBSW are thus no longer subject to natural, regular flooding and alluvial sediment supply from the Yule Brook. A number of other excavated drains, firebreaks and vehicle tracks in the area intersect some of the local, shallow aquifers and also contribute to the dewatering of the GBSW (V & C Semeniuk Research Group 2001). The adverse impact of these changes on the hydrological regime of the GBSW will be exacerbated by the trend towards a drier climate that is now evident in the SCP.
There is continuing uncertainty of the land tenure of many blocks in the GBSW and currently no overall plan to manage the wetlands, to ameliorate the impacts of the surrounding land uses on the native vegetation and to guide local planning authorities.
R.W. Davis & C. Tauss, A new and rare species of Ptilotus (Amaranthaceac) 101
Conservation status. Ptilotus christineae is currently listed as a Priority One species under the Department of Environment and Conservation's Conservation Codes for Western Australian Flora (Smith 2010), as Ptilotus sp. Brixton (C. Tauss 4163). It is only known from one small population with a very small area of occupancy that is vulnerable to clearly demonstrable threats.
The Greater Brixton Street Wetlands and about 400 ha of the adjoining rural lands have been searched by the second author in several intensive, multi-season surveys (including Tauss & Weston 2010) and no other occurrences of Ptilotus christineae have been found. It is unlikely that other populations will be located in the SCP as the habitat of this species is scarce and has been thoroughly explored (Government of Western Australia 2000) due to its high conservation values.
Affinities. Ina vegetative state, Ptilotus christineae bears a superficial resemblance to Prilotus spathulatus (R.Br.) Poir. as both have fleshy, spathulate, basal leaves. However, there are clear floral, habit and distribution differences between the two species. Prilotus spathulatus has three stamens and two staminodes, a broadly curved or sigmoid style that is eccentrically attached to the ovary and hairs that are mainly verticillate. In addition, P. spathulatus has a hard, woody, rootstock that produces several to many prostrate flowering stems on each plant, and a denser inflorescence than P. christineae. Ptilotus spathulatus is only known from well-drained sites in the semi-arid zone of the South West Botanical Province of Western Australia.
Ptilotus christineae is clearly distinguished from all congeners in the SCP by the combination of its slender rhizome, spathulate leaves, erect flowering shoot, five fertile stamens and wetland habitat.
Key to Ptilotus taxa of the Swan Coastal Plain Biogeographical Region
1. Plants with 5 fertile stamens 2. Branches (or scape, in P. christineae) erect or arching 3. Interstaminal lobes absent, leaves'spathulate theres asrstrtiricetieitsitsciestinvorrsnsteerttntesteate P. christineae 3: Interstaminal lobes present, leaves narrow and linear..........:.ceccssssssesesssseeeeeseseeeeseneseseees P. drummondii 2: Branches prostrate 4. Inflorescences ovoid to globose, tepal indumentum SeriCCOUS...........seceececteeseeeeteseseeeees P. esquamatus 4: Inflorescences cylindrical, tepal indumentum WoOOI]y..4......ccccccsesecseseceeteseseetseseesecsseseseseseeseess P. humilis 1: Plants with 2-4 fertile stamens
5. Fertile stamens 2
6. Staminal cup glabrous, style slightly CULVE...ssesssscsssseesessssneecensssnnsee esverga sees, P. stirlingii subsp. stirlingii 6: Staminal cup hairy, style markedly falcate 7 Bracteolesis—6;5 mmilongerr..jesslessestescciecsscsececasseresctetseseees P. sericostachyus subsp. sericostachyus 7: Bracteoles#/f5—S,mmilon ger meme eee ernie ery renters P. sericostachyus subsp. roseus
5: Fertile stamens 3—4 8. Outer tepals with sparse, short, stiff hairs 9. Tepals 11-14 mm long, style 8-10 mm long ....... ce eeeeeeeseeeee P. gaudichaudii subsp. gaudichaudii
9: Tepals 6—9 mm long, style 2—3 mm JONg uu... eee eeeeeeteeeeeteteteeeees P. gaudichaudii subsp. eremita
102 Nuytsia Vol. 21 (3) (2011)
8: Outer tepals with dense, long, soft hairs 10. Branches erect, inflorescences predominately white-green 11. Inflorescences ovoid, hemispherical or orbicular, style 2.5—4.6 mm long... P. divaricatus 11: Inflorescences cylindrical, style 7-13 mm long........ccceesseseseeceseeeeeeeeeseeeseeceesesseeees P. polystachyus
10: Branches prostrate, inflorescences predominantly pink-purple
12. Basal leaves present, bracts brown, style more or less straight..........ccsseseeseseseeeeeeeeees P. manglesii 12: Basal leaves absent, bracts translucent, style markedly falcate 0... cesses eteeeeteeeees P. declinatus Acknowledgements
We thank Kevin Thiele and the staff of the Western Australian Herbarium for ongoing support and the use of FloraBase and the collections, Jill Ruse for the illustration, the referees for their helpful comments and Paul Wilson for the Latin diagnosis. Monocot-Dicot Botanical Research, Padbury funded the illustration and supported the contribution of time and other resources by C. Tauss to this publication.
