Australian Journal of Botany

Australian Journal of Botany is an international journal for publication of original research in plant science. The journal publishes in the areas of ecology and ecophysiology; invasive biology; conservation biology and biodiversity; forest biology and management; cell and molecular biology; palaeobotany and biogeography; reproductive biology and genetics; mycology and pathology; structure and development; and aquatic botany. Read more about the journalMore

Editors-in-Chief: John Morgan and Mark Ooi

Publishing Model: Hybrid. Open Access options available.

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Latest

These articles are the latest published in the journal. Australian Journal of Botany has moved to a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 25 March 2024

BT23007Pollination strategies are exceptionally complex in southwestern Australia – a globally significant ancient biodiversity hotspot

Mark C. Brundrett

, Philip G. Ladd

and Greg J. Keighery

Flowers of nine species pollinated by the wind, specific insects or birds, as well as a spider ambushing a fly.

Pollination syndromes were allocated for all plants in the Southwest Australian Floristic Region, an ancient landscape and global biodiversity hotspot. Allocations based on floral traits were highly consistent and well supported by visitor records and scientific studies. Their complexity was highest in large plant families, involving many pollination transitions, especially from general insects to bees, birds or the wind. Photograph by Mark Brundrett.

BT23007 Abstract | BT23007 Full Text | BT23007PDF (16.1 MB) | BT23007Supplementary Material (1.5 MB) Open Access Article

Published online 21 March 2024

BT23104The leaf micromorphology and anatomy of gamba grass, Andropogon gayanus Kunth (Poaceae: Panicoideae)

Jeremy Farr

, S. Krisantini and Melodina Fabillo

Photograph showing tussocks of gamba grass.

Andropogon gayanus Kunth. was introduced to northern Australia from Africa as a forage crop but has become an invasive species that increases the risk of catastrophic wildfires. This study used freehand sectioning, microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy to compare leaf morphology of specimens from Australia and Africa to identify potential variations and describe characteristics that make it such successful as a weed. Leaf hairiness was found to be highly variable and may enhance its adaptability to Australian environments. Photograph by Keith R. McDonald.

BT23104 Abstract | BT23104 Full Text | BT23104PDF (4.2 MB) | BT23104Supplementary Material (739 KB) Open Access Article

Published online 21 March 2024

BT23083Awn length variation in Australia’s most widespread grass, Themeda triandra, across its distribution

Annette M. Cavanagh

, Robert C. Godfree and John W. Morgan

Map of Australia with coloured points indicating the length of awns of Kangaroo Grass specimens from each location

Herbarium specimens of Themeda trianda were used to quantify awn-length variation of the species across its distribution. Awn lengths were shortest around the eastern and southern coasts of Australia and increased inland and towards the north, with awn length found to be positively correlated with mean annual temperature. Figure by A. M. Cavanagh.

BT23083 Abstract | BT23083 Full Text | BT23083PDF (815 KB) Open Access Article

Published online 14 March 2024

BT23044Traits vary differently across a lowland forest–sand dune gradient in two common trees of the Amazon restinga coast

Luane G. B. Rebelo

, Mateus C. Silva

, Handria J. A. da Silva

, Ely Simone C. Gurgel

, Beatriz V. Barbosa

and Grazielle S. Teodoro

Diagram of trait variaton in two species across a forest–dune gradient on the Brazilian Amazon coast.

Considering the role of plant species in the functioning of ecosystems, it is important to understand the ecological strategies that allow their survival in contrasting environments. We evaluated the functional responses of two species in a restinga environment and highlighted that species occuring in environmental gradients need to develop a set of diverse strategies to deal with differences in resource availability. Last, our comprehension of the survival mechanisms of plants helps us create accurate model predictions for entire ecosystems. Image by Beatriz Barbosa.

Published online 06 March 2024

BT22062Extra-stigmatic pollen germination and pistil elongation: a novel strategy towards reproductive assurance in Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustifolia

Sajid Khan

and Susheel Verma

Female and male flowers of Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustifolia and structures and surfaces that affect pollination.

Reproduction in dioecious plant species may be limited by severe pollen limitation owing to their separate sexes. Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustifolia is a dioecious and wind-pollinated species that has a long flowering period and this study determined the relationship between its reproductive behaviour and pollen availability during different flowering phases. The mechanism of extra-stigmatic pollen germination has been observed in this species, in which flexibility of female function adds to the evolutionary possibilities to overcome pollination constraints. Photographs by Sajid Khan.

