ISSN 0085-4417 NUYTSIA Bulletin of the Western Australian Herbarium Edited by A. S. George Vol. 2 No. 4 1978 Department of Agriculture of Western Australia 6S049 rSSN 0085—4417 NUYTSIA Bulletin of the Western Australian Herbarium Edited by A. S. George Vol. 2 No. 4 1978 Department of Agriculture of Western Australia 65045 — ( 1 ) Three new species of Acacia (Mimosaceae) from Western Australia by A. B. Court* Abstract Three new species of Acacia from Western Australia (A. anomala, A. flageUiformis and A. imifissiUs) are described and illustrated. Their affinities are discussed briefly and a note on the extreme rarity of A. anomala is included. Acacia anomala C. A. Gardner ex A. B. Court, sp. nov. (Figures I and 4). Fnitex parvus, erectus, ad 35 cm altus, ramis pluribus prope basim exorientibus; inferioribus plerumque i teretibus sed interdum paulo angulalis, interdum i striatis' superioribus manifeste alatis; alae ad 2 mm latae, phyllodia alata A. wilkleiwwianae H. Wendl. simulantes, glabrae. Phyllodia interdum nulla sed ubi praesentia arliculata cum pulvmo, nunc lineraria nunc angusto-linearia, 40-100 mm longa et 3-7 mm lata, plerumque parum curvata, acl basim gradatim angu.stata et acumine parvo duro aculo terminata, supra centrum latissima, glabra, interdum levitcr penninervia et nervo i centrale. Sripniae lanceolatae, late triangulares et aculae vel oblongae et obtusae, I-I -5 mm longae et 0-3- I mm latae, interdum obscurae. Glanx margiiialis obscura vel nulla. Spicae 1 5~7S ntm longae et 6-9 mm diam. sub anthesi. Pedimcnli 1-4 mm long! et ca 0-2 mm diam., glabri; a 3-4 bracteis scariosis striatis, ovatis, 1-3 mm longis et ad ca 2 mm lalis, interdum demum aurantiescentibus, sublentae. Bracfeoloc nullae. Ccifyx irregulariter 4- vel 5-partitus, ca I mm longus; lobis non facile secedenlibus, oblongis, ad 0-5 mm longis et 0’2-0'4 mm latis, obtusis, incurvatis praeter cilia minuta in apicem glabris. Corolla plerumque 5-partita, raro 4-partita; petala ± lanceolata ellipticave, ca 2 mm longa et ca 0-8 mm lata, glabra, ad apicem paulo mcrassata. Ovarium breviter stipitatum, glabrum, ± ellipsoidale Legitmina et semina ignota. Between Muchea and Chittering, Western Australia. In gravelly sand on sides ol hills. August 1961 H. H. Krcichmar and C. A. Gardner sn fl (PERTH -Herb Gardnenanum). Small erect shrub to 35 cm high with several stems arising from near the base, lower stems usually i terete but sometimes somewhat angled, sometimes ± striate; upper stems prominently winged; wings to 2 mm wide, resembling the winged phyllodes of A. wiUdenowiana H. Wendl., glabrous. PhvHodes sometimes absent but when present then articulated and with a basal pulvinus, linear to narrow-linear. 40-100 mm long and 3-7 mm wide, usually slightly curved, narrowing gradually towards the base, broadest above the centre, glabrous, terminated by a small hard sharp point, sometimes faintly penninerved and w.'ith a • central midrib. Stipules lanceolate, broadly triangular and acute or oblong and blunt, 1-1 -5 mm long and 0-3-1 mm wide, s^ometimes obscure. Marginal gland obscure or absent. Spikes 15-25 mm long and 6- 9 mm diameter at anthesis. Peduncles 1-4 mm long and about 0-2 nmi diam- eter, glabrous; peduncles subtended by 3-4 scarious, striated, ±: ovale bracts 1-3 mm long and to about 2 mm wide, sometimes becoming tinged with oranae upon aging. Sractw/es- absent. Ca/y.v irregularly 4- or 5-partite, about I mVri * 3 Trenwith Close. Spence, A.C.T., 2615. Fipire Acacia anomala. A-Three flowering branches. Young plant with juvenile foliage. C Transverse section and surlace view of young stem. D— Transverse '^section and surlace view ol mature stem. Inflorescence. F- Flowers, front and back vtews showing unequal lobing of calyx. G^Calyx (flattened out). 168 169 long; lobes not separating easily, oblong, to 0-5 mm long and 0-2-0-4 mm wide, obtuse, incurved, glabrous except for minute cilia at the apex. Corolla usually 5-partite. rarely 4-partite; petals ( lanceolate or elliptic, about 2 mm long and about 0-8 mm wide, glabrous, somewhat thickened towards their tips. Ovary shortly stipitate, glabrous, i ellipsoidal. Legumes and seeds not seen. Flowering during August and September; fruiting period unknown. Specimens examined: Western Australia: In glareosis prope Bullsbrook in collibus Darling Range, ix. 1966, C. A, Gardner s.n.. R. (PERTH); Muchea, Aug. 1965. H. H. Kretchmar s.n., fl. (PERTH); Bickley, Darling Range, \v. H. Loaring s.n., fl. (PERTH). It seems likely that Acacia anomala is now an extinct species or if it is not, then it is certainly extremely rare. This fact has prompted me to name and describe it as new even though no fruiting material has ever been found. Presumably A. anomala is (or was?) confined to lateritic soils in the Darling Range near Perth where it is known from only two localities viz. about 4 km due east of Muchea (40 km NNE of Perth) and Bickley (22 km ESE of Perth). The affinities of this most interesting species are quite obscure. However, for the time being it will be placed in Benlham’s series Alatae although it could be placed in his series Juliflorae perhaps with more justification. It is anomalous because its stems are often winged like those of A. willdenowiana H. Wendl. (syn.: A. dipiera Lindl.) but it can be distinguished at once from that species by its spicate inflorescence. Sometimes phyllodes are present and then they are distinctly articulate on the stems. All specimens have small callous-like extensions to the stem-wings and in this respect A. anomala resembles A. willdenowiana in particular. Its relationships in the Juliflorae are quite unknown to me. Acacia flagelliformis A. B. Court, sp, nov. (Figures 2 and 4). Frutex apertus. erectus, 0-4-1 -3 in altus, inlerdum ramis mullis ex vel prope basim exorientibus; inferioribus . teretibus sed interdum ± angulatis vel dislincte costatis, inlerdum viridibus vel : ferrugineis; superioribus plerumque ad angulum ca 30-35 ex axe finitimo exorientibus, dislincte angulatis, costatis alatisve, glabris vel interdum paulo asperulatis, zb flavovirientibus. Slipidae trianglares, 0-6-1 -2 mm longae, planae, z acutae, virides vel ferrugincae vel obscurae. Phyllodia saepe nulla sed cum praesenlia inlerdum e caulibus vix dissimilia. anguslo-linearia, 20-1 10 mm longa et plerumque 0-6-1 -5 mm lata, raro ad 5 mm lata, recta, interdum ad apices dilatata. plerumque erecla, nunc obtuse quadrangulata nunc dislincte compressa, glabra, in caule articulata, 4-nervata; apex plerumque obtusus interdum uncinatus. Gians marginalis obscura vel nulla. Bradeae quae racemos juvenes includunt usque ad 10, plerumque equilantes imbricalaeve, ovatae vel lanccolatae. inferiores ca I - 5 mm longae et superiores fere 10 mm longae, majores plerumque pedunculos singulos subtentes sed mox cadentes, scariosae, sublililer striatae, acutae, saepe ad bases angustatac. glabrae, plerumque ferrugineae in dimidiis superioribus et infra pallidiores. Racemi ad 30 mm longi, plerumque cum 4-9 capitulis. Rhachis teres vel interdum sulcata, glabra. Capiliila globulosa, 5-10 mm diam. sub anthesi, ex 6-9 floribus cum pedicellis glabris minus quam 0-3 mm longis et 0-3 mm diam. constantia. Bracteolae florales nullae. Calyx cupulatus cum iobis obtusis. Iobis non facile secedenlibus, diaphanus, ca 0-3-0 -5 mm longus. glaber. Corolla 5-parlita; petala facile secedentia, T. lanceolalo-elliplica, - diaphana, 2-2-3 mm longa et 1-1-3 mm lata, glabra, luteola, costibus centralibus z_ obscuris. Ovarium ellipsoidale, breviler stipitalum, glabrum. Legumina angusto-lincaria, 40-50 mm longa et 6 mm lata, 8-9 semina capientia, dislincte compressa. super semina convexa, in apices acuminalos longos subtiles extensa, olivacea; margines leguminium incrassati. inter semina non angustati. Figure 2. Acacia flagelliformis. A-B— Young plant. C — Portion of upper branch (in- florescence removed) showing reduced phyllode with stipule at its base. D- Developing inflorescence showing large bracts (completely enclosing young flower-heads). E — Inflorescence. F— Flower. G — Gynoecium. H — Calyx (flattened out). I Petal. J — Legume, A-C from E. Dell s.n., June 1929; D-I from B. R. Maslin 457; J from F. W. Wen! 52, 170 171 2 mm hepatic!. Semina longitudinalia vel parum obliqua, elliptica, ca. 3-5 mm longa et 2-5 mm lata, compressa, laevia, porphyrea; pkurogramma non conspicua; areola ca 2 mm longa et 1 mm \aVA-. fnnicnliis ca 1 mm longiis et 0-2-0-3 mm diam., luteolus flexo uno, in ariUnm r clavalnm incrassatus. Type: 0-6 km S of Bussell Highway on Ruabon Road (between Bunbury and Busselton), Western Australia. While sandv loam in swampy area. 3 Sept. 1972, B. R. Maslin 2811, fl. et fr. (holo: PERTH; iso: CANB, K). Open, erect slinih 0-4-1 -3 m high, sometimes much branched at or near the base; lower stems j terete but sometimes i angled or distinctly ribbed, sometimes green or Jr. red-brown; upper stems usually arising at an angle of about 30-35 or less with the adjacent axis, distinctly angled, ribbed or winged, glabrous or occasionally slightly asperulate, i yellowish green. Stipules triangular. 0-6-1 -2 mm long, flat, i acute, green or red-brown, sometimes obscure. Phylkules often absent but when present sometimes scarcely dis- tinguishable from the stems, narrow-linear, 20-1 10 mm long and usually 0-6- 1 -5 mm wide, rarely to 5 mm wide, straight, sometimes broadening towards the apex, usually erect, distinctly flattened to obtusely quadrangular, glabrous, articulated, 4-nerved (l-nerved on each margin, l-nerved on each face); apex normally blunt but sometimes uncinate. Marginal gland obscure or absent. Bracts enclosing the young racemes to 10 in number, mostly equitant or im- bricate, ovate or lanceolate, the lower ones about 1 -5 mm long and the upper nearly 10 mm long, each of the larger bracts usually subtending a peduncle but soon falling away, scarious, finely striate, acute, often narrowed at base, glabrous, usually red-brown in the upper half and paler below. Racemes to 30 mm long, usually with 4-9 flower-heads. Rachis terete or occasionally grooved, glabrous. Flower-heads globular, 5-10 mm diameter at anthesis, consisting of 6-9 flowers with glabrous pedicels less than 0-3 mm long and 0-3 mm diameter. Bracteoles absent. Calyx ± cupular with broad blunt lobes which do not readily separate, i diaphanous, about 0-3-0-5 mm long, glabrous. Corolla 5-partite; petals readily separating, i lanceolate-elliptic, ± diaphanous, 2-2-3 mm long and 1-1-3 mm wide, glabrous, pale yellow, midrib - obscure. Ovary ellipsoidal, shortly stipitate, glabrous. Legumes narrow-linear, 40-50 mm long and 6 mm wide, containing 8-9 seeds, distinctly flattened, convex over the seeds, drawn out into a fine acuminate point, dr green- brown; margins of legume thickened, not constricted between the seeds, pale yellow-brown. Seeds longitudinal or slightly oblique in legume, about 3-5 mm long and 2-5 mm wide, flattened, smooth, red-brown; pleurogram not con- spicuous, horseshoe-shaped; areole about 2 mm long and I mm wide; /tm/c/e about I mm long and 0-2-0-3 mm diameter, pale yellow, once-folded and thickened into a i clavate aril. Flowering during June and fruiting during September. Selected specimens esamineit: Western Australia; Argyle, vi. 1929, E. De/ls.n., IT (PERTH); in gravelly soil 12-3 mi (20 km) W of Honnybrook on the road to CapcI, 9.vi.l970, B. R. Maslin 454. It. (PERTH); in gravelly sand along a creek bed with A. exiensa l.indl., 12-6 mi (20 km) W of Donnybrook on the road to Capel, 9.vi.I970, B. R. Maslin 457, fl. (PERTH); along roadside in grey clayey loam, I -6 km E of Nannup- Busselton road towards Tutunup. 3.ix.l972, B. R. Maslin 2817, IT (CANB. NSW. PERTH); in swamp near Jindong, ca. 18 km due SW of Busselton, 8.vi.l973. B. R. Maslin 321 1, fl. (AD, E, K, PERTH); in dry sclerophyll forest. Whicher Range. 33 52'S, 115 15'E, I9.vii.l973, T. Pulley 1.528 (CBG 052701); roadside near Busselton. I3.ix.l962, F. W. Went 52, fl. et fr. (PERTH). Acacia flagelliformis has been collected in a number of swamps along the southern extremity of the Swan Coastal Plain between Ruabon ( 1 1 km due E of Busselton) and Jindong (18 km due SW of Busselton). It has also been collected in the adjacent Whicher and Darling Ranges and in these areas it is normally associated with water courses. 