References
Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (2008). Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA) Version 6.1. http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/nrs/science/bioregion-framework/ibra/index.html [accessed June 28 2011).
Government of Western Australia (2000). Bush forever: keeping the bush in the city. (Dept. of Environmental Protection: Perth.)
Keighery, G.J. & Keighery, B.J. (2000). The flora of the Greater Brixton Street Wetlands. /n: Marshall, J. (ed.). The Brixton Street Wetlands: management guidelines, natural history and research. p. 15-34. Unpublished report for the Friends of Brixton Street Wetlands Inc. Kenwick, Western Australia.
Smith, M.G. (2010). Declared Rare and Priority Flora List for Western Australia. (Department of Environment and Conservation: Kensington, WA.) ;
Tauss, C. & Weston, A.W. (2010). The flora, vegetation and wetlands of the Maddington-Kenwick Strategic Employment Area. A survey of rural lands in the vicinity of the Greater Brixton Street Wetlands. Unpublished report to the City of Gosnells, Western Australia.
Townsend, C.C. (1993). Amaranthaceae. Jn: Kubitzki, K. (ed.). The families and genera of vascular plants. Vol. 2, 86-87. (Springer-Verlag: Berlin.)
V & C Semeniuk Research Group (2001). Hydrological study of the Greater Brixton Street Wetlands. Unpublished report to the Friends of Brixton St Inc. Kenwick, Western Australia.
Western Australian Herbarium (1998-). FloraBase-the Western Australian Flora. Department of Environment and Conservation. http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/ [accessed June 28 2011].
Nuytsia 21(3): 103-106 (2011) 103
An assessment of some infraspecific taxa in Ptilotus (Amaranthaceae) from Western Australia
R.W. Davis
Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Environment and Conservation, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983
Abstract
An assessment of some infraspecific taxa in Ptilotus (Amaranthaceae) from Western Australia. Nuystia 21(3): 103-106 (2011). This paper deals with three infraspecific taxa in Prilotus R.Br. that do not warrant recognition: Ptilotus appendiculatus Benl var. minor Benl, Ptilotus divaricatus (Gaudich.) F.Muell. var. rubescens Benl and Ptilotus lanatus Cunn. ex Mog. var. glabrobracteatus Benl.
Introduction
This paper is a continuation of work begun by Davis (2009) to assess the validity of infraspecific taxa within the genus Ptilotus R.Br. in preparation for a Flora of Australia treatment of the Amaranthaceae.
Gerhard Benl (1910-2001) was one of the most prolific authors on the genus Ptilotus (Benl 1959, 1980, 1983, 1994). However, in the 17 years since Benl (1994) described his last new taxon in Ptilotus, there has been a substantial growth in collections, allowing a reappraisal of some of his taxa. Benl’s taxonomy was detailed and he attempted to provide a taxonomic rank for many minor variants, even ones represent by only one or very few specimens. Bean (2008) noted that some of Benl’s infraspecific taxa have proven of little or no taxonomic value after modern reappraisals.
The purpose of this paper is to reduce to synonymy infraspecific taxa that are now regarded as having no taxonomic merit. :
Ptilotus appendiculatus Benl, Muelleria 1: 102 (1959). Type: Western Australia — Globe Hill Station, Ashburton River, 6 Oct. 1905 , A. Morrison 15098 (holo: K, image seen; iso: E).
Ptilotus appendiculatus var. minor Benl, Nuytsia 4: 267 (1983). Type: Boodardee, about 15 miles (24 km) W of Port Hedland, Western Australia, 9 Sept. 1969, S.L. Everist 9195 (holo: BRI!).
