From sea level to snowy mountains, from swamps to bare volcanic rocks grow two groups of flowering plants restricted to the Southern Hemisphere. These sedges, in the genera Asterochaete and Carpha, are usually treated under Carpha but evolutionary studies support recognition of both. Photogenic features of the fruit and perianth allow easy recognition of the genera and we provide tools for the identification of the species, including three new to science and the Australian alpine species particularly vulnerable to climatic changes. (Photographs by J. J. Bruhl.)

This study investigates the population dynamics, diversity and taxonomy of leafless Bossiaea species, a distinctive group of Australian plants, by using whole-genome single-nucleotide polymorphism data. The findings suggest recognition of a new subspecies, Bossiaea vombata subsp. orientalis, and a change in status for B. milesiae to B. fragrans subsp. milesiae. We also highlight challenges in reproduction and gene flow among Bossiaea populations, emphasising the need for coordinated conservation efforts. (Image credit: Keith McDougall.)