172 This plant bears a remarkable resemblance to grass culms but it is not caespitose. Generally it is quite insignificant but sometimes it forms dense colonies along the roadside. Its affinities appear to lie with Acacia restiacea Benth. but it differs from that species in its usually thinner stems, longer racemes, fewer flowers in the head, diaphanous calyx and its much thinner pods. Acacia unifissilis A. B. Court, sp. nov. (Figures 3 and 4). Fnitex compactus exapansusve, 15-60 cm altus, ramis plerumque 2-6 prope basini exorientibus. inferioribus ± erectis et teretibus, plerumque albido- vel cano-pubescentibus, aut interdum pubetem sparsam pro parte maxima in nervos flavidos ± prominentes aut in strias longitudinales terentes, superioribus plerumque erectis. rigidis, ; teretibus vel angulatis, praecipue in nervos : flavidos albido-pubescentibus atque inter eosdem manifeste farinosis. Folia jiivenalia bipinnata, ca 50 mm longa et 20-25 mm lata, glauca; petioli angulati, glabri; pinnae l-jugae, 20-25 mm longac at 10 12 mm latae; giuniUhns singulis obscuris nullisve; rhachis pinnaniin angulata, glabra; pinnniae 4-6-jugae, plerumque obovatae, glabrae vel subglabrae, interdum acuminibus singulis minutis duris actitis, petiolis brevissimis, plerumque nervis obscuris centralibus, Slipniae subulatae vel : setaceae, 1-5-4 mm longae et 0- 1-0-5 mm latae, plerumque chartaceae et fuscae vel fumosae, marginibus plerumque cilialis et interdum hyalinis. Fhylloilia asymmetrica. iriangularia subulatave, 8-30 mm longa, 1-5 3 tnm lata ad bases, rigida, plerumque Icniter interdum valde recurvata vel etiam tortilia sed numquam recta, distincte complanata ad fere pentagona, interdum sparsim pubescentia et saepe asperulata, saepe flavovirentia, plerumque breviter interdum : late decurrentia, plerumque in acumina acuta obliqua abrupte terminantia et interdum ad bases angustata; nervis 5 6 in quoque pliyllodio (utraque facie 2-nervata. margine abaxiali l-nervato, adaxiali enervio vel obscure l-nervato), flavescentibus, ad apicem coalesccntibus et in acuminem durum pungentem productis, saepe in quoque facie nervo supero prope marginem adaxialcm posito et siccitate costam latam marginalem facienti. (Hans marginalis obsctira nullave. I’edtinaili terctes. minus quam 1 mm longi et I mm diam., dense candido-pubescentes; a bracleis _ ovatis. chartaceis, brunneis. ca .3 mm longis et 2 mm latis, plerumque subtililer striatis subtenti. Capitnia s-aepe in fasciculis axillaVibus. globulosa vel obloirlea, 4 8 mm diam, sub anthesi. ex 8-20 floribus constantia. iiracteolae ovatae, ca 2 mm longae et I -2-1 -5 mm latae, parum concavae, chartaceae, plerumque subtiliter striatae. aculae, interdum laciniatae, brunneae cum aliquot pilis dispersis el marginibus cilialis. f'u/t-.v integer. - cupulatus vel turbinatus sed parum obliquus ut latus abaxiale quam lattis adaxiale fissum longius sit, ca 1-5-2 mm longus, initio adaxiale sed postea irregularitcr in aliquot lobos inacquales findens. plerumque subtiliter striatiis, fere glaber praetor margines valde ciliatos, porphyreus. Corolla peniamera: petala secus ipsorum longitudincm fere dimidium libera sed facile ad basim corollae (identia, anguste oblonga. 2-5-3-2 mm longa et 0-6-1 mm lata, dilutiora quam calycem, interdum incurvata, ad' apices incrassata; ovarium ellipsoidale. sessile, glabrtim. Lepumina irregulariter torsiva vel tortilia ut non extendentur. cum tortis ca 10 15 mm longa et 5-10 mm lata. 4-8 semina plerumque capientia; valvac Icguminis compressac super semina, ca 4-5 mm latae, tenues, rugulosae. umbrinae, parum angusiatae inter semina. Semina : ellipsoidalia sed oblique truncata prope funictilos, ca 3-4 mm longa et 2 3 mm diam., manifeste porcata. laevia: pleiiroffranima conspicua; areola ca I mm longa et 0-7 mn-i lata; liinicnliis fllamentosus, rectus, minus quam 0- 1 mm diam. et ca 0-5 mm longus, pallidus, in arilltim incrassatus; ariUns obliqtitis, pallidus, ttirbinatus, ca 1 -5 2 mm altus et I -5 mm diam. Holotvpe: About 6 mi (9-6 km) E of Rabbit Proof Fence No. 1 (E of Muntadgin) towards Mt. Hampton, Western Australia. 5 Aug. 1971, B. R. MasUn 1826, fl. et Ir. (PERTH). Flowering from July until September and fruiting from November until March. Compact, erect or spreading shrub 1 5-60 cm high, usually with 2-6 branches arising from near the base; lower branches ± erect, terete or almost so. usually white- or grey-pubescent or occasionally with sparse pube.scence mainly restricted to the ; prominent yellowish nerves or longitudinal markings; upper branches usually erect, rigid, i terete or somewhat angled, while- pubescent mainly along the - yellowish nerves and prominently farinaceous between them. Juvenile leaves bipinnate, about 50 mm long and 20-25 mm wide, ± glaucous; petiole ± angled, glabrous; pinnae 1 pair, 20-25 mm long and 10-12 mm wide; gland obscure or absent; pinna rachis \ angled, glabrous; 173 174 pinnules 4-6 pairs, generally obovate, glabrous or almost so, sometimes with a minute hard d: acute point, very shortly stalked, usually with an obscure central nerve. Stipules subulate or • setaceous, 1-5-4 mm long and 0-1- 0- 5 mm wide, usually chartaceous and dark brown or grey, margins usually ciliate and sometimes hyaline. Pliyllocles asymmetric, triangular or subulate, 8-30 mm long, I -5- 3 mm wide at base, rigid, usually gently recurved but sometimes strongly so or even twisted but rarely straight, distinctly flattened to almost pentagonal, occasionally sparsely pubescent and often asperulate, often yellowish green, usually shortly decurrent but occasionally broadly decurrent, usually terminated abruptly in a sharp oblique point and sometimes narrowed at the base; nerves 5-6 to each phyllode (2-nerved on each face, abaxial margin 1- nerved, adaxial margin nerveless or obscurely l-nerved), yellowish, coale.scing towards the apex and then extended into a hard sharp point, often the upper nerve on each face situated close to the adaxial margin and on drying forming a broad upper marginal rib. Marginal gland obscure or absent. Peduncles • terete, less than 1 mm long and I mm diameter, densely white-pubescent; subtended by ovate, chartaceous .very finely striate, brown bracts about 3 mm long and 2 mm wide. Flower-heads often in axillary clusters, globular or obloid. 4—8 mm diameter at anthesis, consisting of 8- 20 flowers. Bracteoles dr ovate, about 2 mm long and 1 -2- I - 5 mm wide, somewhat concave, chart- aceous, usually finely striate, acute, occasionally laciniate, brown, with a few scattered hairs, margins ciliate. Calyx entire, cupulate or turbinate but somewhat oblique with the abaxial side longer than the cleft adaxial side, about 1 -5-2 mm long, splitting easily adaxially at first but later irregularly into several unequal lobes, usually finely striate, essentially glabrous except for the markedly ciliate margins, red-brown. Corolla 5-partite; petals connate for about half their length but separating easily to the base, narrowly oblong. 2-5- 3- 2 mm long and 0-6-1 mm wide, paler than the calyx, sometimes incurved, thickened towards the apex: overy ellipsoidal, - sessile, glabrous. Legumes irregularly coiled or twisted so that they cannot be straightened out, about 10-15 mm long and 5-10 mm wide in the distorted state, usually containing 4- 8 seeds; valves of legume compressed over the seeds, about 4-5 mm wide, thin, somewhat rugose, dark brown, somewhat narrowed between the seeds. Seeds > ellipsoidal but obliquely truncated near the funicle. about 3-4 mm long and 2-3 mm diameter, prominently ridged, smooth, pale brown; pleurogram conspicuous, horseshoe-shaped; areole about I mm long and 0-7 mm wide; funicle filamentous. - straight, less than 0-1 mm diameter and about 0-5 mm long. pale, thickened into a oblique, pale. - turbinate aril about I -5-2 mm high and I -5 mm diameter. Selected specimens examined: WESTfcRN .^l:srRArlA: S of Merredin on Narenibeen road, 8.vii.l966. A. M. Ashhy I80.t, II. (PERTH): between Pingriip and Lake Magenta SE of Lake Grace. 23. ix. 1933, tT'. E. Blacka/I 3078, II. (PERTH); on sandplain, S of Twertiip Creek, f-itzgerald River Reserve, Il.vii.l970, A. S. Genrae 9910, II. (PERTH): north of Rendering, 21. xi. 1962, F. l-iillfitz 1761. fr. (PERTH); ca. 6-5 mi (10-5 km) W of Holt Rock on the road to Hyden (E of Hyden), I4.vii.l970, li. R. Maslin 565, IT (PERTH); in white sand 8 mi (12-8 km) N of KellerbeVrin on the road to Yelbeni, 1 6.vii, 1970, B. R. MasUn 590, 11. el fr. ( PER! H ); in sand. 22 mi (35 km) NE of Ongerup, 13. ix. 1964, K. Newhey 3042, IT (PERTH); 30 mi (48 km) from Ravensihorpe towards Lake King, I4.i\.l97l. .S'. Punst 825. IT (PErI'H); in sandy soil in the Fitzgerald River Reserve at the junction of the SiiscUa and I it/gerald (rivers), 14.vii.l970. R. L>. A;m'ce9005. IT (PERTH); causeway in the middle of Lake King, 1 5.viii. 1968, R. A. Satfrey 582, 11. et fr. (PERTH); on densely vegetated sandplain in cream sand over laterite, 0-5 mi (0-8 km) E of Newdegate towards Lake King. 28.viii. 1973, M. D. Tindale 3761. IT Figure3. Acacia nnifissiHs. A - Portion of branch system. B Close-up of branch. C-O Surface of phyllode showing variability in position of the primary nerves. E - .luvenile leaf (-■ Sessile llower-head. G Flowers (note cleft calyx), H— Corolla. I Bracteoles (surface and side views). J Legume. K Seed in legume. L— Seed (top view-). M Seed side view). A-C from B. R. Maslin 1826 (the type); D-I from A. S. George 9910; .l-M from M. D. Tindale 238 and B. R. Maslin. 175 (A AD, CBG 059339, K, NSW 107662--orig. spec., PERTH, US); in white sandy soil on a plain with scrub dominated by Eucalyptus tetragom n -9 mi (19- 1 township on main road to Ravensthorpe, 28.viii.I973, M. D. Tiitdale 31 S3, fl. et fV. >ozuiiih<)s kutbaniensis sp. nov. from a population 3.7 km east ol the Hawk's Head turn otf on the road in to Kalbarri. Note the resemblance to A. humiUs Lind!, in vegetative morphology, and the distinctive backward reflexion of the perianth lobes. 182 Specimens examined: Near Mt. Curious, lower Murchison River, W.A., 29 Aug. 1969, A. S. George 9619b (PERTH); 40 km E of Kalbarri, 3-7 km E of T.O. to Hawkshead Lookout, "In low proteaceous heath, winter-wet sandv flats, south side of road, recently burnt", 19 Aug. 1975, 5. D. Hopper 126 (PERTH). The new species is allied to A. hiimilis Lindl., from which it differs in having reflexed perianth lobes, consistently red ovaries, outer stamens more distant from the central four, a later flowering season (beginning in August), and a preference for winter-wet depressions in sandplain rather lhan hill slopes and rises. It is readily distinguished from A. bicolor Endl. and A. gahrielae Domin in having stamens inserted at three levels in the perianth. Anigozanthos kalharriensis appears to be a fire opportunist, occurring in large numbers the first spring after a bushfire and rapidly declining in subsequent years. It has been found in sympatry with A. humilis and hybrids at one locality. The two species showed some ecological segregation along soil moisture gradients associated with changes in topography; A. kalharriensis occurred in wetter flats and depressions at the base of elevated rises occupied by A. humilis. Hybrids occurred mainly in ecotonal regions between these habitats. Hybrids also had lower pollen fertility than individuals of either parental species. The variation in perianth colour shown by .4. kalharriensis is without parallel in the rest of the genus. The species should provide a rich source of colour variation of use in horticultural hybridization programmes. Present work by the author indicates that A. kalharriensis can be successfully hybridized with all other species of Anigozanthos including A. flavidus DC., and that the.se synthetic hybrids can be brought to flower within 6-9 months of sowing under glasshouse conditions. The specific epithet of the new species is taken from the town of Kalbarri which lies at the mouth of the Murchison River. Acknowledgements I would like to thank Mr. A. S. George for providing the Latin diagnosis, and Mr. M. Lucks for assistance with photography. Field surveys and investigations of the population biology of A. kalharriensis were supported by Grant No. 74 692 from the Australian Biological Resources Study Interim Council. Research leading to the description of the new species was undertaken while I was in receipt of a Commonwealth Postgraduate Research Award. 183 New taxa and new combinations in Australian Pittosporaceae By Eleanor M. Bennett* Abstract The following four new species are described — BiUardiera unifiora, Biirsaria occidentalis, Bursaria lasiophylla and Cheiranthera allernifolia. In addition 1 2 new varieties are described — 1 in Cheiranthera, 9 in Bursaria and 2 in BiUardiera. The genus Rhytidosporum F. Muell. is placed in synonymy under BiUardiera. A revised systematic arrangement within the genus BiUardiera is outlined. Introduction The following new names and new combinations are published in order to validate their inclusion in a forthcoming paper on the Pittosporaceae. This it is hoped will appear as a family part in the proposed Flora of Australia. Apart from the publication of a number of new combinations and the description of several new species and varieties, a revised classification of the genus BiUardiera is provided. The division into sections is based on the fruit, and that into series on overall morphology since it is considered that the use of fruit characters alone is insufficient to provide natural groupings within the sections. BiUardiera In a previous paper (1972) I combined the then two accepted genera BiUardiera and Marianthus under the former name. McGillivray (1975) reinstated the genus Rliyridosporiim F. Muell. (which was included under Marianthm by Bentham) and which I have here placed in synonymy under BiUardiera series Procumbente.