Benl erected var. minor on the basis ofa single specimen, which diverged from var. appendiculatus in its ‘much-branched habit, smaller spikes with narrower flowers and less conspicuous appendages of the outer tepals’ (Ben! 1983: 267). At the time the distance between the single collection of var. minor and the nearest var. appendiculatus was c. 350 kilometres. Ben] noted that there appeared
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to be habitat differences between the two taxa, with var. minor occurring on a flood plain and var. appendiculatus apparently restricted to ‘spinifex [Triodia] hills’ (Benl 1983: 269). Benl described the ovary as ‘almost glabrous' in var. minor and 'sparsely pilose at the summit in var. appendiculatus. He also suggested that the two taxa differed in flower colour, noting that Everist (in sched., S.L. Everist 9195) had described the flowers of var. minor as 'white to pale ivory coloured' and that in collections of var. appendiculatus (e.g. W.H. Butler s.n., 9 Aug. 1963) the tepals were 'tinged pink' (Benl 1983: 269). Despite these apparent differences, Benl noted that some collections of the typical form (e.g. W.H. Butler s.n.; R. Pratt 2/0199) had a ‘branching pattern resembling that of var. minor’ (Benl 1983: 269); on this basis he described the latter (var. minor) at varietal rank.
On examining the wider range of specimens now available at PERTH, branching habit varies continuously from little- to much-branched in P. appendiculatus. The type collection of var. minor is of a juvenile plant, and the tepals are fractionally smaller than in most specimens (10-10.9 mm long cf 11—13.4 mm long). Flower size in Prilotus can be affected by both age of plants and seasonal factors: in drier seasons plants often produce smaller flowers. The outer tepal appendages, although slightly smaller in var. minor, are consistent in shape between both taxa.
When var. minor was described there was a significant geographical disjunction (c. 350 km) between its type locality and the nearest specimens of the typical variety. Since then, further collecting has partially filled the gap, which is now reduced to c. 200 kilometres. Ptilotus appendiculatus is now known to occur in a variety of habitats throughout the south-west region of the Pilbara including flood plains, colluvial flats and stony hills.
The type of var. minor has a glabrous ovary; in specimens of var. appendiculatus the ovary ranged from densely pilose to sparsely pilose along the ovary summit, to glabrous. Ovary indumentum is not an adequate discriminating character in Ptilotus appendiculatus.
Benl’s comments regarding flower colour are problematic for two reasons; firstly, Everist may have been referring to spike colour in his description of var. minor while Butler was referring to individual tepals in var. appendiculatus. Flowering spikes in P. appendiculatus have a lighter overall appearance because of the dense tepal indumentum. The second problem is that individual collector’s interpretations of flower colour are likely to vary.
Selected specimens examined. WESTERNAUSTRALIA: 11 kmS ofMount Delphine, West Hamersley Range, 27 July 1999, B. Backhouse, D. Edinger & G. Marsh BEM 151 (PERTH); 6 miles N of Cane River, 9 Aug. 1963, W.H. Butler s.n. (PERTH); Barrow Island, 6 Aug. 1973 W.H. Butler 178 (PERTH); c.20 km E of Pannawonica, Pilbara, M5-8, Jul. 1999, P. Ellery s.n. (PERTH); Bullara turnoff, c. 1 mile E of Yanrey Homestead, 29 Aug. 1960, A.S. George 1169 (PERTH); near Quarry Hill, c. 125 km W of Tom Price, 8 Aug. 1984, K.R. Newbey 10799 (CANB, K, PERTH); 60 miles S of Onslow, 11 Sep. 1961, F. Smith s.n. (PERTH); 14.5 km SSW of Panawonnica and 300 m W of Jimmawurrada Creek, 13 Aug. 1991, ME. Trudgen & S. Maley MET 10279 (CANB, PERTH, ); North West Coastal Highway, 26 km west of Barradale, 30 Aug. 2003, J.E. Wajon 883 (PERTH).
Ptilotus divaricatus (Gaudich.) F.Muell., Fragm. 6: 229 (1868). Trichinium divaricatum Gaudich. in L. de Freycinet, Voy. Uranie Bot. 445 (1829). Type: Shark Bay, Western Australia, 1817-1820, C. Gaudichaud 71 (holo: P, n.v.; iso: BM, n.v., G, n.v.).
