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Taxonomy, biogeography and evolution of plants
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 21(3)

Elaeocarpus sedentarius sp. nov. (Elaeocarpaceae)—morphometric analysis of a new, rare species from eastern Australia

David Maynard A , Darren Crayn A B F , Maurizio Rossetto A C , Robert Kooyman A D and Mark Coode E
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A National Herbarium of New South Wales, Botanic Gardens Trust, Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.

B Australian Tropical Herbarium, James Cook University, Cairns Campus, McGregor Road, Smithfield, Qld 4878, Australia.

C School of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources Management, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

D Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.

E Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, UK.

F Corresponding author. Email: darren.crayn@jcu.edu.au

Australian Systematic Botany 21(3) 192-200 https://doi.org/10.1071/SB07031
Submitted: 13 July 2007  Accepted: 5 June 2008   Published: 20 August 2008

Abstract

To assess the status of a putative new species of Elaeocarpus L. (Elaeocarpaceae) from north-eastern New South Wales (NSW), with respect to the morphologically similar E. blepharoceras Schltr. from New Guinea, we undertook morphometric analysis of 11 vegetative attributes measured on 11 specimens of the putative new species and eight of E. blepharoceras. Cluster analysis (flexible UPGMA) and ordination (PCC) separates highland specimens of E. blepharoceras from the NSW material plus lowland E. blepharoceras. Furthermore, the ordination shows some separation of the NSW material into Koonyum Range and Nightcap Range groups. Although it is not clearly differentiated from lowland E. blepharoceras on morphometric analysis, description of the NSW material as E. sedentarius D.J.Maynard & Crayn is justified by (1) additional features such as the anther awns (short and sparsely hairy in E. sedentarius and much longer and densely bristly in E. blepharoceras), variation in the number of locules (3(–4) in E. sedentarius and (2–)3 in E. blepharoceras), leaf margin features (short setae terminating veins on leaf margins of E. blepharoceras, lacking in E. sedentarius) and (2) geographic isolation (>2000 km) is likely to prevent gene flow. The distribution, relationships and conservation status of E. sedentarius are discussed.


Acknowledgements

We thank Gordon Guymer and Stephen Bonser for discussions, Barry Conn and Elizabeth Brown for help with the PATN analyses, the directors of BRI and CANB for loan material, Chris Allen for the map, Peter Wilson for help with the Latin and Catherine Wardrop for the illustrations. This research was funded by the Hermon Slade Foundation and the trustees are gratefully thanked for their support.


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