Carolyn Wilkins

Seed and seedling morphology and seed anatomy of Lasiopetaleae (Malvaceae s.l. or Sterculiaceae)

Seed and seedling morphology and seed anatomy of Lasiopetaleae sensu Whitlock et al. (Malvaceae s.l.) and related genera are described. All seed of Lasiopetaleae, except Maxwellia, have arils that develop adjacent to the funicle. Some species have flexible, stellate hairs on their seeds. Seed size, shape, aril form, presence of hair and exotesta pattern can be definitive at generic and/or specific levels.

New chromosome numbers for Lasiopetaleae: Malvaceae s.l. (or Sterculiaceae)

Previously unpublished chromosome numbers of n = 10 are reported for species of Lasiopetaleae genera Lasiopetalum, Seringia and Guichenotia. Additional new chromosome numbers of n = 10 for species of Keraudrenia and Thomasia match published records for these genera and other Lasiopetaleae Lysiosepalum and Hannafordia. There is one count of n = 20 for Thomasia angustifolia which is interpreted as a polyploid number. New counts of n = 10 are recorded for species of Rulingia and Commersonia, traditionally included in Byttnerieae, but with affinities to Lasiopetaleae. Comparison of Lasiopetaleae chromosome numbers with other members of the subfamily Byttnerioideae and the closely related Grewioideae (Malvaceae s.l.) shows no clear evidence for a trend towards either reduction or increase in chromosome number within the groups.

Polyphyly of Rulingia and Commersonia (Lasiopetaleae, Malvaceae s.l.)

The primarily Australian genera Rulingia R.Br. and Commersonia J.R. & G.Forst., as currently circumscribed, are distinguished from each other by the number of antisepalous staminodes. Although most taxonomic treatments recognise Rulingia and Commersonia as separate genera, recent phylogenetic analyses and morphological observations have suggested that neither is monophyletic. In the present study, we test the monophyly of both genera with a phylogenetic analysis of 80 individuals of Rulingia and Commersonia, representing 46 species, using three chloroplast markers. Our analyses recovered the following two well supported clades: Clade 1 includes three species referable to Commersonia and 17 to Rulingia and Clade 2 includes 20 species referable to Commersonia and six to Rulingia. Type species of both Commersonia and Rulingia are in Clade 1, although Commersonia has priority. These results are used to identify lineages that will be formally recognised in accompanying taxonomic treatments. The extensive polyphyly of both Commersonia and Rulingia suggests that the staminode character previously used to separate these two genera is highly homoplastic. We discuss alternative androecial characters that may prove to be synapomorphies for Clades 1 and 2.

Taxonomic revision of Hannafordia (Lasiopetaleae: Sterculiaceae (Malvaceae s.l.))

Taxonomic revision of the endemic Australian genus Hannafordia F.Muell. identified five taxa, including three recognised species, a new subspecies H. quadrivalvis F.Muell. subsp. recurva C.F.Wilkins and a new subspecific combination H. bissillii F.Muell. subsp. latifolia (E.Pritzel) C.F.Wilkins. Taxonomic descriptions, a key, distribution maps, illustrations, anatomical findings and seed and seedling morphology are presented. A chromosome number of n = 10 is the first published record for the genus.

A revision of Commersonia including Rulingia (Malvaceae s.l. or Byttneriaceae)