R.W. Davis, An assessment of some infraspecific taxa in Ptilotus 105
Trichinium striatum Mog. ex Benth., Fl. Austral. 5: 233 (1870); Ptilotus striatus (Moq. ex Benth.) F.Muell., Syst. Census Austral. Pl. 1:28 (1882). Type: Swan River, Western Australia, 1843, J. Drummond 430; Port Gregory [Western Australia], A.F. Oldfield s.n., (n.v.); Dirk Hartog Is. [Western Australia], W.G. Milne s.n., (n.v.)
Ptilotus divaricatus (Gaudich.) F.Muell. var. rubescens Benl, Nuytsia 3: 169 (1980). Type: c.1 km NE of Bore Camp, Dirk Hartog Island, Western Australia, 6 Sep. 1972, A.S. George 11578 (holo: PERTH 1555057!; iso: CANB).
Benl described Ptilotus divaricatus var. rubescens on the basis that it diverged from typical P. divaricatus in having ‘red flowers’ and ‘the initial development of the inflorescence from cone-shaped, turning ovoid or sub-spherical’ (Benl 1980: 169). In the label notes accompanying the specimen, the collector noted that the flowers were pink and that white-flowering plants (i.e. typical P. divaricatus) were not known on Dirk Hartog Island. Further collections lodged in PERTH indicate that in some populations (e.g. A. Carr 591) white- and pink-flowering plants grow in mixed stands, with all hues in between. Flower and inflorescence colour is a variable feature in many taxa of Prilotus, both within and between populations. Assessment of a wide range of specimens shows that the development of flowering spikes in P. divaricatus is the same between white- and pink-flowering forms.
Selected specimens examined. WESTERN AUSTRALIA: between Tamala & Carrarang, 11 Oct. 1973, J.S. Beard 6808 (PERTH); Dongara, Irwin River Estuary Nature Walk Trail, Church Street, 17 Oct. 2000, A. Carr 566 (PERTH); near the monastery (Benedictine retreat) E side, road to monastery is N side Ocean Drive c. 2 km from town centre, 23 Nov. 2001, A. Carr 591 (PERTH); Urchin Point, Dirk Hartog Island, 8 Oct. 1997, D.J. Edinger 1250 (PERTH); Cape Range National Park, 8 Aug. 2006, J. English 0107 (PERTH); c. 48 km East of Mount Narryer, 14 Oct. 1998, 4.5. George 17504 (PERTH); East Wallabi Island, Abrolhos Islands, 18 Nov. 1999, J. Harvey s.n. (PERTH); Peron Peninsula, 30 Apr. 1996, G. Liddelow SB 13 (PERTH); Shark Bay, 5 Oct. 1989, ME. Trudgen 7448 (PERTH).
Ptilotus lanatus Cunn. ex Mog. in A.P. de Candolle, Prodr. 13(2): 281 (1849). Trichinium lanatum (Cunn. ex. Mog.) Druce, Bot: Soc. Exch. Club Brit. Isles 1916, 2nd Suppl. 651 (1917), nom. illeg., non Lindl. (1838). Zype: Swan Bay, N.W. Australia, 1835, A. Cunningham s.n. (holo: K, n.v.).
Trichinium cunninghamii Benth., Fl. Austral. 5: 238 (1870). Ptilotus cunninghamii (Benth.) F.Muell., Pl. NW Australia 7 (1887), nom. illeg. Type: Point Cunningham, Cygnet Bay, King Sound [Western Australia], 1822, A. Cunningham 153 (holo: BM, n.v.; iso: K;“n.v., MEL, n.v.).
Ptilotus lanatus Cunn. ex Mog. var. glabrobracteatus Benl, Muelleria 1: 107 (1959) Type: near King Sound, Western Australia, 1887, W.W. Froggat 15 (holo: MEL; iso: K, image seen, MEL; NSW).
In describing Ptilotus lanatus var. glabrobracteatus, Ben] (1959) cited differences in the lengths of the bracts and bracteoles between var. /anatus (bracts to 2.3 mm long and bracteoles to 1.8 mm long) and var. glabrobracteatus (bracts to 3.5 mm long and bracteoles to 2mm long), as well as density of the indumentum on these floral parts. He noted at the time of publication that there were intermediates. On examining current PERTH collections there is an imperceptible gradation of indumentum density. In the specimens examined var. /anatus bracts ranged from 1.4—2.5 mm long and bracteoles 1.2—-1.8 mm long; and in var. glabrobracteatus bracts ranged from 2—2.8 mm long and bracteoles 1.3—2 mm long. This shows a clear overlap of bract and bracteole lengths between the two taxa.