^. The species described under Rhytidosporum have a habit and capsule similar to those of the Western Australian BiUardiera viUo.sa. Because BiUardiera already shows much morphological variation between species it seems better to consider Rbyiidosporum as belonging to it also. In the following systematic arrangement 1 have decided to follow the previously accepted characters and to divide the genus into two sections based on the fruit. In the section BiUardiera, two series have been made, based on the number of loculi in the ovary. Series Bilocidares shows variation in the corolla, but a division below series seems unwarranted. In the section Marianthus several characters have been used in combination to distinguish the series. 1. Habit; typically the plants are twiners but in one series they are low or bushy shrubs. 2. Flower; whether the petals are free or coherent. 3. Fruit; a considerable amount of variation is present particularly in the shape and method of dehiscence. The series Parvijiorae I believe to be the “bridging” group between the two sections. This series has a loculicidally dehiscent capsule, but is distinct from the other series in having pithy compartments for the seeds. In the * C - Western Australian Herbarium, George Street, South Perth, Western Australia 6151. 184 series Bi'oculares the seeds are embedded in pith in a 2-locular ovary, but in the series Unilociilares the seeds are in a I -locular ovary but not embedded in pith. I have placed the section Marianthiis before Billarc/iera as I consider there to be a trend from a 2-ceiled fruit through the series Parviflorae to the I -celled fruit of the series Unilociilares. Billardiera Sm., Spec. Bol. Nov. Holl. 1 ; t.l (1793) Section 1 Marianthus (Hueg. ex Endl.) E.M. Bennett, comb, et stat. nov. Basionym: Marianthus Hueg. ex Endl., in Endl. et ah, Enum. PI. Hueg. 8(1837). Type species: M. candidus Hueg. ex Endl. Fruit a capsule. Series 1 : Pictae (Benth.) E.M. Bennett, comb. nov. (Fig. la) Basionym: Marianthus ser. Pictae Benth., FI. Austr. 1:116 (1863) Fectotype species: B. bicolor (Putterl.) E.M. Bennett (M. pictus Findl.) lecto. nov. Marianthus series Normales Benth., loc. cit. Fectotype species: M. candidus Hueg. ex Endl. lecto. nov. Twiners or flexuose shrubs. Flowers solitary to corymbose. Petals free, linear or spathulate (in B. erubescens connate at anthesis but eventually free). Capsules septicidally and loculicidally dehiscent, glabrous. Included species: Billardiera bicolor (Putterl.) E.M. Bennett, B. Candida (Hueg. ex Endl.) E.M. Bennett, B. erubescens (Putterl.) E.M. Bennett. Series 2: Bignoniae E.M. Bennett, ser. nov. (Fig. I b, c) Marianthus ser. Oncosporeae Benth., FI. Austr. 1:116 (1863) in part, not as to lectotype. Type species: B. bignoniacea (F. Muell.) E.M. Bennett. Corolla tubulosa, supra medium contracta, extus pubescens, demum versus basim libera. Cap.iiila cylindrica, puberula; dehiscenlia loculieidali. Twiner. Flowers solitary. Corolla tubular, contracted above ovary, pubescent outside, eventually petals free towards base. Capsule loculicidal, cylindrical, puberulous. Only species: B. bignoniacea (F. Muell.) E.M. Bennett. Billardiera bignoniacea (F. Muell.) E.M. Bennett, comb. nov. Basionym: Marianthus bignoniaceus F. Muell., Trans. Phil. Soc. Viet. 1:6 (1853) Series 3: Calopetalae E.M. Bennett, ser. nov. (Fig. 1 d,e) Marianthus ser. Pictae Benth., FI. Austr. 1:116 (1863), in part, not as to lectotype. Type species: Billardiera ringens (Drumm. ex Harv.) E.M. Bennett 185 Petala primum connata. sed demum libear. Antherarum filameiUa per tres longitudinis quadrante dilatata, deinde in acumen brevis subula abrupte contracta. Capsiila ovoidea chartacea dehiscentia loculicidali. Twiner. Inflorescence densely corymbose. Petals at First connate, but eventually free. Anther filaments dilated for three quarters of length then abruptly contracted with a short subulate point. Capsule loculicidally dehiscent, chartaceous. Only species: Billardiera ringens (Drumm. ex Harv.) E.M. Bennett Series 4; Procumbentes (Benth.) E.M. Bennett, comb. nov. Basionym: Marianthus ser. Procumbentes Benth., FI. Austr. 1:116 (1863). Lectotype species: Billardiera procumbens (Hook.) E.M. Bennett, lecto. nov. Rhytidosporum F. Muell. PI. Indig. Colony Victoria 1 : 75 (1860). Small, erect, suberect or prostrate shrubs. Flowers solitary or few and corymbose. Petals lanceolate or linear. Capsule loculicidally dehiscent, ovoid or shortly cylindrical. Included species: Billardiera villosa (Turcz.) E.M. Bennett, B. procumbens (Hook.) E.M. Bennett, B. prostrata (D. McGillivray) E.M. Bennett, B. alpina (D. McGillivray) E.M. Bennett. Billardiera alpina (D. McGillivray) E.M. Bennett, comb, nov. Basionym: Rhytidosporum alpinum D. McGillivray, Telopea I :56 (1975) Billardiera procumbens (Hook.) E.M. Bennett, comb. nov. Basionym: Pittosporum procumbens Hook., Companion Bot. Mag. I :275(I836) Bursaria procumbens (Hook.) Putterl., Syn. Pittosp. 20(1839) Rhvtidosporum procumbens (Hook.) F. Muell., PI. Indig. Col. Viet. 1 :75(I860) Marianthus procumbens (Hook.) Benth., FI. Austr. I :l 17(1863) Pittosporum nanum Hook., Companion Bot. Mag. 1:275(1836) Campylanthera ericoides Lindl. in Mitch., Three Exped. 2:277(1838) Bursaria diosnwkles Putterl., Syn. Pittosp. 20(1839) Bursaria stuartiana Klatt. Linnaea 28:568(1857) Billardiera prostrata (D. McGillivray) E.M. Bennett, comb. nov. Basionym: Rhytidosporum prostratum D. McGillivray, Telopea 1:55(1975) Series 5: Oncosporeae (Benth.) E.M. Bennett, comb. nov. (Fig. 1 f,g) Basionym: Marianthus •sqx. Oncosporeae Benth., FI. Austr. 1:116(1863) Lectotype species: Billardiera granulata (Turcz.) E.M. Bennett lecto. nov. [M. granulatus (Turcz.) Benth. being the only species in Bentham’s series which had been described in the genus Oneosporum) Marianthus series Normales Benth., FI. Austr. 1:116(1863) in part, not as to lectotype. 187 Twiners. Flowers solitary or in few-flowered corymbs. Petals free, lanceolate or linear. Capsule loculicidally dehiscent, ovoid or cylindrical, glabrous. Included species: Billanliera graiwlata (Turcz.) E.M. Bennett, B. drummondiana (Putterl.) E.M. Bennett, B. coerideo-punctata (Klotsch) E.M. Bennett. Series 6: Parviflorae E.M. Bennett, ser. nov. (Fig. 1 h) Mariantinis ser. Normales Benth., FI. Austr. 1:116(1863), in part, not as to lectotype. Mariantiuis series Prociimhentes Benth., loc. cit, in part, not as to lectotype- Type species: Billardiera parr [flora DC. Capsiila dehiscentia loculicidalis seminibus in carpellis fibrosis inclusis. Slender twiner. Inflorescence corymbose with up to 5 flowers. Petals free, linear. Capsule loculicidally dehiscent with fibrous compartments in which the seeds are embedded. Included species: Billardiera parviflora DC. Section II: Billardiera Billardiera Sm., Spec. Bot. New Holl. 1 :t. 1(1793). Type: B. scandens Sm. Fruit a berry. Series I : Biloculares E.M. Bennett, ser. nov. (Fig. li) Section Eubillardiera Pax in Engler and Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. HI, 2a: 1 1 3( 1891 ) nom. illeg. Type species: Billardiera scandens Sm. Baccu bicellularis, stylo brevi, < 5 mm longo. Semim, in endocarpo medulloso inclusa. Berry 2-celled, style short, < 5 mm long. Seeds embedded in pithy endocarp. Included species: Billardiera scandens Sm., B. coriacea Benth., B. florihunda (Putterl.) F. Muell., B. variifolia DC., B. sericea (Turcz.) E.M. Bennett, B. laxiflora (Benth.) E.M. Bennett, B. lelintanniana F. Muell., B. sericoplwra F. Muell., B. cynwsa F. Muell., B. versicolor F. Muell., B. uniflora E.M. Bennett. Billardiera scandens Sm. var. sericata E.M. Bennett, var. nov. (Fig. 2 A-C). Folia eiliptica-lanceolata, sublus pileis longis hinnuleis sericea, supra adpresso-pubescentia deinde glabrescentia. Petlicelli dense sericei. Type: North of Booti Booti, New South Wales, 13 Oct. 1953, LAS Johnson (HOLOTYPE: NSW 135428). Leaves elliptic-lanceolate, ± petiolate 22-70 x 9-25 mm, undersurface sericeous with long fawn hairs, upper surface appressed pubescent becoming glabrescent. Flowers terminal, solitary (occasionally 1 or 2 additional flowers in upper axils). Pedicels 5-1 1 mm, densely hirsute. Distribution: Eastern coastal areas of New South Wales and southern Queens- land from Nerang to Twofold Bay. This differs from the typical variety in having elliptic leaves with a sericeous undersurface, the varietal epithet referring to the latter character. 188 Figure 2 — A-C -BiHardiera scwidens Sm. var. seiicala E.M. Bennett. A- Leaf, lower surface. B- -Leaf, upper surface. C— Flowering branchlet. All from NSW 135428, x I. n-?— BiHardiera uniflora E.M. Bennett. D— Flowering branchlet, x I. E Sepal, x 4. F— Petal, X 2. All from MEL 63268. 189 Billardiera unifiora E.M. Bennett, sp. nov. (Fig. 2 D-F) Frutcx volubilis. Folia linearia ad angusto-lanceolata. Flores solitarii, rare 2-3; pedicelli graciles, glabri. Sepakt ovalo-lanceolata; petali lanceolati. Type: Port Lincoln, South Australia, N.L. Browne (HOLOTYPE: MEL 63268). Twiner or creeper up to 1 m high. Leaves linear to narrow-lanceolate, entire or crenate, shortly petiolate. 14-50 .x 1-9 mm, glabrous to sparsely pubescent on surface, often densely pubescent along margins. Flowers solitary, occasionally 2-3 together, pendulous or erect, cream or white, occasionally sulTused purple. Pedicels 9 14 mm. glabrous. Sepals ovate-lanceolate, glabrous, margin ciliate (2)4-6 x 0-5-1 mm. Peials free, lanceolate, 12-16 mm, lamina ± 4 mm wide. Ovary glabrous or hirsute. Distrihinion: In South Australia within 60 km S and SE of Adelaide, around Port Lincoln, and on Kangaroo Island. This species differs from B. scandens in the sepals, which are shorter, not as pube.scent and do not have a prominent midvein. It differs from B. versicolor in having few pendulous flowers, longer sepals, more spreading petals, and in the margins of the leaves not being closely revolute. The specific epithet refers to the inflore.scence which is usually I -flowered. Series 2: Uniloculares E.M. Bennett ser. nov. (Fig. Ij) Section Billardieriopsis Pax in Engler and PrantI, Nat. Planzenfam. Ill, 2a; I 13(1891) nom. illeg. Type species: Billardiera longiftora Labill. Bacca unicellularis sine medulla: stylus > 5 mm longus. Berry I -celled without pith; style > 5 mm long. Billardiera longiflora Labill., Nov. Holl. PL I :64, t.89(1805) Billardiera longiflora Labill. var. ovalis (Lindl.)E.M. Bennett, stat. et comb. nov. Basionym; Billardiera ovalis Lindl., Bot. Reg. t.l7l9 (1834). This variety differs from the typical one in having broad lanceolate or ovate leaves with revolute margins; in the var. longiflora the leaves are linear to lanceolate and flat. Bursaria Bursaria ineana Lindl. in Mitch., Trop. Aust. 224(1848) Bursaria ineana Lindl. var. septentrionalis E.M. Bennett, var. nov. (Fig. 3 A-D). Ovarium incanum. Fruclus pubescens. Type: East slopes of Spider Summit near Mareeba (Maruba) Queensland; 20 April 1961, D.W. 6'ow/«// (HOLOTYPE: BRI 041128). Ovary hoary-pubescent. Fruit pubescent. Distribution: Cook district of Queensland. This variety diffeis trom the typical one in the hoary ovary and fruit which in var. ineana are glabrous. The epithet refers to the northern distri- bution of the taxon. 190 Figure 3 — A-D — Biirsaria incana Lindl. var. septenlrionalis E.M. Bennett. A — Flower, x 3. B — Ovary, x 5. C — Developing fruit, x 3. D — Immature fruit, x 4. All from BRI 041128. E-F — Biirsaria occideiitalis E.M. Bennett. E — Flowering branchlet, x 1. F — Flower, x 3. G — Leaf, x 1. FI — Fruit, x 3. All from E.M. Bennett 3315 (PERTH). J9I Bursaria lasiophylla E.M. Bennett, sp. nov. Frutex elatus, usque ad 2-5 nun altus. Folia 2-4-fasciculata, ovata, obovata ad lance- olata, glabra vel sparsim pubescentia supra, cinerea ad albida vel aurea incana subtus; margines plani’ad revoluti. hifloresecentia ab racemo ad paniculam parce ramosam varians, pubescens vel glabra, axillaris vel in rarnulo axillari terminalis. Sepala lineari-lanceolata, decidua. Ovarium glabrum vel pubescens. Type: East bank of Queanbeyan River above Woolcara Captain Flat, New South Wales, Jan. 1963, Walker (HOLOTYPE: CANB 121 106; ISOTYPE: NSW) Tall shrub up to 2-5 m high; young stems hoary becoming glabrescent. Leaves 2-4 together, ovate, obovate to lanceolate, glabrous or with scattered pubescence above, grey to white or golden hoary below, 4-30 x 2-10 mm; margin flat to revolute. Inflorescence varying from a raceme to a sparsely branched panicle, pubescent or glabrous, axillary, or terminal to axillary branchlets. Sepals 1-2 X 0-5 mm, linear-lanceolate, deciduous, ciliate i glabrous. Cron’ glabrous to pubescent 2-4 mm high; style 0-5—1 mm long, glabrous. Capsule glabrous or pubescent at base and along midline 4-7 x 5-8 mm. This species differs from Bursaria incana in that the panicle and under- surface of the leaf are not densely hoary, and the sepals are not hoary. It differs from Bursaria spinosa (which is glabrous) in having a somewhat hoary undersurface to the leaf, and from Bursaria longisepala in having deciduous sepals. The specific epithet refers to the hoary undersurface of the leaf. Bursaria lasiophylla var. lasiophylla. (Fig. 4 A-C) Leaves obovate 6-14 x 3-4 mm glabrous or with scattered hairs on upper surface. Petals glabrous 4-5-5 x 1-2 mm. Ovary glabrous 2-4 mm. Disiribution: Southern New South Wales and northern to north eastern Victoria. Bursaria lasiophylla var. albicoma E.M. Bennett, var. nov. (Fig. 4 D-F) Folia lineari-lanceolata; apicibus recurvis Jr uncinatis. Paniculae pubescentes, in ramulis axillaribus tenninales. Ovarium albidum incanum. Type: Harrison Creek Gully, South Australia, 2 Aug. 1958, D.N. Kraehenbuehl s.n. (HOLOTYPE: AD96422084) Leaves linear-lanceolate, 9-30 x 5-10 mm; apex recurved and ± uncinate. Panicle shortly pubescent, terminal on axillary branchlets. Ovary densely white hoary, 3-4 mm high. Distribution: Palmer to Mannum areas of South Australia. This variety differs from the typical variety in having broader, longer leaves and a hoary ovary, the epithet referring to the latter character. Bursaria lasiophylla var. atriplicina E.M. Bennett, var. nov. (Fig. 4 G-J) Foiia lanceolata, marginibiis revolutis. Paniculae pubescentes terminales vel axillares. Ovarium glabrum. Type: Talbingo, 22 miles from Tumut, New South Wales, May 1917, H.E. Ellen (HOLOTYPE: NSW) Leaves lanceolate, (10) 14-30 x 2-6 mm; margin revolute. Panicle shortly pubescent, terminal or axillary. Petals 3-4 x 0-75-1 mm. Ovary glabrous, 2-4 mm high, style 0-5-0-75 mm long, glabrous. 