A taxonomic revision and DNA sequence analysis of all species previously attributed to Rulingia R.Br. and Commersonia J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. resulted in two major groupings, referred to a redefined Commersonia and a new genus (Androcalva C.F.Wilkins & Whitlock 2011). In total, 25 species are now recognised within Commersonia, including the type species of Rulingia, and 14 species previously included in Rulingia and 10 in Commersonia. Three of these are described as new (C. apella C.F.Wilkins, C. erythrogyna C.F.Wilkins and C. gilva C.F.Wilkins). A new subspecies, C. magniflora subsp. oblongifolia C.F.Wilkins, is recognised and C. bartramia (L.) Merr. var. tahitensis Dorr is raised to species level as C. tahitensis (Dorr) C.F.Wilkins & Whitlock. Two new combinations are made, Rulingia platycalyx Benth. and R. parviflora Endl. as C. parviflora (Endl.) C.F.Wilkins & Whitlock; and R. cistifolia Steetz and R. rugosa Steetz as C. rugosa (Steetz) F.Muell. The redefined Commersonia is monophyletic and characterised by anthers with sublatrorse dehiscence and mainly hairy staminodes, compared with extrorse dehiscence and glabrous staminodes as seen in Androcalva.

A new Australian genus, Androcalva, separated from Commersonia (Malvaceae s.l. or Byttneriaceae)

A new genus, Androcalva C.F.Wilkins & Whitlock, is here described and includes 22 species previously described as Commersonia, four species formerly described as Rulingia and seven new species, including A. aphrix C.F.Wilkins, A. perlaria C.F.Wilkins, A. bivillosa C.F.Wilkins, A. adenothalia C.F.Wilkins, A. fragifolia C.F.Wilkins, A. incilis C.F.Wilkins and A. lachna C.F.Wilkins. Rulingia pauciflora Turcz. is here placed in synonymy with C. gaudichaudii J.Gay as A. gaudichaudii. Recognition of Androcalva is supported by the results of a previous molecular phylogenetic analysis demonstrating that neither Rulingia nor Commersonia as previously circumscribed is monophyletic. Species of Androcalva share characters of extrorse anther dehiscence and glabrous central staminodes. In contrast, species in the redefined Commersonia have anthers with sublatrorse dehiscence and hairy central staminodes. Taxonomic descriptions, a key, distribution maps, conservation status and illustrations are presented.

Using hierarchies of cause to inform conservation of a naturally rare but critically endangered shrub Lasiopetalum pterocarpum (Malvaceae s.l.)

Understanding the causes of rarity and ways of managing populations of rare species is essential for their successful conservation. The present study applies the conceptual model of a hierarchy of causes to Lasiopetalum pterocarpum E.M.Benn. & K.Shep. (a critically endangered species) to understand better its reproductive and ecological attributes, possible reasons for its rarity and to determine whether this model assists in developing management strategies. L. pterocarpum subpopulations from Serpentine National Park were censused to record abundance, plant health, phenology, flower and fruit production and the presence of any seed bank. These characteristics were matched to criteria in the hierarchies of cause model. There was no evidence of recent seedling recruitment at any subpopulation. Hand-pollination produced a flower-to-fruit conversion proportion similar to that found in the field and self- and cross-pollinations produced virtually the same fruit set. Seed store in soil from beneath the native subpopulations and at a translocation site showed seed was patchily distributed and infrequent. L. pterocarpum is an obligate seeder, killed by fire and dependent on disturbance to break seed dormancy. However, smoke has no effect on germination. Seed production does not constrain population growth, because seedling regeneration after fire in 1999 was prolific at sites where plants had been growing. In the hierarchies of cause framework, the main causes of rarity for this species are taxon ecology, life-history strategy and stochasticity. Thus, concentrating active management on factors related to life history such as mosaic patch burning, fencing after fire to exclude vertebrate grazers, weed control and establishment of translocated populations will aid the preservation of this species in the wild.

Seringia revised to include Keraudrenia (Lasiopetaleae: Malvaceae s.l.)