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Selected specimens examined. WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Derby to Broome road, 20.3 km S (by road) of Derby, 19 Apr. 1985, 7.E.H. Aplin et al. 76 (CANB, PERTH); 67 km NE of Lagrange Aboriginal Mission turnoff, Great Northern Highway, 1 Sep. 1978, A.C. Beauglehole & E.G. Errey B 59158 E 2858 (ACB, CANB, PERTH); One Arm Point, N Dampier Peninsula, Kimberley Coast, 28 Feb. 1989, B.J. Carter 356 (DNA, PERTH); 2 km on Beagle Bay Road from Broome, 12 May 1985, P.R. Foulkes 234 (PERTH); Broome, 2 May 1944, C.A. Gardner 7030 (CANB, PERTH); 5 km N of Point Coulomb, Dampierland, N of Broome, 17 Apr. 1977, K.F. Kenneally 5923 (CANB, K, MUN, PERTH); Camballin, May 1970, Y. Power 784 (L, PERTH); 66 miles E of Derby on road to Fitzroy Crossing, 10 Mar. 1967, F. Power 172 (PERTH) Mount Anderson Station, E of Derby, 3 Apr. 1964, R.D. Royce 8143 (CANB, PERTH); Lanlacatta Swamp on Camballin Station, Kimberley, 27 July 1997, L. Wallis LW 97A/120 19 Apr. 1985 (CANB, PERTH).
References
Bean, A.R. (2008). A synopsis of Prilotus (Amaranthaceae) in eastern Australia. Telopea 12(2): 227-250.
Benl, G. (1959). New species and varieties of Ptilotus R.Br. (Amaranthaceae). Muelleria 1: 107.
Benl, G. (1980). Five new taxa of Ptilotus (Amaranthaceac) from Western Australia. Nuytsia 3: 169.
Benl, G. (1983). Taxonomic studies of Ptilotus R.Br. (Amaranthaceae) in Western Australia. Nuytsia 4: 269-270.
Benl, G. (1994). Ptilotus mitchellii (Amaranthaceac), a new species from the Pilbara region, Western Australia. Sendtnera 2: 25-30.
Davis, R.W. (2009). Ptilotus luteolus, a new combination in Prilotus (Amaranthaceae). Nuytsia 19: 311-312.
Nuytsia 21(3); 107-126 (2011) 107
A revision of Dielsiodoxa (Ericaceae: Styphelioideae: Oligarrheneae)
David E. Albrecht '* and Michael Hislop
‘Alice Springs Herbarium, Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport, P.O. Box 1120, Alice Springs, NT 0871 *Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Environment and Conservation, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia 6983. 3Corresponding author, email: dave.albrecht@nt.gov.au
Abstract
Albrecht, D. E. & Hislop, M. A revision of Dielsiodoxa (Ericaceae: Styphelioideae: Oligarrheneae). Nuytsia 21(3): 107-126 (2011). The genus Dielsiodoxa Albr., endemic to south-west Western Australia, is revised. The genus includes three previously named species, D. Jeucantha (E.Pritz.) Albr., D. oligarrhenoides (F.Muell.) Albr. and D. tamariscina (F.Muell.) Albr. A neotype is designated for the former species and a lectotype for the latter species. Three new taxa are described with accompanying scanned images: D. lycopodioides Albr., D. propullulans Albr. and D. leucantha subsp. obtusa Hislop & Albr. Descriptions, a distribution map and a key to all taxa are provided.
Introduction
In a recent paper Albrecht et al. (2010) erected a new genus Dielsiodoxa Albr. to accommodate three Western Australian species previously included within Monotoca R.Br. Based on morphological and molecular data they place Dielsiodoxa in the Oligarrheneae Crayn & Quinn as a sister to Oligarrhena R.Br. Dielsiodoxa is distinguished from Oligarrhena in having a 5-lobed corolla that is not laterally compressed (cf. consistently 4-lobed and laterally compressed in Oligarrhena), the lobes widely spreading at anthesis and lacking adaxial sub-marginal flaps (cf: lobes erect and with sub-marginal flaps in Oligarrhena), 5 stamens with the anthers attached near the midpoint to filaments that distinctly taper upwards (cf, 2 stamens with basifixed anthers and filaments not obviously tapering distally in Oligarrhena).