192 Figure 4— A-C Biirsan'a lasiophylla E.M. Bennett var, lasiophylla. A -Leaves, x I. B — Buds, X 2. C — Flower, x 4. From CANB 121 106. D-F — Bursaria lasiophylla var, alhi- coma E.M, Bennett, I) — Leaves, x 2. E Buds, x 3. F — Ovary, x 4-5, From AD 96422084. G-.I — Bursaria lasiophylla var. afriplicina E.M. Bennett. G- Leaves, x 1. H Under surface of leaf, x 2. I T.S. of leaf, x 2. .1 — Flower, x 4. From LI. E. Ellen, May 1917 (NSW). K-L — Bursaria lasiophylla var. parvifolia E.M. Bennett. K. — Flower with one petal and sepal removed, x 5. L — Leaves, x 1. From MEL 66145. 193 Distribution: Eastern areas of central and southern New South Wales, extending into the south eastern and western areas of Victoria. The epithet refers to the resemblance of the leaves to those of some species of Atriplex. Bursaria lasiophylla var. parvifolia E.M. Bennett, var. nov. (Fig. 4 K-L) Folia ovato-lanceolata, glabra vel t pubescentia, deinde glabrescentia. Paniciilae raniosae, incanae. Ovurium leviter ad dense pubescens. Type: Mt. William, Victoria, Feb. 1872, D. Sullivan (HOLOTYPE: MEL 66145) Leaves ovate-lanceolate, 4-6 x 2-3 mm, glabrous or 1 pubescent becoming glabrescent. Axillary spines slender, 7-12 mm long. Panicle racemose, shortly hoary pubescent. Sepals ovate. Ovary slightly to densely pubescent. Distribution: Inglewood to Stawell in western Victoria. This variety differs from the other varieties in the small leaves (to which the epithet refers) and in the racemose panicle. Bursaria occidentalis E.M. Bennett, sp. nov. (Fig. 3 E-H) Friitex vel arbor parva; rami spinis lateralibus. Folia linearia, lanceolata, oblanceolata ad obovata, ! 4 ad nodam fasciata, infra dense albido-incana, supra parce et breviter pubes- centia. Inflnrescenlia racemus. racemus corymbosus, vel panicula parce ramosa, terminalis. Sepala deltoidea, incana persistentia. Ovarium glabrum. Type: 10 miles from turnoff' to Useless Loop from Denham Road, Shark Bay, Western Australia. 3 Sept. 1975, E.M. Bennett 3315 (HOLOTYPE: PERTH) Shrub or small tree, branches with lateral thorns. Leaves linear to lanceolate, oblanceolate to obovate, solitary or up to 4 clustered at node, 20-65 X 3-1 3 mm, undersurface densely white hoary, upper surface with scattered short pubescence. Inflorescence terminal to branchlets, a raceme, corymbose raceme or a very sparsely branched panicle. Pedicels hoary. Sepals 1-2 X l-l - 5 mm deltoid, acute, hoary, persistent. Petals 5-8 x 1-1-5 mm, cream, 3-nerved. Stamens 4-6 mm long. Ovary glabrous, 2-4 mm high. Capsule glabrous, round, 6-9 x 8-12 mm. Distribution: From Shark Bay-Geraldton area south east to the Kalgoorlie area of Western Australia. This species differs from B. incana, to which it is most closely related, in the panicle being terminal to the short lateral branchlets, the flowering branches bearing lateral thorns and in the sepals having an obvious midvein. Bur.saria incana has a panicle terminal to the long branches, the flowering branches unarmed and the sepals hoary, obscuring any venation. The epithet occidentalis refers to the western distribution of the species. Bursaria longisepala Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 89; 714(1925) Bursaria longisepala var. pilosa E.M. Bennett, var. nov. (Fig. 6 A-C) Folia infra incana. Sepala ca. 5-5 mm longa. Petaia ca. 7-5 mm longa. Type: Nattai River near Colo, New South Wales, 26 Nov 1911 E Cheel (HOLOTYPE; NSW 728691) Leaves hoary on undersurface. Sepals ca. 5-5 mm long. Petals ca. 7 mm long. 194 Distribution: New South Wales from Yerranderie in the north to Wombeyan Caves in the south. This differs from the typical variety in having a hoary undersurface to the leaf (from which character the epithet is derived) and in the longer sepals and petals, the typical variety having glabrous leaves. Bursaria spinosa Cav., Ic. 4:30, t.350 (1797) I have recognised six varieties within this species but these do not appear to represent clearly distinguishable taxa. I feel that extensive field observations of the habit correlated with leaf and floral morphology are required before a detailed revision of this species can be achieved. The size and shape of the leaves and the degree of spinescence vary with the age of the plant and the position on the plant, so that two collections made from the one plant can appear ditferenl. This species is extremely variable and widely distributed. 1 am retaining two previously described varieties, viz. var. macrophyUa Hook., J. Bot. (Hooker) 1:249 (1834) and var. niicrophvlla Ewart et al., Proc Roy Soc. Vic. N.S.23: 56 (1910). One group of plants which 1 include under var. macrophyUa Hook, has a distinctive leaf and stem surface which appears macroscopically to be a bloom and to warrant its recognition as a separate variety. Dr. N.G. Marchant has examined the bloom and concludes it to be a scurf caused by a fungal infection. As these plants are randomly di.stributed through the range of the normal var. macrophyUa I have decided to retain them in this variety. Bursaria spinosa var. spinosa Spinescent shrub, less than 2 m high. Leaves linear, lanceolate or oblance- olate, 10-25 x 3-10 mm. Sepals less than I mm long, deciduous at anthesis. Petals 3-4 x I mm. Bursaria spinosa var. australis E.M. Bennett, var. nov. (Fig. 5 A-C) Folia iineari-lanceolata, eis longitudinorum dissimilorum aggregatis, i recurva. Petala linearia. Sepata deltoidea sub anthesi praesentia. Tvpe: Ca. 1 km south of Freeling, South Australia, 27 Nov. 1965, D.N. Krae- henbuehl 1558 (HOLOTYPE: AD 96710134). Leaves linear-lanceolate, clustered in groups of differing lengths (6) 10-20 X 2-4 mm, _ recurved. S£77a/i' deltoid. 0-5-1 mm, pre.sent at anthesis. Petals linear (4 -5)5 -5-6 -5 x I -2-2 mm. Distribution: South-east of South Australia, north-western Victoria and with a few collections in central New South Wales. This differs from the typical variety in the larger petals, and in the shape and fasciculation of the leaves. The epithet refers to the southern distribution. Bursaria spinosa var. lanceolata E.M. Bennett, var. nov. (Fig. 5 D,E) Fnrfc.v plerumque ± 2 m. Folia lanceolata. S/am/'/M3-4-5 mm longa, petala excedentia. Tvpe: Stoneyfell, Ferguson Park, South Australia, 1 Nov. 1971, K Pi-els'! 13 (HOLOTYPE: AD 97118145) Low to medium shrub, usually less than 2 m high. Leaves lanceolate 25-70 X 3-9 mm. Sepals caducous. Petals 2-5-4 x I mm. Stamens 3-4-5 mm long, exceeding petals. 195 Figure 5~A~C- Bursaria spinosa Cav. var. australis E.M. Bennett. A^Leaves x 1 B— Inflorescence, x 0-5. C— Flower, x 4. All from AD 96710134. D-E—Bursaria spinosa var. kmceoiata E.M. Bennett. D— Inflorescence, x 0-5. E— Flower, x 5. From AD 97118145. ¥~Bursaria spinosa var. obovata E.M. Bennett. Branchlet with spines and leaves, xl. From CANB 73151. 196 Distribution: South Australia — Eyre Peninsula, Kangaroo Island, Port Augusta, Yorke Peninsula and then south-eastwards to Penola. This variety differs from var. macrophylla in being a small to medium shrub and in the leaves being less than I cm wide; var. macrophylla is a tall shrub or tree and the leaves generally are 1-2 cm wide but often wider. The var. lanceolata differs from var. australis and var. spinosa in the longer leaves. The epithet refers to the lanceolate leaves. Bursaria spinosa var. obovata E.M. Bennett, var. nov. (Fig. 5 F) FoUa dispersa vel fasciculata, obovata vel obovata-lanceolata, glabra. Spinae numerosae, graciles. Sepala sub anihesi praesentia. Tvpe: Sandy Harbour, Hunter Valley, New South Wales, 13 Aug. 1959. R. Story (HOLOTYPE: CANB 73151; ISO: CANB 69983, NSW) Leaves scattered or clustered, obovate to obovate-lanceolate 6-12(18) x 3-6 mm, glabrous, medvein prominent on undersurface. Spines rather num- erous, slender 6-10 mm long. Stems and panicle densely short pubescent to glabrous. Sepals <0-5 mm long, persistent at anthesis. Distribution: This variety has a scattered distribution along the eastern section of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Generally the leaves become coriaceous towards the coast and southwards. This variety differs from all the other varieties in the obovate leaves (to which the epithet refers) and in the small persistent sepals. Cheiranthera Cheiranthera alternifolia E.M. Bennett, sp. nov. (Fig. 6 D-H) Frutex humilis. Folia dispersa, linearia, carinata vel plana. Flores solitarii vel in corymbium 2-5(11) florium disposila. Slaniiua ± petala aequantia vel eis dupio breviora. Tvpe: Scott's Creek, South Australia. 20 Oct, 1964, D.J.E. Whiblev 1494 (HOLOTYPE: AD 96717068). Small subshrub up to 50 cm high. Leaves alternate, linear, 7-60 x 0-75-1 -5 mm. carinate or hat. Flowers solitary or in corymbs of 2-5( 1 1 ) flowers. Sepals free, lanceolate, 4-8 x 1-2 mm, glabrous. Petals pale to dark blue, broad- lanceolate, 12-21 X 5-8 mm. Staminal filaments 3-5 mm long, anther loculi 3-5-5 mm long. Oran- glabrous 5-6-5 mm high. Capsule glabrous, seeds black shining. Distribution: North-west Victoria and southern and we.stern South Australia. This species differs from C. cyanea in the leaves being scattered, not clustered at the node, and from C. filifolia in the stamens being equal to or less than half-length of the petals, and the petals being broad. Two collections of a small-leaved variant of this species have been collected, one from NW Victoria and the other from Kangaroo Island. Other collections of this species have these smaller leaves m the lower part but develop the longer leaves higher up. Cheiranthera cyanea Brongn., Bot. (Phan.) Voy. La Coquille t.77 (published between 1827 and 1834) C. linearis A. Cunn. ex Lindl., Bot. Reg. 20, sub t.l7l9 (Mar-Dec. 1834) 197 198 In recent literature, particularly Eichler (1965) and Willis (1973), opinions have differed as to which of the above specific names has priority. It is likely that Brongiart’s t.77 was published well before 1834 as it is not near the end of the work, whereas C. linearis may not have been published until late in 1834. 1 believe C. cyanea to have priority, a conclusion also reached by Stafleu (pers. comm.), until evidence to the contrary is produced. Cheiranthera cyanea var. borealis E.M. Bennett, var. nov. (Fig. 6 1) Folia dispersa, supra fasciata, arte revoluta ut teretia videntur. Cymae terminales ve ramulos axillares superioros terminantes folia excedentes. Type: Stanthorpe, Queensland Dec. 1962, W.T. Jones (HOLOTYPE: BRl 036214) Lower leaves alternate, scattered, upper ones clustered, fasciculate, closely inrolled so as to appear terete, 10-22 x 1 ■ 15 mm. Cymes terminal or term- inating upper axillary branchlets, much exceeding leaves. Distrihuiion: New South Wales on the border with Queensland and in the Darling Downs and Burnett regions of Queensland. This differs from the typical variety in the shorter clustered leaves and the cymes much exceeding the leaves; the var. cyanea has long, linear leaves and the cymes often do not exceed them. The varietal epithet refers to the northern distribution. Acknowledgments This research was supported by a grant from the Australian Biological Resources Study Interim Council during 1974 and 1975. 1 wish to thank Mr. P. G. Wilson for constructive criticism of the manuscript and Mr. A. S. George for checking the Latin descriptions. References Bennett, E. M. (1972). New taxa and new combinations in Western Australian Pitto- sporaceae. Nuytsia 1(3); 266-269. Bentham, G. ( 1863). Flora Australiensis I. London. Eic hler, H.i, (1965). Supplement to .1. M. Black's Flora of S. Aust. 2nd Ed. Adelaide. Engler. A. ( 1930). Die Naturl. Pltan/enfam. 