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Australian Systematic Botany Australian Systematic Botany Society
Taxonomy, biogeography and evolution of plants
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Species limits and taxonomic revision of the bracteate-prostrate group of southern hemisphere forget-me-nots (Myosotis, Boraginaceae), including description of three new species endemic to New Zealand

Heidi M. Meudt A C and Jessica M. Prebble A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, PO Box 467, Cable Street, Wellington, 6140, New Zealand.

B Landcare Research Manaaki Whenua, PO Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand.

C Corresponding author. Email: heidim@tepapa.govt.nz

Australian Systematic Botany 31(1) 48-105 https://doi.org/10.1071/SB17045
Submitted: 11 August 2017  Accepted: 23 November 2017   Published: 28 February 2018

Abstract

A taxonomic revision of southern hemisphere bracteate-prostrate forget-me-nots (Myosotis L., Boraginaceae) is presented here. The group comprises mostly species endemic to New Zealand plus the South American Myosotis antarctica Hook.f. (also Campbell Island) and M. albiflora Hook.f. The statistical analyses of morphological data from herbarium specimens reported here support recognition of five main subgroups on the basis of habit. Excluding the M. pygmaea Colenso species group (M. antarctica, M. brevis de Lange & Barkla, M. drucei (L.B.Moore) de Lange & Barkla, M. glauca (G.Simpson & J.S.Thomson) de Lange & Barkla, and M. pygmaea), which is being treated elsewhere, 14 species are recognised in the following four remaining subgroups: (1) creeping-species group: M. matthewsii L.B.Moore, M. chaffeyorum Lehnebach, M. spatulata G.Forst., M. tenericaulis Petrie, and M. albiflora; (2) cushion-species group: M. uniflora Hook.f., M. pulvinaris Hook.f., and M. glabrescens L.B.Moore; (3) M. cheesemanii + M. colensoi species group: M. cheesemanii Petrie and M. colensoi J.F.Macbr.; and (4) M. lyallii species group: M. lyallii Hook.f. and new species M. retrorsa Meudt, Prebble & Hindmarsh-Walls. New species Myosotis umbrosa Meudt, Prebble & Thorsen and M. bryonoma Meudt, Prebble & Thorsen do not fit comfortably within these subgroups. Myosotis elderi L.B.Moore is treated as M. lyallii subsp. elderi (L.B.Moore) Meudt & Prebble. For each of the 14 species revised here, a key to species, descriptions, phenology, distributions, maps, illustrations, specimens examined and notes are provided. Some specimens examined do not fit within these species and require additional comparative studies, including with certain ebracteate-erect species, before taxonomic decisions can be made. Future research on these and other southern hemisphere Myosotis should incorporate the morphological data presented here, with additional genetic, cytological, pollen, and other data in an integrative systematic framework.


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