Abstract. Seringia J.Gay and Keraudrenia J.Gay are widely spread in Australia, and one species occurs in Madagascar. Revision of these closely related genera suggested that neither genus is monophyletic on the basis of morphological or preliminary molecular data. As a result, Keraudrenia is subsumed into Seringia. There are now 20 species of Seringia, including the currently accepted type species Seringia platyphylla J.Gay (=Seringia arborescens (W.T.Aiton) Druce). Five new species S. adenogyna C.F.Wilkins, S. cacaobrunnea C.F.Wilkins, S. elliptica C.F.Wilkins, S. undulata C.F.Wilkins and S. saxatilis C.F.Wilkins are described. Four species of Keraudrenia initially described as Seringia and recognised as the latter by F. J. H. von Mueller are reinstated (S. adenolasia F.Muell., S. corollata Steetz, S. lanceolata Steetz, S. nephrosperma F.Muell.). Five previous combinations of Keraudrenia and Seringia as Seringia are recognised (S. hermanniifolia (J.Gay) F.Muell., S. hillii (Benth.) F.Muell., S. hookeriana (Walp.) F.Muell., S. integrifolia (Steud.) F.Muell., S. velutina (Steetz) F.Muell.) and five new combinations are made (S. collina (Domin) C.F.Wilkins & Whitlock, S. denticulata (C.T.White) C.F.Wilkins & Whitlock, S. exastia (C.F.Wilkins) C.F.Wilkins & Whitlock, S. katatona (C.F.Wilkins) C.F.Wilkins & Whitlock, S. macrantha (Baill.) C.F.Wilkins & Whitlock. Keraudrenia collina var. multiflora Domin is placed in synonymy under S. nephrosperma F.Muell. Keraudrenia corollata var. denticulata C.T.White is recognised as a distinct species, S. denticulata (C.T.White) C.F.Wilkins & Whitlock. Anatomical studies, taxonomic descriptions, distribution maps, illustrations and identification keys are presented for Seringia, and an identification key to genera of the tribe Lasiopetaleae is provided.

Taxonomic revision of Gompholobium (Leguminosae: Mirbelieae)

A taxonomic revision is presented of the Australasian legume genus Gompholobium Sm. The group includes 44 species, the following six of them newly described here: Gompholobium gairdnerianum Chappill, G. glutinosum Chappill, G. karijini Chappill, G. pungens Chappill, G. roseum Chappill and G. wonganense Chappill. Gompholobium asperulum (S.Moore) Crisp is recognised here as a nomenclatural synonym of G. shuttleworthii Meisn. The taxon that has been known under the former name is renamed as Gompholobium cinereum Chappill. Gompholobium venustum R.Br. var. laeve Benth. is recognised as a distinct species, G. cyaninum Chappill, the new epithet recognising the unique blue standard and wings of this species. Gompholobium aristatum var. muticum Benth., G. aristatum var. laxum Benth. and G. virgatum var. aspalathoides (A.Cunn. ex Benth.) Benth. are all raised to specific status. Gompholobium simplicifolium (F.Muell. & Tate) Crisp is excluded.

Taxonomic revision of Jacksonia (Leguminosae: Mirbelieae)

A taxonomic revision is presented of the Australian papilionoid legume genus Jacksonia R.Br. ex Sm. The group includes 74 species, the following 37 of them newly described here: Jacksonia acicularis Chappill, J. anthoclada Chappill, J. arenicola Chappill, J. arida Chappill, J. arnhemica Chappill, J. calcicola Chappill, J. chappilliae C.F. Wilkins, J. debilis Chappill, J. dendrospinosa Chappill, J. divisa Chappill, J. effusa Chappill, J. elongata Chappill, J. epiphyllum Chappill, J. flexuosa Chappill, J. gracillima Chappill, J. humilis Chappill, J. intricata Chappill, J. jackson Chappill, J. lanicarpa Chappill, J. lateritica Chappill, J. nutans Chappill, J. pendens Chappill, J. pungens Chappill, J. quairading Chappill, J. quinkanensis Chappill, J. ramulosa Chappill, J. reclinata Chappill, J. remota Chappill, J. rigida Chappill, J. rubra Chappill, J. rupestris Chappill, J. spicata Chappill, J. stellaris Chappill, J. tarinensis Chappill, J. velveta Chappill, J. venosa Chappill and J. viscosa Chappill.