18a. Leipzig. McGillixray. D. J. (1975). Billardiera Sm. and Rhytidosporum F. Muell. (Pittosporaceae) in New South Wales. Telopea 1(1); 55-57. Stafleu, F. A. et al. (Eds.) (1972). International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. Regnum Vegl 82. Stafleu. F. A. (1966). Taxonomic Literature. Int. Bureau for Plant Taxonomy and Nomenclature. Utrecht. Regnum Veg. 52. Willis, .1. H. ( 1973). A Handbook to Plants in Victoria. Melbourne. 65045 — ( 2 ) 199 Studies in the genus Acacia (Mimosaceae) — 7 — The taxonomy of some diaphyllodinous species — By B. R. Maslin Abstract Seven Western Australian species of Acacia with horizontally flattened phyllodes (i.e. diaphyllodes) are discussed. Four new species are described: A. hiimla sp, nov., A. crassiiloicles sp. nov., A. diaphyllodinea sp. nov. and A. vcisscdii sp. nov. The new name, A. spulhulifoliu nom. nov., replaces the illegit- imate homonym, A. spalindata F, Muell. ex Benth. non Tausch. Synonymy for A. ericifolia is listed. Acacia leptoxpeimoides is treated as comprising three subspecies, viz, subsp. leprospermoides, subsp. ohorala subsp. nov. and subsp psammophila (E. Pritzel) comb, cl stal. nov. Except for A. ericifuliu and A. spathidijolia, all laxa are illustrated and their distribution mapped. Introduction The present work is published so that names will be available for use in forthcoming papers by Ph. Guinet*, J. Vassalt and myself dealing with various aspects of diaphyllodinous acacias. Although diaphyllodinization will be fully discu.ssed elsewhere, some introductory remarks concerning this hitherto little known phenomenon are warranted here. The terms “Diaphyllodineae" and “Orthophyllodineae” were first used in reference to Acacia by Hochreutiner (1896). These terms referred to subdivisions of Acacia containing species with horizontally flattened phyllodes and vertically flattened phyllodes respectively. The latter is by far the more common condition in the genus. In diaphyl- lodinous species, the extra-floral nectary (gland) is situated on the upper surface of the phyllode instead of on the upper margin as is the case in orthophyl- lodinous taxa. With the exception of some members of the predominantly tropical series Brunioicleae, diaphyllodinous Acacia species within Australia are, to my knowledge, restricted to the southwest of Western Australia. It is noted, however, that Vassal and Guinet (1972) reported the occurrence of diaphyllodinization in A. willarc/iana Rose, a Mexican species (see Pedley (1975) for comments regarding Vassal and Guinet's paper). Dr. Ph. Guinet, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Universite des Sciences et Techniques du Langudeoc. Montpellier, France. + Dr. J. Vassal, Laboratoirc de Botanique, Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France. Figure I — Acacia hiiiala. A — Upper portion of branch. B-Secd showing small areole (a), relatively large aril (al) and obscure pale mottlings (m). C — Legume. D — Bracteoles (side and back views). E — Flower showing free, spathulate sepals (s) with dark brown laminae. F- Inflorescence with inset showing ba-se of the binate raceme (p— peduncle, b — basal ped- uncular bract, sh- developing new shoot, r — raceme axis). G to J Phyllodes showing size variation (g— gland). G (spirit specimen) Adaxial view of phyllode with transverse section (a — b) showing very slightly horizontally flattened outline and nerve positions. H (dry phyikde) Adaxial view of same phyllode showing surface wrinkling and obscure medial stilcae. I (reconstituted phyllode) Adaxial view with transverse section (c dl showing obscurely plano-convex outline and nerve positions. J (reconstituted phyllode)- Aba.xial view show ing obscure nerve. .X from P, G. Wilson 5532; B-C; from B. R. Maslin 4046: D-E from S. Paust S09; F from B. R. Maslin 3490 (the type): G-FI from B. R. Maslin 993; I from K. Newbey 4314; J from E. M. Bennett 2729. 200 aR.Mashn im 201 In most cases only a selection of specimens is cited under each taxon. A complete list of specimens seen is given at the end of the paper. Taxonomy 1. Acacia binata Maslin sp. nov. — Figure I. FriUex ad I (1-3) m alius; rami glabri. Slipii/ue t caducae. liberae. Phyltodia sub- teretia vcl inconspicue plano-convexa, anguste oblonga ad linearia, (6) 8-17 (20) mm longa, 1 1 -5 mm lata, L/B (4) b 20. glabra, turgida el laevia in statu vivo, longistrorsum sulcata in statu sicco; nervia principalia 3. nervatio plerumque obscuri.ssima. Gians inconspicua, in pagina supera 1-2 mm infra apicem phyllodii. Inflorescentia racemosa brevis pedunculorum binorum ad extremum axis brevis (0-5-2 mm): pedunculi 7-13 mm longi; capitula globulosa ad parum obloidea, 14-24 (30) floribus. Flores 5-meri; sepala libera, spathulata; pelala 1 -5 mm longa, glabra. Legumen Jtz curvum. circinatum vel sigmoideum. ad 35 mm longum, ca. 3-5 mm latum, glabrum. Seminu in legumine longitudinalia, ellipsoidea ad obloidea vei ± pyriformia, ca. 2-5 x 1-5 mm, saepe obscure maculata; arillus .semine 2-3- plo brevior. Type: About 12 km due NNW of Ongerup (on Foster Road), Western Aus- tralia. “Low, dense, shrub 40-70 cm tall, I -5-2-5 m diam.; peduncles dark red; flowers deep yellow; phyllodes smooth, ascending to i spreading; bark smooth, light grey; branclilets dark red.” 31 Aug. 1973, B. R. Maslin 3490 (holo; PERTH; iso; CANS, K. MEL, NSW, NY, P). Slinih to 1(1 -3) m tall and I -5-2-5 m wide, dense, domed and with many branches radiating from ground level when young, more open, infundibular and single-stemmed (branching ca. 15 cm above ground level) with age; bark smooth, light grey on main trunks; new shoots (arising from distal end of raceme axis within angle formed by the twinned peduncles) glabrous, slightly resinous at apex; branches terete, finely ribbed, glabrous, dark reddish (normally overlain by a light grey, longitudinally fissured epidermis) but sometimes light brown or yellowish towards apex. Stipules ~ caducous, free, deltoid, minute (0- 1-0-2 mm long), slightly thickened, Phyllodes ascending to slightly spreading, numerous but hardly congested, subterete (very slightly horizon^tally flattened) or obscurely plano-convex, often slightly flatter and obscurely channelled above when dry, narrowly oblong to linear in plane view, (6) 8-17 (20) mm long, 1-1-5 mm wide, L B - (4) 6-20, straight or slightly curved upwards, glabrous, bright green to olive green when fresh, generally becoming darker upon drying, turgid and smooth when fresh but longitudinally sulcate when dry; nervature normally very obscure (nerves not. or barely, raised and sometimes indi.scernible when dry), principal nerves 3 (2 marginal, I central abaxially), nerveless on adaxial surface, secondary nerves not apparent; apex obtuse, often somewhat orange-coloured; ptdvinus terete, ca. 0-5 mm long, transversely wrinkled, normally orange. C/a/7(/ extremely indistinct (generally not observable in dry specimens), situated on upper surface of phyltode 1-2 mm below the apex. Inflorescences reduced racemes consisting of twinned peduncles at the distal end of a short (0-5-2 mm) raceme axis, at anthesis a dormant vegetative bud present within angle formed by the peduncles; peduncles 7-13 mm long, glabrous, very finely longitudinally wrinkled when dry, red to brown; hasa! peduncular bracts persistent, solitary, ovate, concave, minute (ca. 0-5 mm long), ciliolate; flower heads deep golden yellow, globular to slightly obloid. w'ith 14-24 (30) flowers. Bracteoles spathulate, ca. I mm long; claws linear, glabre.scent. yellow; laminae indexed, often densely ciliolate, dark brown. Flowers 5-merous; sepcds | (|) length of corolla, free, spathulate, claws linear glabrescent to ciliolate and yellow-, laminae i concave ciliolate and frequently dark brown; corolla I -5 mm long, readily separating into distinct petals which are glabrous and very obscurely l-nerved; ovarv sessile, glabrous. Legumes irregular in shape when dry, more or less curved, circinnate or sigmoid, to 35 mm long, ca. 3-5 mm wide, undulate, slightly raised over seeds (more obvious in young legumes), firmly chartaceous yet rather brittle, glabrous, slightly resinous, slightly wrinkled when dry, dark brown; margins 202 not (or barely) contracted between seeds, barely thickened, yellow to light brown. Seei/s longitudinal to slightly oblique in legume, ellipsoid to obloid or : pyriform, ca. 2-5 x 1-5 mm, dark greyish, often with a few obscure pale-coloured surface mottlings, rather shiny, dark-coloured peripheral line obscure; pleurograni obscure, open towards the hilum: areole horseshoe- shaped, ca. 0-5 mm \ong, funic le filiform, ca. 0-5 mm long, reflexed below and gradually expanded into a slightly curved i clavate cream-coloured aril which extends beyond half the length of the seed. Distrihiilion: (Figure 6) Western Australia: Ongerup-Ravensthorpe district. Hahiiai: Acacia hinatci appears to be restricted to loam or clay soil (often rocky) frequently in low-lying areas near water courses. It is commonly found grow- ing in dense scrub with Eucalyptus anguiosa and E. oleosa var. oleosa. Flowering period: August-October. Fruiting period: Legumes with mature seed have been collected in mid-December. Judging from specimens seen, it is likely that the fruiting period extends to about the end of January. This species produces rather copious fruit. Selected specimens: WESTERN AUSTRALIA: -20 mi (32 km) E of Ravensthorpe, E. M. Bennett 2729 (MEL, PERTH); Carracarrup area, ca. 13 mi (20-8 km) S of Ravensthorpe, B. R. Muslin 993 (AD, PERTH); 13 km W of Ravensthorpe towards .lerramungup, B. R. Muslin 2578 (PERTH, TLE); I 5 km S of Ravensthorpe towards Hopetoun. B. R. Muslin 4046 (PERTH); l3kmSSE of Ongerup. A. A'eii7)£'y43l4(PE.RTH); I5mi(24km) from Ravensthorpe towards Lake King, S. Paiist 809 (PERTH); 5 km E of Ravensthorpe. P. G. B''il.wn 5532 (AD, BRI, K. MEL, PERTH). .Acacia binaia has its closest affinities with A. cras.sidoides and .4. diaphyl- lodinea. These three species form a close-knit assemblage referred to below as the A. diaphyllodineu group (see page 209). Acacia binaia is most readily distinguished from A. cra.ssuloides and A. diaphyUodinea by the lollowing characters; phyllodes longer and/or narrower, raceme axes longer and easily observable even to the unaided eye (axes so reduced as to frequently appear absent in the other two species), peduncles normally longer and with insignificant ovate (not rostriform) subtending basal bracts, flowers more numerous in the heads and seeds longitudinal to slightly oblique in the legumes (oblique in the other two species). Acacia binaia is superficially very similar to the narrow phyllode forms of A. leplospernioides subsp. leptospermoides but is readily distinguished by its free stipules and its reduced racemose inflorescences. In the Lake King district a variant of A. binaia has recently been discovered. R. FInatiuk 760791. 32 km E of Lake King, differs from the other specimens of A. binaia in the following characters: phyllodes glaucescent. flowers 6-7 per head and sepals minute (ca. 0-2 mm long). Before the true taxonomic position of this variant can be assessed, further gatherings (particularly fruiting speci- mens) are required. The specific epithet refers to the diagnostic inflorescences which are reduced racemes consisting of a pair of peduncles positioned at the distal end of a short raceme axis. 2. Acacia crassuloides Maslin sp. nov. — Figure 2. Fnile.r pulvinil'ormis, ad 50 cm altus; rami glabri. Stiptdue caducae. libcrae. Phyllodiu applanata, plano-convexa. plerumque anguste obovata, 5-10 mm longa, 1 A 2-5 mm lata (in statu sicco), 1-/B 2-5-4'5, carnosa, turgida el laevia in statu vivo, glabra; nervia prinei- palia 3. o'luns (saepe absens) inconspieua, in dimidium distale paginae superae phyllodii In/torescenlia racemosa brevissima pedunciiloriim binorum ad extremum axis brevis (< 0-5 mm); pediinciili 2 8 mm longi: bructeue basales pedunculi rostriformes; capiudu giobulosa, 7-10 lloribus. Fhres sepida libera;/)em/« 1-1-5 mm longa. glabra, enervia, Legiinien curvum ad sigmoideum, ad 17 mm longiim ct 3 mm lalum, glabrum. Semina in legumine obliqua, pyriformia, 2-2-5 n-im longa, I -3 mm lata; arillns clavatus. 203 50 mm 10 mm 20 mm , I 3 mm 1 mm K , 3 mm , al a-f-ri0 B.H./1as/m mi 204 Type: Esperance road ■ 69 mi (I 10-5 km) south of Norseman (i.e. 3 mi (4-8 km) south from Circle Valley Siding), Western Australia. "Low dense cushion- like bushes 20-40 cm tall, among mallee eucalypts oti yellow sand plain. Phyl- lodes cylindro-clavate. turgid and faintly glaucescent when fresh.” 