A taxonomic revision and morphological variation within Eucalyptus series Subulatae subseries Oleaginae (Myrtaceae), including the oil mallee complex, of south-western Australia
D. Nicolle A C , M. Byrne B and M. Whalen AA School of Biological Sciences, The Flinders University of South Australia, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia.
B Science Division, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: Dean.Nicolle@dn.com.au
Australian Systematic Botany 18(6) 525-553 https://doi.org/10.1071/SB04038
Submitted: 17 September 2004 Accepted: 24 May 2005 Published: 20 December 2005
Abstract
Morphological variation within Eucalyptus series Subulatae subseries Oleaginae, a group of mallee taxa distributed in south-western Australia, was assessed by adult and seedling characteristics. A total of 36 adult morphological characters and 20 seedling characters was included in phenetic analyses of 82 individuals representing 29 populations covering all the taxa and the broad geographical distribution of the series. The phenetic analyses indicate relatively weak separation of all previously recognised taxa within E. subser. Oleaginae, except for E. longissima (previously referred to as E. grasbyi), which is distinctive in its seedling morphology, and to a lesser degree, E. ultima, which is also most easily distinguished by seedling morphology. E. eremicola, E. peeneri and E. sublucida are not well differentiated from one another, differing significantly only in adult leaf colour and gloss. The three previously recognised species of the oil mallee complex (E. kochii, E. plenissima and E. ‘horistes’) are also only weakly differentiated from one another. Two variants within E. kochii were observed to differ from each other in several adult vegetative and floral characteristics and are recognised at the subspecific level. A new taxonomy for E. subser. Oleaginae is presented, based on phenetic analyses combined with extensive field, glasshouse and herbarium examination of all taxa in the subseries. A new species is described (E. longissima Nicolle sp. nov.) to accommodate populations of mallees previously erroneously referred to E. grasbyi. New combinations are made for E. peeneri [E. eremicola subsp. peeneri (Blakely) Nicolle comb. nov.] and E. oleosa var. borealis [E. kochii subsp. borealis (C. Gardner) Nicolle comb. nov.] and two new subspecies of E. kochii are described (subspp. amaryssia Nicolle and yellowdinensis Nicolle). Eucalyptus sublucida is considered to be synonymous with E. eremicola subsp. peeneri. Keys to the taxa within the subseries are presented.
Acknowledgments
We thank Duncan Mackay for statistical support throughout the project and Geoff Lloyd for glasshouse assistance. The senior author thanks John Connors, Malcolm French and Bob Nicolle for field support and assistance, Denise and Malcolm French for hospitality while in Western Australia and Ian Brooker and Malcolm French for ongoing discussions about eucalypts and general advice. Peter White (CALM, Narrogin) provided locality information and other data for some species. We thank the staff of AD, CANB, MEL, NSW and PERTH for allowing access to their facilities, specimens and data. This work was undertaken at The Flinders University of South Australia with funding support from a Flinders University ARC Small Research Grant, a National Parks Foundation of South Australia Research Grant and support from the Mark Mitchell Research Foundation. CSIRO Plant Industry, Canberra, provided support that allowed for the collection of specimens in the deserts of SA and WA. The collection of herbarium specimens and accompanying seed to grow progeny as part of this study was undertaken using the following scientific research permits. South Australia: Z24187 1, K24185 1; Western Australia: NE001372, SL003358, SL004012, SW005045, SL005679.
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