Published online 05 March 2024

BT23073Myrtaceae anther glands: morphology, anatomy and variation in glandular contents

P. G. Ladd

Jewel beetle chewing and pollinating the Myrtaceae flowers.

Unlike most other groups, Myrtaceae flowers have oil glands in floral tissues. The apex of anthers of most species has an oil gland that can be obvious and globular or embedded within the apical tissues. Depending on the species, the oil may deter herbivores from eating the anthers, may mix with pollen to aid adhesion to pollinators or may be chemically modified to be a food source for pollinators. Photograph by P. Ladd.

BT23073 Abstract | BT23073 Full Text | BT23073PDF (3.7 MB) | BT23073Supplementary Material (3.9 MB) Open Access Article

Published online 26 February 2024

BT23076Impact of Phytophthora dieback on a key heathland species Xanthorrhoea australis (Asphodelaceae) (austral grasstree) and floristic composition in the eastern Otways, Victoria

B. A. Wilson

, S. P. Casey, M. J. Garkaklis, C. Learmonth and T. Wevill

Heathy woodland in the Otway Ranges, showing austral grasstrees affected by Phytophtora cinnamomi.

The plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi causes severe declines in Australian native vegetation. The iconic Australian grasstrees, which provide prime habitat for many vertebrates and invertebrates, are highly susceptible to the pathogen. This study found significant declines in susceptible species following infestation, particularly the austral grasstree, which had 50% less cover. These results have severe implications for heathy woodland communities and reliant fauna. Limiting the spread of P. cinnamomi and protecting grasstrees is critical for their security. Photograph by B. Wilson.

BT23076 Abstract | BT23076 Full Text | BT23076PDF (1.1 MB) | BT23076Supplementary Material (942 KB) Open Access Article

Published online 26 February 2024

BT23053Unusual, human-mediated prevalence of epiphytes in semi-arid New South Wales, Australia

J. L. Silcock

, J. Pye, A. Tighe, P. Reid-Loynes, R. Ashby and R. J. Fairfax

Examples of epiphytes documented on the Barwon River palaeochannels, north-western New South Wales.

Epiphytes are typically associated with wet forests. We document an unusual concentration of epiphytes, typically associated with wet forests, from a eucalypt woodland in semi-arid New South Wales: 712 woody epiphytes were located, comprising 21 typically terrestrial species. Epiphytes were strongly associated with anthropogenically modified trees, and are likely to be widespread but overlooked components of some dryland ecosystems, particularly those with large trees with a history of anthropogenic modification and high species diversity. Photographs by Jane Pye.

BT23053 Abstract | BT23053 Full Text | BT23053PDF (4.8 MB) Open Access Article

Published online 20 February 2024

BT23068Long-unburnt stands of snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieber ex Spreng) are exceedingly rare in the Victorian Alps: implications for their conservation and management

John W. Morgan

, Michael Shackleton and Zac C. Walker

Photograph of long-unburnt snow gum growing in Victorian Alps.

We identify the extent and location of long-unburnt snow gum in Victoria, and make recommendations for the conservation management of such stands. Photograph by John Morgan.

BT23068 Abstract | BT23068 Full Text | BT23068PDF (2.2 MB) Open Access Article

Published online 19 January 2024

BT23049Fire responses of flora in a sclerophyll–rainforest vegetation complex in the Nightcap Range, North Coast, New South Wales

Andrew Benwell

A photograph of sclerophyll–rainforest vegetation complex in the Nightcap Range, North Coast NSW, one year after fire.

This study examined how floristically diverse components of wet sclerophyll forest and adjoining dry sclerophyll communities in the Nightcap Range, North Coast, New South Wales, responded to fire. Functional and phytogeographical clades composing the flora displayed distinctive patterns of resprouting and seedling-recruitment fire response. Predominant fire responses (OSR, FR and OR) in phytogeographic clades in WSRf were: Gondwanan-rainforest (OR), immigrant-rainforest (OSR) and autochthonous-sclerophyll components (OSR and FR), with exceptions. The species complex in intergrading rainforest and sclerophyll vegetation appears to maintain diversity and stability by different species fire-response syndromes. Photograph by A. Benwell.