7 Sept. 1963, y. //. H/7/is s.n.. MEL 502978 (holo: PERTH; iso: CANB, K. MEL, NSW, NY, PERTH). Low, dense, cushion-like spreading .Wiri/h to 50 cm tall and 100 cm wide, much branched at the base; bark grey and slightly roughened (smooth, light brown and slightly resinous on branchlets); epidermis light grey, longitudinally fissured, peeling, most evident towards apices of branches; new shoots arising from within angle formed by the twinned peduncles; hrunches terete, very obscurely ribbed (ribs most pronounced immediately below insertion of phyT lode), glabrous. Stipules caducous, present only on new shoots, free, triangular, minute ( 0-5 mm long). PhvHodes ascending, rather congested, mostly present only on young branches (deciduous with age), horizontally llattened (i.e. diaphyllodinous) but plano-convex in cross section (concave adaxially when dry), normally narrowly obovate in plane view. 5-10 mm long, I ■3-2-5 mm w'ide (when dry), L B 2-5-4'5. fleshy, turgid and smooth when fresh but coarsely wrinkled when dry, slightly resinous, glabrous, slightly glaucescent when fresh but generally drying dark olive green; principal nerves 3 (2 marginal. I central abaxially). secondary nerves very obscure and only visible when dry; apex obtuse but with a minute and innocuous mucro, brown but often grey towards extremity (due to dead epidermal tissue): ptdvinus transversely wrinkled. Gland (frequently absent) situated on distal half of upper surface of phyllode, inconspicuous (comprising a very shallow, circular or elliptical, brown to yellow depression 0-5 mm diam.). /////orc.vcc/tcc.v extremely reduced racemes (peduncles twinned at distal end of a minute raceme axis which is ^0-5 mm long) new shoots arising from within angle formed by pcdtmcles; peduncles 2-8 mm long, glabrous: hasa! peduncular bracts caducous, solitary, rostriform, concave, often auricled at base, l■5-2•5 mm long, glabrous, dark brown; flower heads golden yellow, globular, with 7-10 flowers. Bractcolcs 0-5-0-1 mm long, variable, either narrowly oblong and straight, or spathulate with acuminate laminae (concave but not inflexed): laminae ciliate and often also tomentose abaxially (hairs ■ glistening and relatively rather long). Flowers 5-merous; sepals I length of corolla, free, in a single flower can vary from linear to spathulate, tomentose at apex (hairs as on bracteole laminae); petals free. 1-1-5 mm long, glabrous, nerveless; ovary sessile, glabrous. Le- gumes curved to sigmoid, to 17 mm long and 3 mm wide, brittle, barely raised over seeds, very finely wrinkled when dry, glabrous, slightly prtiinose, dark brown; margins not contracted between seeds, barely thickened, pale. Seeds oblique in legume, pyriform, somewhat compressed, 2-2-5 mm long, I -3 mm wide, lightish grey but paler at hilar end. not mottled, somewhat shiny, with a narrow band of dark brown tissue around periphery; plenrograni quite prominent (bordered by a diffuse, narrow' band of dark brown tissue); areole ■'Ll”- to "v”-shaped. open towards the hilum, 0-5 mm \ong: funicle filiform. Figure 2 Acacia crusstiloUles. A Upper portion of hraiich. B to E Phyllode.s (g —gland, n abaxial nerve). B (dry phyllode) Abaxial view showing coarse surface wrinklings. C (reconstituted phyllode) Abaxial view of same phyllode. D (reconstituted phyllode) Adaxial view of same phyllode with transverse section (a b) showing plano-convex outline and nerve positions. F (reconstituted phyllode) Side view of same phyllode showing thick- ness of specimen. F Inllorescence showing peduncles (p), reduced raceme axis (r) and developing new shoot (sh), G Rostriform basal peduncular bract. II Flower. I Bracieoles (side and back views) showing relatively long hairs. .1 Secil (surface and end views) showing dark-coloured peripheral line (I), small areole (a) and relatively long aril (al). K Legume. A, F and G from .1. FI. Willis s.n. (the type); B E, fl-l fron-i E. M. Scrymgeour 790; .I K from Freeman s.n. (PFiRTFl duplicate). 205 ca. 2 mm long, gradually expanded and reflexed below a conspicuous, clavate, slightly curved, dull, cream-coloured aril which extends beyond half the length of the seed. Distribution: (Figure 6) Western Australia: The highway between Norseman and Esperance forms the known eastern limit of distribution of A. crassuloides. The species is known to extend to about 80 km west of the highway. Habitat: Not much is known concerning the habitat preferences of this species. It has been recorded as growing in sandy to clayey soils in either open heath vegetation or mallee eucalypt scrub or woodland. Flowering period: Judging from the specimens at hand, A. crassuloides flowers from September to October. Fruiting period: Only one gathering with legumes containing mature seeds has been seen. This was collected in January. Selected specimens: WESTERN AUSTRALIA: —527 miles, Cooigardie-Esperance Highway, E. M. Scrymeeour 790 (PERTH); Grass Patch, F. D. Freeman s.n., Jan. I960 (MEL 502982. PERTH); 126 km E of Lake King, 32' 42' S and 120^ 51 ' E, R. Hnatiid 760883 (PERTH); 6-5 km N of Salmon Gums towards Norseman, B. R. Masliii 2453 (CANB, TLF, PERTH). Acacia crassuloides is closely allied to A. binala and A. diapliyllodinea. These three species form a close-knit assemblage referred to below (page 209) as the A. diapliyllodinea group. Acacia crassuloides is a smaller shrub than the other two species, with thicker and normally shorter phyllodes and also fewer flowers in its heads. In addition, A. crassuloides is distinguished from A. binata by its usually slightly broader yet shorter phyllodes (L B 2 -5-4 -5 compared with (4) 6-20) which are more obviously plano-convex in cross section and often more obviously nerved when dry (although the nerves in both these species are less apparent than in A. diapliyllodinea), its shorter raceme axes, its larger, rostriform basal peduncular bracts, its differently shaped bracteoles (compare Figs. ID and 21). and its shorter legumes with their paler coloured, obliquely placed seeds (± longitudinal in A. binata). In addition, A. crassuloides is distinguished from A. diapliyllodinea by the following features: its phyllodes are less obviously mucronulate, more obviously plano-convex (i.e. less horizontally flattened) and less apparently nerved abaxially when dry, its bracteoles are more hairy (hairs glistening and rela- tively long), its smaller legumes and its slightly smaller, paler coloured seeds with their longer funicles (relative to seed length). The specific epithet which was suggested to me by Dr. J. H. Willis, formerly of the National Herbarium, Victoria (MEL) refers to the diagnostically thick phyllodes which are reminiscent of leaves in some species of Crassula. 3. Acacia diaphyllodinea Maslin sp. nov. — Figure 3. .Prutex ad 1 m altus; rami glabri. Slipiilae caducae, liberae. PInllodia applanata, inconspiciie plano-convexa, anguste oblonga ad anguste obovata vel angiiste elliptica, 8- 15 mm longa. 2-3-5 nim lata, LB- 3-6 (7), glabra, laevia in .statu vivo, -E longitudinaliter sulcata in statu sicco; nervia principalia 3; apex mucronulatus. Gians (saepe'absens) in- Figure 3— .dconVr diaphyllodinea. A— Upper portion of branch. B — Legume valve. C — Seeds (side and end views) showing mottled surface and short aril, D^to G- Phyllodes (g— gland, ap— apiculum. na— abaxial nerve, nl -lateral nerve), D (spirit specimen)- Side view' of phyllode showing relative lack of thickne.ss. E (dry phyllode— .Abaxial surface showing obvious nerve (na) and surface wrinkling. F (spirit specimen) Abaxial surface of same phyllode, G (spirit specimen)— Adaxial surface of same phyllode with gland (a) and trans verse section (a— b) showing plano-convex outline and nerve positions. H Inflore.scence with inset show ing basal arrangement (r— extremely reduced raceme axis, b— basal peduncular bracts (caducous), p— peduncle, sh new shoot). I - Flower. J — Bracteole. K— Calyx (opened out) showing irregular lobing of sepals. L— Rostriform basal peduncular bract. A, J from B. R. Maslin 3443 (the type); B-C from K. Newbey 3478; D-G from B. R. Maslin 3872; H-L K-L from D. Young 1 28. 206 50 mm 2 mm B.R.naslm im 207 conspicua, in tiimidium distale paginae siiperae phyllodii. Inflorescenl/a racemosa brevissima peduneulorurn binoriim ad extremum axis brevis (0'5 mm): petlunciili 5-li mm longi; hructeae basales pedunculi rostrilbrmes; capitula globulosa, 13-15 lloribus. Flores 5-meri; sepala libera: petala I -5 mm longa, glabra. curviim. circinatum vel sigmoideum, ad 40 mm longuni et 7 mm latum, glabrtim, Semiiici in legumine obliqua, pyril'ormia, ea. 3 mm longa et 2 mm lata, maculata (interdum obscure): ariUus _ strictus. Type: About 7 km S of Mount Madden towards Ravensthorpe, Western Australia. Shrub 0-6-1 in tall: bark smooth, light grey; phyllodes ascending, smooth, subalaucous. 28 Autj. 197.3, B. R. Masliii 3443 (holo: PERTH; iso: CANS, K. MEL. NY, P). Spreading shriih to 1 m tall, moderately branched near base; bark grey, smooth or slightly roughened (red-brown to yellow, often very slightly pruinose and slightly resinous on branchlets); epidermis light grey, longitudinally fissured, peeling, most evident towards apices of branches; new shoots (arising from within angle formed by the twinned peduncles) glaucous, many young phyllodes (especially the terminal ones) tinged purple; branches terete, obscurely ribbed (ribs visible only immediately below insertion of phyllodes), glabrous. Stipules caducous, present only on new shoots, free, linear to very narrowly triangular, ca. 0-5 mm long. Phyllodes ascending, rather congested, present only on young branches (deciduous with age), horizontally flattened (i.e. diaphyllodinous). obscurely plano-convex in cross section (flat or very shal- lowly concave above and shallowly convex below when dry), narrowly oblong to narrowly obovate or narrowly elliptic in plane view, 8- 15 mm long, 2-3-5 mm wide at broadest point, L B 3-6 (7), ca. I mm thick, straight, glabrous, olive green to subglaucous (except on new shoots), drying a lighl oliW green, smooth when fresh but - longitudinally wrinkled when dry; principal "nerves 3 (2 marginal, I central and slightly raised abaxially when dry), nerveless on adaxial surface, secondary nerves indistinct (openly longitudinally reticulate and observable only when dry): apex mucroniilate (mucro"^distinct but 0-5 mm long, yellowish); pulvinus transversely wrinkled, yellow. Gland (frequently absent) situated on distal half of upper surface of phyllode, inconspicuous (comprising a very shallow, circular, brown depression 0-5 mm diam.). In- florescences extremely reduced racemes (peduncles twinned at distal end of a minute raceme axis which is 0-5 mm long), new shoots arising from within angle formed by peduncles; peduncles 5-8 mm long, glabrous: ba'sa! peduncular /tracts- caducous, solitary, rostriform. concave, auricled at base. 2-2-5 mm long, glabrous, dark brown; flower heads medium golden yellow, globular, with 13-15 flowers. Bracteoles ca. I mm long, variable, either linear without expanded laminae or, more generally, spathulate with claws expanded into inflexed triangular minutely ciliolate laminae. Flowers 5-merous; sepals length of corolla, free, in a single flower can vary from narrowly oblone to linear-spathulate (apex only slightly expanded), claws glabrous 'or ciliohite. laminae short inllexed and minutely ciliolate; petals free. I -5 mm long, very obscurely I -nerved, glabrous; ovary sessile, glabrous. Legumes curved, circinnate or sigmoid, to 40 mm long and 7 mm wide, firmly chartaceous vet quite brittle, very slightly raised over seeds, very finely wrinkled when d'ry glabrous, somewhat glaucescent (more apparent when youna), brownish (purple in parts when young): margins not contracted between 'seeds, barely thickened, pale. Seeds oblique in legume, not separated by well defined transverse partitions, • pyriform, often somewhat compressed. 'ca. 3 mm long and 2 mm wide, greyish (when young) to dark brown, mottled (sometimes obscurely so), rather dull, dark peripheral line obscure or absent; pleurogram fine, sometimes bordered by an obscure and narrow band of pale tissue - areole "Li"- to "v’'-.shaped. open towards the hilum. . 0-5 mm long; funicle li'liform ca, 1 mm long, abruptly expanded into a relatively short thick cream straicht aril. Distribution: (Figure 6) Western Australia: Ravensthorpe-Lake King area. 208 Habitat: East of Lake King this species occurs in sandy soil while further south near Ravensthorpe it grows in loamy clay in open scrub. In places near Mount Madden. A. (liaphylloJinea is quite well developed in lateritic gravel along road verges. blowenng period: Judging from herbarium label information the flowering period extends from nnd-June to about mid-September. Fruiting period: Legumes with mature seeds have been collected in early January. Selected specimens: WESTHRN AUSTRALIA: — 6-5 km S uf Mount Madden towards Ravensthorpe. H. R. Masliii 3872 (PERTH): 6 mi (9-6 km) S of Mount Madden. K. Newhey 3478 (PERTH): 34 km E of Lake King, along Rabbit Proof Fence, D. )'oiin,t; 128 PERTH). Acacia diaphyllodinea. together with A. binata and A. crassuloides, forms a close-knit assemblage which is referred to here as the A. diaphyllodinea group. The principal characters shared by these species are as follows nstipules cadu- cous and not united as in members of the reVdizA A . lepiospernwides group: branch- es glabrous; phyllodes horizontally flattened (but not obviously so in A. binata), glabrous, principal nerves 3 (2 marginal, 1 central abaxially. nerveless adaxially); glands not prominent and frequently absent, situated on upper surface of phyllodes generally in their distal halves; inflorescences reduced racemes comprising a pair of peduncles at the distal end of a short raceme axis (axis often so reduced in A. crassuloides and A. diaphyllodinea as to appear absent), new shoots arising from within angle formed by peduncles; flowers 5-merous. sepals free; petals glabrous and nerveless or obscurely I -nerved; legumes curved to sigmoid, slightly raised over seeds, glabrous, margins not (or barelyf contracted between seeds; areole very small in relation to seed. Acacia diaphyllodinea is distinguished from both A. binata and A. cras- suloides by its either broader or longer, mucronulate phyllodes which are more obviously I -nerved abaxially, its broader legumes and its short funicle relative to the seed length (see A. binata and A. crassuloides for further details). This is an attractive species especially when making new growth. The glaucous young shoots (with many phyllodes tinged purple) contrast well with the normally olive green mature foliage. The specific epithet alludes to the obvious horizontal flattening of the phyllodes. 