The three currently named species of Dielsiodoxa (D. tamariscina, D. oligarrhenoides and D. leucantha) were described prior to 1905 as species of Monotoca. The taxonomy of this group of species has not been reassessed in the past century and the only treatment that includes all three species (as Monotoca) 1s in How to know Western Australian wildflowers (Blackall & Grieve 1981). At least one name was misapplied in that treatment and in some instances the species concepts are too broad. We have endeavoured to address these issues in the revision of Dielsiodoxa presented here, which is based on morphological data.
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Methods
Morphological observations are based on collections held at CANB, MEL, NSW, PERTH and UNSW. Measurements were made with a binocular light microscope fitted with an eyepiece graticule. Dried material was rehydrated by boiling prior to measuring. Leaf measurements were made on fully expanded flattened leaves. Leaf density was assessed on well developed vegetative shoot growth below the actively expanding distal section. The width of the raised leaf abscission scars on branchlets was measured on dried material. Leaf vein number was assessed along an imaginary transverse line at the midpoint of the leaf. Leaf venation pattern was examined on representative specimens after soaking in bleach for several days. Peduncle length was measured as the distance between the base of the peduncle and the lowermost bract (sterile or subtending a flower or fruit). Fruit length measurements excluded the persistent style. Stigma cleft depth was measured as the vertical distance between the base of the cleft and an imaginary transverse line between the tips of the two stigmatic lobes.
Leaves and, to a lesser extent, flowers readily dissociate from specimens when they dry, and herbarium specimens frequently have fragments loose in the specimen folders or in packets attached to the specimen. Caution was exercised when examining such fragments as it was not uncommon to find fragments of other Dielsiodoxa species mixed with the species mounted on the sheet.
Details of growth form, plant height, flower colour, habitat and locality were taken from the collector’s notes recorded on the herbarium specimen label. Geocode data from PERTH specimens were plotted using DIVA-GIS Version 5.2.0.2 to produce the distribution maps.
Morphology
Growth patterns. The way in which new growth is initiated on branchlets appears to vary between species and certainly has value in distinguishing D. propullulans and D. leucantha. The axis
of fertile branchlets usually continues vegetative growth beyond the uppermost fertile nodes in most taxa, as exemplified in D. propullulans. Additionally, some taxa may initiate new growth from within or rarely below the fertile section. Dielsiodoxa leucantha on the other hand appears
to initiate new growth almost exclusively from below the fertile section of the branchlet or occasionally produces very short, abortive growth beyond the uppermost fertile nodes. Further field study is required to confirm observations made from herbarium material.
Leaves. All species have dense, sessile leaves with lunate, non-sheathing bases. Most species have helical leaf arrangement with the exception of D. oligarrhenoides, which is decussate.
D. oligarrhenoides also differs from other species in having thick-textured leaves with the venation not visible on the abaxial side. The number of veins has some utility in distinguishing D. lycopodioides, as does the width of scars left on the branchlets when the leaves abscise. Leaf shape, width and length/width ratio are useful diagnostic characters for some taxa when used in combination with other characters.
Differences in leaf shape and dimensions were noted between seedling and adult plants of D. propullulans. For example the seedlings represented on J.M. Powell 2231A have long, lanceolate leaves (e.g. approximately 4.2 mm long x 0.9 mm wide), whereas adult specimens of this species have considerably shorter and broader leaves. The sample of specimens taken from immature plants is presently too small to assess the occurrence of leaf dimorphism in the genus more generally.
D.E. Albrecht & M. Hislop, A revision of Dielsiodoxa 109
Flowers. Members of the genus have tiny bisexual flowers with a persistent 5-lobed corolla, upwardly tapering filaments, exserted anthers that are distinctly concave abaxially, free nectary scales and a 2-locular ovary and 2-lobed stigma. Relatively few floral characters have taxonomic value. Bracteole and sepal apex shape varies within the genus and can be useful for distinguishing some taxa when used with other characters. The presence of hairs on the external surface of the corolla is distinctive for D. tamariscina, all other taxa having glabrous corollas. Further field
work is required to determine whether there are any consistent differences in fresh corolla colour between taxa. All taxa have ovaries (and fruit) with a smooth or weakly textured surface except for D. lycopodioides, which has a distinctly pustulate surface, albeit minutely so.
Fruit. All species of Dielsiodoxa have a dry, indehiscent fruit. Following Albrecht et