BT23049 Abstract | BT23049 Full Text | BT23049PDF (703 KB) | BT23049Supplementary Material (1.6 MB) Open Access Article

Published online 10 January 2024

BT23062Phenotypic and genotypic variation in Australian native Sorghum species along aridity clines

Harry Myrans

, Jack R. McCausland, Scott N. Johnson and Roslyn M. Gleadow

Accessions of three wild sorghum species collected in Australia.

Wild Sorghum species dominate parts of northern Australia and contain potentially useful traits for crop improvement, but the diversity within these species has not been sufficiently examined. We assessed phenotypic and genotypic diversity of three Sorghum species and found unexpected complexity in the relationships among the environment, genotype and phenotype. Our results challenge assumptions that diversity levels can be assumed from phenotype or environment alone, with implications for conservation and crop improvement. Photograph by Jack McCausland.

BT23062 Abstract | BT23062 Full Text | BT23062PDF (1.9 MB) | BT23062Supplementary Material (1000 KB) Open Access Article

Published online 02 January 2024

BT23064Cell wall epitope distribution in the functional compartments of galls induced by Palaeomystella oligophaga (Lepidoptera) in Macairea radula (Melastomataceae)

Patrícia Dias Santos, Gracielle Pereira Pimenta Bragança, Vinícius Coelho Kuster

, Diego Ismael Rocha

and Denis Coelho de Oliveira

Galls induced by Palaeomystella oligophaga in Macairea radula, at various stages of development.

Insects can live inside plant galls, and the composition of the gall cell walls plays an important role in its structure and function. Herein, the cell walls of Macairea radula galls changed throughout the developmental stages of P. oligophaga and between storage and nutritive tissues. Cell wall epitopes in the storage tissue gave it a good balance between rigidity and flexibility, and xyloglucans in the nutritive tissue seem to be important for the insect’s diet in the larval stage. Image by Patrícia Dias Santos.

Published online 14 December 2023

BT23028From mallees to mountain ash, specific leaf area is coordinated with eucalypt tree stature, resprouting, stem construction, and fruit size

Antoinette M. Portelli

, Saras M. Windecker

, Laura J. Pollock

, Will C. Neal, William K. Morris

, Rohan Khot and Peter A. Vesk

Trait network diagram of phylogenetic correlations among 164 southern Australian eucalypts.

We studied correlation patterns among leaf, stem, stature and regeneration traits in 164 eucalypt taxa from southern Australia. Stem and habit were independent of reproductive traits and leaf traits were coordinated with most other traits. Post-fire regeneration behaviour was also coordinated with many traits. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that most of these patterns evolved repeatedly throughout the eucalypt radiation. Image by Antoinette Portelli.

BT23028 Abstract | BT23028 Full Text | BT23028PDF (3.1 MB) | BT23028Supplementary Material (1.8 MB) Open Access Article

Published online 07 December 2023

BT23070The extent and applications of metal accumulation and hyperaccumulation in Philippine plants

Sarah Duddigan

, Marilyn O. Quimado, Edwino S. Fernando and Mark Tibbett

Photograph of a native metal-accumulating plant in the Philippines.

Soils of the Philippines often have high concentrations of heavy metals and low nutrient concentrations, which are conditions that are normally unfavourable for plant growth. However, many plants in the area have adapted to these conditions and can grow well. Here we have compiled data currently available on Philippine plants that can accumulate metals in their tissue, and the potential applications of these plants in restoration efforts. Photograph by Edwino S. Fernando.

Published online 02 December 2023

BT23047Collateral damage: epiphytic orchids at risk from myrtle rust

Heidi Zimmer

, Mark Clements, Endymion Cooper, David Jones, Robert Makinson, Katharina Nargar and Kristy Stevenson

An epiphytic orchid attached to the trunk of a tree killed by repeated myrtle rust infection.

Myrtle rust is a pathogen that threatens the family that forms the core of many Australian ecosystems: the Myrtaceae. Worse still, death and decline of myrtaceous species could have knock-on effects for the species that rely on them. We identified 73 species of epiphytic orchid that are commonly found growing on myrtaceous hosts – and hence are at risk from the impacts of myrtle rust. The impact of myrtle rust in Australia is likely to be broader than on myrtaceous species alone. Photograph by Kristy Stevenson.

BT23047 Abstract | BT23047 Full Text | BT23047PDF (3 MB) Open Access Article