4. Acacia cricifolia Benth., London J. Bot. 1:345 (1842). Type: Swan River. /)/ M/jT/no/zr/ (K-photograph seen). Acacia hookeri \\a\s,n. in Lehm. et al.. Plant. Preiss. 1:12(1844). Syntypes: Pieiss9H\ (FI.G, GOET, HBG, K, L, MEL. NY. P, PERTH fragment, STRAS) and Drummond 300 (G, G-DC, MEL. P, PERTH -fragment); Bentham, Flora Austral. 2:341(1864). Acacia ericifotia Benth. var. cras.sa E. Pritzel, Bot. lahrb. Syst. 3,S:294 (1904). Type: North from Mingenew. L. Diets 3058 (lecto: PERTH ), Syntrpe: Inter llumina Moore et Murchison, E. Prilzel 376 (B, E, G. K. L). Acacia ericifotia Benth. var. lypica E. Prit/.el, l.c., nom. illeg. Acacia ericifolia is not a particularly common species although its range extends from Perth north to the Geraldton district. In its gross phyllode morphology it closely resembles the narrow, terete phyllode forms of A. leptospennoides subsp. leplosperinoides but is distinguished by a combination of the following characters: branchlets densely pilose (hairs lax and somewhat spreading) to puberulous (hairs rather lax and normally not distinctly antrorse and appressed as in subsp. leptospennoides): young phyllodes normally hairy although sometimes sparsely so (glabrous in subsp. leptospennoides except rarely in some broad phyllode forms); mature, dry phyllodes normally more obviously concave above and frequently more obviously wrinkled than in subsp. leptospennoides. 209 210 5. Acacia leptospermoides Benth., Linnaea 26:626 (1855). Type: Swan River, Drummond coll. 4. no. 2 (holo: K; iso: MEL, PERTH — fragment) — Figures 4 and 7. Acacia leptospermoides is widespread in southwest Western Australia (Figure 7). It is closely related to A. ericifoiia from which it can normally be distinguished by its glabrous and shorter or broader phyilodes. Acacia leptospermoides is very variable in its phyllode morphology and is divided here into three subspecies. Subspecies ohorala and subsp. psammophila with their broad, flat and small, thick phyilodes respectively have restricted distributions (the first occurs north of the Murchison River and the second in the Mullewa- Geraldton district). The typical subspecies is more variable and more widely distributed than the other two; its range extends from Dirk Hartog Island in the north to Cranbrook and Lake Grace in the south. Key to subspecies of Acacia leptospermoides. la. Phyilodes small, 4-7 (9) mm long, 1-2 (2-5) mm wide. L B = 2-5 (8), obovate to narrowly obovate*. fleshy (turgid when fresh but normally sulcate and often jb flattened when dry) Sc. subsp. psammophila b. Phyllode characters not combined a.s above (either broader and or longer) .... 2 2a. Phyilodes terete, not above 1 -5 mm wide, narrowly oblong to linear 5a. subsp. leptospermoides b. Phyilodes distinctly horizontally flattened 3 3a. Phyilodes obovate to widely obovate or sometimes orbicular, L B 0-8-2, 5-10 ( 13) mm long, 4-7 (8) mm wide 5b. subsp. obovata b. Phyilodes narrowly oblong to narrowly obovate (very rarely obovate), L/B - (2) > 3, (7) 9-17 mm long, 1 -5-6 mm wide 5a. subsp. leptospermoides 5a. subsp. leptospermoides — Figures 4L-R and 7 Acacia ericifoiia Benth. var. crassa E. Pritzel, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 35:294(1904), pro parte, not as to lectotype, as to Diels 4058 (PERTH). Acacia ericifoiia Benth. var. giaucescens E. Pritzel, I.C.. synon. nov. Type citation: “in distr. Avon pr. Moora in arenosis (D. 3097)" (lecto: PERTH), lecto. nov. Acacia ericifoiia Benth. var. tenuis E. Pritzel, l.c., synon. nov. Type citation: “In distr. Irwin pr. Greenough River in arenosis (D. 4212)” (lecto: PERTH), lecto. nov. Seiected spetimens: WESTERN AUSTRALIA : - 70 mi peg (from Perth). Geraldton Highway, T E. H. Apiin 19 (PERTH); Between Pingrup and Lake Magenta, ft'. E. Biackali 3079 (PERTH); 13 mi (20-8 km) N of Bolgart. Ef. Demarz 3919 (PERTH); Cranbrook, L. Dieis 44I6A (PERTH); • I -5 km N of Herald Bay outcamp, Dirk Hartog Island, 25° 51' S, 113 05' E A.S. George 1 1498 (AD, CANB, K, MEL, NY, PERTH): 4 mi (6-4 km) S of Marchagee, R t' L ange 4 (PERTH, TLF— fragment); Near 157 mi peg on Geraldton Highway, ca. 4 mi * Best to observe fresh or reconstituted phyilodes. Figure ‘^--Acacia ieptospermoides. A to G— subsp. obovata: A to C— Phyllode variation (A abaxial view showing very obscure surface wrinklings; B— adaxial view showing nerve (n) extending from pulvinus to gland (g); C -abaxial view showing 3 obscure nerves (n)). D Legume. E- Seed showing short aril and surface mottlings. F— New shoot showing young phyllode (ph) and connate stipules (st). G- Inflorescence. H to K -subsp. psummophiia: Phvllode variation (H I, K — reconstituted phyilodes showing gland (g) position on adaxial surface and transverse sections showing obscurely plano-convex outline; J dry phyllode concave adaxially). L to R subsp. ieptospermoides: Phyllode variation (g— gland), L (re- constituted phyllode)— Adaxial view with transverse section (g— h) showing flattened outline. M (dry phyllode) Adaxial view showing nerve (n) extending from pulvinus to gland. N (dry phyllode)- Abaxial view of same phyllode showing three nerves (n). O-Q (reconstituted phvllodes) Adaxial view with transverse section showing plano-convex outline. R (dry phyllode) -Adaxial view showing uneven contraction of lamina. A from B R. Maslin 4299 (the type); B, D-E from A. S. Geroge 1 1227; C from C, H. Gittins 1591 ■ F from B. R. Maslin 3648; G from A. M. Ashby 4620; H from A. M, Ashby 3852; I-J from J Long 4: K from A. C. Burns 4; L from B. R. Maslin 3075; M-N from B. R. Maslin 3689; O from W. E. Blackal! 3079; P from T. E. H. Apiin 19; Q-R from H. Demarz 3919. 211 (6-4 km) S of Marchagee, B. R. Mcisliit 1445 (CANB. PERTH); 14-5 km W of Three Springs towards Eneabba, B. R. Muslin 3075 (PERTH): Tamala Station, B. R. Muslin 3689 (L, NT, NSW. PERTH). There is considerable phyllode variation in the material I ha\e referred here to subsp. leptospermoides. The phyllodes seem to vary continuously from narrow and d" terete to broad and flat (Figs. 4L-R); there is no geo- graphical correlation with the different forms encountered. The type specimens of the three synonyms listed above have phyllodes which are narrow and t terete while the type specimen of A. leptospermoides is representative of the less frequent broad, flat phyllode forms. It is possible that future mass sampling techniques coupled with statistical methods will reveal a basis for recognizing more than one taxon within this complex. 5b. subsp. obovata Maslin subsp. nov. — Figure 4A-G. Fnitex 1-3 (I -5) m alia, dilTusa: rami antrorse strigosi ad anirorse puberuli. Stipniae caducae. connatae. Phyllodia applanata, obovata ad late obovata vel interdum orbiculata 5-10 (13) mm longa, 4-7 (8) mm lata, L/B 0-8-2, carnosa turgida et laevia in statu vivo, glabra; nerviu principalia 6, nervatio plerumque obscurissima, Gians proxima medium in pagina supera phyllodii. Influrescemia simplex; peciuncuU 4-1 mm longi; capitnia globulosa, 30-35 floribus. Fiores 5-meri: sepala libera vel in dimidio inferiore connata; peiala I -5 mm longa. glabra. Lepiimen curvum. ad ca. 30 mm longum. 1-5-2 mm latum. Semina in legumine longitudinalia, 2-5 mm longa, I -5 mm lata, maculata. Type: 14-5 km N of Murchison River, North West Coastal Flighway. Western Australia. “Shrub 1-3 m tall, normally “v”-shaped, sparsely divided at base; bark smooth, grey; phyllodes concentrated towards ends of branches, ascending, subglaucous, thickened; heads medium yellow.” 19 Sept. 1976, B. R. Maslin 4292 (holo: PERTH; iso; CANB, K, NY). Spreading, openly branched, normally infundibular shrub to I -3 (1-5) in tall, sparsely divided at base; branches antrorsely strigose to antrorsely puberu- lous, glabrous with age. Stipules caducous, present only on new shoots, connate for most of their length, yellowish brown. Phyllodes horizontally flattened (i.e. diaphyllodinous), obovate to widely obovate or sometimes orbicular, 5-10 (13) mm long, 4-7 (8) mm wide, L B - 0-8-2, fleshy smooth and turgid when fresh but quite flat and finely wrinkled when dry. alabrous. very glaucous when young but maturing gTee.n \ner\ature generally very obscure but normally apparent on young dry phyllodes, principal nerves 6 (3 abaxial extending from pulvinus to apex with the central one generally more apparent than the lateral ones, I adaxial extending from pulvinus to gland, 2 marginal- apparent when fresh); apex obtuse and normally mucronulate; /td/r/m/j hori- zontally flattened, ca. 0-5 mm long, transversely wrinkled, orange. Gland situated on upper surface of phyllode near its middle, not prominent, ca. 0-2 mm diam.. lip not raised. Inflorescences simple, I (2) per node; peduncles 4-7 mm long, glabrous; basal peduncular bracts often caducous, solitary, rostriform, concave; //miw heads bright yellow, globular, with 30-35 densely arranged flowers. Bracteoles spathulate, ca. I mm long, the dark brown laminae visible between adjacent flowers in inflorescence bud. Flowers 5- merous; sepals length of petals, free or connate for ca. f their length, sparsely puberulous, claws linear, laminae slightly indexed and kee"led ; petals 1 • 5 mm long, glabrous, very obscurely I -nerved. Legumes curved, to ca. 30 mm long, 1-5 2 mm wide, sometimes slightly undulate, barely raised over seeds, firmly chartaceous to very slightly coriaceous, reticulate, medium brown’ marginal nerve apparent but barely thickened, slightly contracted between seeds. Seeds longitudinal in legume, ellipsoidal-obloid but truncated along edge adjacent to aril, narrowed towards the periphery, 2-5 mm Iona. 1 -5 mm wide, brown, mottled; pleurogram obscure, open towards the hilum’ areole "u"- to “v"-shaped, minute (ca. 0-2 mm long); /(wm/c filiform, ca, 0-5 mm long, abruptly expanded into a slightly shiny yellowish to brownish (when drv) aril which is not convoluted and extends down one side of the seed. 2T2 Distribution: (Figure 7) Western Australia: Known only from the North West Coastal Highway between II km and 30 km north of the Murchison River. Further sampling of suitable habitats will probably extend the known range of this taxon, especially in an east-west direction. Habitat: Yellow to light brown sand or sandy loam in open heath or open scrub. Flowering period: July-August. Fruiting period: Legumes with mature seeds have been collected in early Jan- uary. At this time of the year the glaucous young foliage is evident. Selected specimens: WESTERN AUSTRALIA: -390 mi peg. North West Coastal Highway, .■I. M. Ashby 4620 (PERTH); Near 413 mi peg, North West Coastal Highway, 27° 25' S, 1 14 40' E, 4. S. George 11227 (PERTH ); 7 mi ( I I - 2 km) N of Galena, C. H. Git tins 1591 (PERTH): 14-5 km N of Murchison River on North West Coastal Highway, B. B. Mustin 3648 (PERTH): 12 km N of Murchison River bridge on North West Coastal Highway, A7. E. Trudgen 1684 (AD, BRI, MEL. NSW, PERTH). From their respective seed seedling and pollen studies, Vassal and Guinet (pers. comm.) report the distinctness of this taxon and suggest its possible recognition at the species level. However, considering the overall morpho- logical variation encountered in the A. leptosperinoides group, I feel it is best treated as a subspecies. The distinguishing gross rnorphological features of subsp. ohovata are to be found in its phyllodes. Compared with the other two subspecies of A. leptosperinoides, the phyllodes in subsp. obovata are shorter and or broader, differently shaped and possess glands which are fre- quently situated nearer the middle. All the collections so far of subsp. obovata are from a small area north of the Murchison River (Fig. 7). The subspecific epithet refers to the phyllodes whose shape is normally obovate. 5c. subsp. psammophila (E. Pritzel) Maslin, comb, et stat. nov. — Figures 4H-K and 7. Acacia psammophila E. Pritzel, Bol. Jahrb. Syst. 35:294(1904). Type citation: "Hah. in dLstr. Irwin pr. Greenough River juxta viam Mullewensem in fruticetis arenosis, c. alabastr. m. Julio (D. 3294)". (lecto: PERTH), lecio. nov. Selected specimens: WESTERN AUSTRALIA:— Yuna, on Mullewa road. A. M. Ashby 1580 (PERTH); Eradu, G. Phillips for A. M. Ashby 3852 (CANB, K., PERTH); 8 mi (12'8 km) along Casuarina Road, SE of Geraldton, A. C. Burns 4; 30 mi (48 km) E of Geraldton, ,/. Lung 4. Pritzel originally described this taxon as a distinct species. Both Vassal and Guinet (pers. comm.) report that their respective studies on the seed seed- lings and pollen show that it does not warrant specific rank; both workers suggested close affinities with subsp. leptosperinoides. My own morphological studies indicate that the taxon is best treated as a subspecies of H. leptosperinoides being distinguished principally by its short, thick and fleshy phyllodes which are obovate to narrowly obovate. These characters are best observed in fresh or reconstituted specimens. Occasionally very short, thick phyllodes occur in subsp. lepto.spermoides (parlicularly on plants from around Tammin and Cun- derdin). These individuals may superficially resemble subsp. psaniiiiopliila but in most instances the distinguishing characters given in the Key are sulFicient to confidently separate these taxa. Although subsp. psaniiiiopliila is restricted to the Geraldton-Mullewa district its range does overlap with the more widely distributed subsp. leptosperinoides (Fig. 7). 6. Acacia spathulifolia Maslin nom. nov., based on A. spatliulata F. Muell. ex Benth. Acacia spaihuiala F. Muell. ex Benth., Flora Austral. 2:356(1864), non Tausch (1836); Mueller, F., Icon. Austral. Acac. Dec. 5: t.l, 1887. Lectotype: Murray R. ( ?River— see 213 discussion below), W.A., Oldfield (MEL — specimen seen by Bentham; iso: PERTH — frag- menl), lecto. nov. Synlype citations: “Bay of Rest. N.W. Coast. A. Cunnhi^ham" (n.v.); "Dirk Hartog Island and Shark Bay, Milne" (n.v.); "Murchison River, Oldfield" (n.v.). The collecting locality given on the lectotype sheet is puzzling. This sheet is annotated by Mueller “Murray R. W.A. Oldf." Bentham saw the sheet and in his original description of A. spatinilata listed the locality as “Murray River." The only Murray River known today in Western Australia is 70 km south of Perth and some 250 km south of the most southerly known record of A. spathiilifo/ia. There seem to be three possible explanations for the apparently anomalous locality citation: (\) A. spaihulifolia may have been Figure 5-^ Acacia y^x^alii A-Upper portion of branch. B-- Inflorescence showing solitary basal peduncular bract (b). C— Bracteoles (abaxial and side views) D— Flowers E o G-Phyllode variation. E (reconstituted phyllode)-Side view showing obscure lateral nerve (n). F (reconstituted phyllode)- Adaxial view with transverse section (a -b) showing ± plano-convex outline and nerve positions. G (dry phyllode)-Adaxial view showing gland (g) and obscure medial sulcae (s). H (reconstituted phyllodes)-Phyllode apices in side view A from Gardner s.n.; B, E-F, H from Blackall s.n.; C-D, G from Ising s.n. (the type). 214 previously more widely distributed than it is today or (2) the locality given in the protologue is incorrect or (3) there once existed in W.A. a watercourse known as the Murray River which today goes under another name. Acacia spathiili folia is common on coastal limestone in the Jurien Bay district and extends north to the vicinity of North West Cape. The species is obviously diaphyllodinous and in its stipules and phyllodes closely resembles the broad phyllode forms of A. leptospernwic/es subsp. ieptospermoides. Acacia spatinilifolia is readily distinguished from this subspecies by its diaphanous, very shortly lobed calyx (lobes broadly triangular), its larger flower buds which are fewer and less compact in the heads and its lack of bracteoles. 7. Acacia vassalii Maslin sp. nov. — Figure 5. Fnitex; rami apices versus dense tornenlosi. Stipulae demum caducae, basi versus con- natae in statu juvenili. PhyihtUa parum applanata, inconspicue plano-eonvexa, anguste oblonga seU in basin gradatim decresccns, 4-8 mm longa. ca. 1 mm lata, recta vel curvata, uncinata. subtiliter puberula ad glabrata; iiervia priiicipalia 3; apex rostrata. Gians (saepe absens) in tertiu distale paginae superae phyllodii. InHorescenlia simplex ; peiliaiciili 3-4-5 mm longi ; cap;7»/a globulosa, 1.5-16 floribus. /7ofcj 5-meri ; c«/r,v breviter oblongus-lobatus; petala I mm longa, l-nervia. LegHme/; et seniina n.v. Type: Wongan Hills. Western Australia. Aug. 1935, E. H. Ising s.n. (holo: PERTH; iso: PERTH; according to C. A. Gardner’s annotation on the type sheet, there is a duplicate of this collection at K). Shrub (further details unknown); branches terete, very obscurely ribbed, densely tomentose towards apices but becoming glabrous with age; epidermis grey, finely longitudinally fissured (exposing a smooth red bark beneath). Stipules deciduous with age, very narrowly triangular, 1-2 mm long, scarious, ciliolate, otherwise glabrous, light brown and connate near base when very young (i.e. on new shoots) but becoming darker and separated (laterally dis- placed) with age, Phyllodes spreading to ascending, rather distant, slightly horizontally flattened (i.e. diaphyllodinous). i plano-convex in cross section, sometimes medially sulcate above when dry, narrowly oblong but tapered towards base in plane view, 4-8 mm long, ca. I mm wide, straight or gently arched up- wards and always prominently uncinate (thus sometimes producing a shallowly sigmoid outline), finely puberulous to glabrescent. obscurely finely wrinkled when dry; nervalure very obscure, principal nerves 3 (2 marginal, 1 central abaxially), nerveless on adaxial surface; apex rostellate, apiculum ca. 0-3 mm long and light brown: pulvinus ca. 0-5 mm long, orange. Gland (often absent) situated on distal 5 of upper surface of phyllode, circular, 0-2 mm diam., lip not raised. Inflorescences simple, 1 per node; peduncles 3-4-5 mm long, glabrous or glabrescent; basal peduncular bracts persistent, solitary, triangular to oblong, concave, slightly curved, ± 0-5 mm long, ciliolate, sometimes sparsely puberulous abaxially; flower heads yellow, globular, with 15-16 flowers, firartco/e-s spathulate. 0-5 mm long: claws linear, : equalling laminae in length; laminae ovate, indexed, slightly concave, puberulous abaxially. Flowers 5-merous; calyx I length of corolla, divided for j its length into oblong ciliolate lobes which are slightly indexed at apex, tube very obscurely 5-nerved a little angular when dry and i sparsely puberulous; petals I mm long, connate for | their length, glabrous, I -nerved; ovary sessile, glabrous. Legumes and seeds not seen. Distribution: (Figure 6) Western Australia: I have seen only three collections of A. vassalii. one of which is without locality. Of the remaining two collections one is labelled Wongan Hills and the other Wararoo. 1 am unable to establish the position of this last-mentioned locality. Habitat: Nothing is known of the ecological preferences of this species. Flowering period: The few' specimens at hand are in flower and were collected in July and August. 215 Specimens seen: WESTERN AUSTRALIA:— IT. E. Blackall s.n., without other detail (CANB. PERTH): Wararoo, C. A. Gantner s.n., .luly 1939 (PERTH). Acacia vassalii is poorly represented in herbarium collections. It is a very distinctive taxon with its small, very obscurely nerved, slightly horizontally flattened, uncinate phyllodes with their rostellate apices. In phyllode shape A. vassalii is rather reminiscent of some species found in the Series Brunioideae e.g. A. asperulacea F. Muell. and A. spoiulylophylla F. Muell. but in other characters (especially its non-verticillate phyllodes) it is quite distinct from this Series. In the absence of legumes, the correct affinities of this species are difficult to establish. The horizontally flattened. 3-nerved phyllodes and the stipule morphology suggest an affinity with the A. diaphyUodinea group (page 209) but A. xassaUi is readily distinguished by its tomentose branchlets, its uncinate, rostellate phyllodes, its simple (not racemo.se) inflorescences, its persistent, triangular to oblong basal peduncular bracts (not rostriform and caducous) and its united sepals (not free). This species is named in honour of Jacques Vassal who, since 1963, has published many valuable papers dealing with Acacia, especially in relation to their seed and seedling morphology. Figure 6— Distribution of A. hinata, A. cnissnhides, A. diaphyUodinea and A. vassalii. 216 [■‘igLire 7 Distribution of ^4. leplospennoitles subsp. leplospennoides, subsp. ohovata and subsp. psammophila. 217 Acknowledgements i wish to express my deep appreciation for assistance received from both Dr. J. Vassal and Dr. Ph. Guinet who made available their respective un- published results concerning seed seedling and pollen characteristics of most taxa dealt with here. Dr. J. H. Willis is also acknowledged for his generous assistance in providing material and information concerning A. crassuloides. References Hochreutiner, M. G. (1896). Contribution a I'etude des Acacias phyllodines. Arch. Sci. Phys. Nat., ser. 4. I (3); 278-280. Pedley, L. (1975). Revision of the extra-Australian species of Acacia subg. Heterophylium Contr. Qd. Herb. No. 18 , p. 1 24. Vassal, J. et Guinet, Ph. (1972). Un Acacia Americain a petiole diaphyllodinise A. wiilanlianu Rose. Adansonia, ser. 2 12 (3): 421-428. Index to numbered specimens seen This index is arranged alphabetically according to the name of the collector. Numbers in parentheses refer to the corresponding taxon in the text. Unless otherwise stated, the specimens are housed at the Western Australian Herbarium (PERTH). Abbreviations for herbaria are those given in Index Herbariorum, Part I, Edition 6 (1974). Aplin, T. E. H. 19(5a). 1989(5a). Armitage, 1. 518(2). Ashby. A. M. 1580(5c), 1897(6), 3787(4), 3852(5c— CANB, K., PERTH: comm. G. Phillips), 4522(4), 4591 B(4— CANB, PERTH: comm. G. Phillips), 4620(5b), 4623(5c). Barrow, M. M7l(5a). Beard, J. S. 3524(6), 6885(6), 7246(5a), 7282(6). Bennett, E. M. 2388(1), 2729(1- MEL, PERTH). Berg, R. Y. 95A(6), 224A(I ). Blackall, W. E. 550(6), 683(6), 1008(2), 2516(5a), 2745(6), 3079(5a), 4850(6). Blockley, J. V. 564(4) 613(4). Briggs, B. G. 304(2). Burns, A. C. 1(4), 2(4), 4(5c), 5(4), 7(5c), 9(4), 14—9 Aug. 1965(6), 14—23 July 1967(5c), 17(50, 29(50, 36(5c), 76(6). Chadwick, Y. 2286(6). Cossalter, C. 1539(6). Coveny, R. 3025(6). Demarz, H. 39l9(5a), 4175(5b). Diels, L. 3058(4 — syntype of A. ericifoiia var. crassa), 3097(5a — lectotype of A. ericifolia var. gtaucescens), 3294( 5c— lectotype), 4058(5a — syntype of A. ericifolia var. crassa), 42 1 2( 5a- -lectotype of A. ericifolia var. leniiis), 44l6A(5a). Drummond, J. 300(4— syntype of A. hookeri: G, G-DC, MEL, P, PERTH- fragment) 141 or coll. 2, no.l41(5a — CGE, G, K. P), coll.2, no.l44(5a — MEL, PERTH — fragment)’ 151 or coll.2, no.l5l(4- G, K, MEL, PERTH fragment), coll. 4, no.ll(5a — type- k’ MEL. PERTH -fragment). ' ’ Eichler, Hj. I5950(5a). 20254(2). Fairall, A. R. 1188(6). Freeman, F. D. s.n. (2— MEL 502982, PERTH; MEL 502993). Freeman, O. s.n. (2- MEL 502990 and 502991 ). Gardner, C. A. 2635(6), 900l(5a), 13230(6). George, A. S. 1420(6), 1 1227(5b), I I498(5a— AD, CANB, K, MEL, NY PERTH) Il551(5a) 2533(6). ^ Gittins, C. H. 1591(5b). Green, J. W. 481(6), 1373A(5c). 218 Hargett, B. 7(4), Hnatiuk, R. 760409(5b CANB, TLF, PERTH, RSA), 76079l( I —variant), 760883(2). Kitcher, J, S858(5b). Lange, R. T. 4(5a), 23(5c), 57(5a). Long, J. 4(5c), 13(6). Lullfitz, F. 1653(6), L1735(5a), L2919(5a), L2956(4), L2979(5c), L3584(2), L5001(l). Maslin, B, R. 72(6), 91(6), 142(5a), 700(6— CANB, PERTH). 703(6— AD, PERTH), 720(4 MEL, NSW, PERTH), 993(1 AD, PERTH). I445(5a CANB, PERTH), I640(5a), 1716(5a), 2453(2— CANB, TLF. PERTH), 2558(1), 2578(1— PERTH, TLF), 2792(4), 3056(6— K, PERTH). 3075(5a). 3273(5a— CANB, PERTH), 3310(6), 338l(5a— CANB. K. P, PERTH), 3386(5a), 3427(5a K, PERTH). .3443(3— type: CANB, K, MEL, NY, P, PERTH), 3490(1 type: CANB. K. MEL. NSW, NY, P, PERTH), 3648(5b), 3689 (5a— L. NSW, NT. PERTH), 3755(5a— AD, PERTH), 3756(5a— BRI, NY, PERTH), 3804A(5a-K. PERTH), 3814(5a— BRI, PERTH), 3872(3), 3922(1), .3926(3— CANB, TLF, PERTH), 4081A(5a). 4046(1), 4054(3), 4207(5a), 4274(5a), 4292(5b— type: CANB, K, NY, PERTH), 4332(4), 4333(4- PERTH, TLF), 4352(5a). McFarland, D. and N. 1003(4). Nelson. E. C. ANUI7323(6). Newbey, K. I293(5a), I940(5a), 2156(6), .3432(5a— ADW, PERTH), 3478(3), 3666(1), 3666D( I), 4314(1). Paust, S. 798(1), 809(1), Il08(5a). Preiss, L. 981(4 — syntype of A. hookeri: FI. G, GOET, HBG, K, L, MEL, NY, P, PERTH fragment, STRAS). Pritzel, E. 376(4 — syntype of A. ericifolia var. crassa: B, E, G, K-photo seen, L). Royce, R. D. 8879(2), 9734(5a), 10249(3). Saffrey, R. A. 1525(4— K, MEL, NSW, PERTH). Scrymgeour, E. M. 790(2). Simmons, M. 314(2). Smith. F. Cl. 1679(5b). Tindale, M. D. 1342(6), 2647(5a), 2650(5a), 3895(5a). Trudgen, M. E. 1520(1 PERTH, TLF), I684(5b— AD, BRI, MEL, NSW, PERTH). Went, F. W. 39(6), I24(5a). Willis, J. H. s.n. (2— type: MEL 502978, CANB, K, NSW, NY, PERTH), MEL 502980(2), MEL 502992(2). Wilson, P. G. 5532(I-AD, BRI, K, MEL, PERTH), 831(6). Young, D. 128(3). 219 Five new species of Eucalyptus from Western Australia By M. I. H. Brooker* and D. F. Blaxellt Abstract Five new species of eucalypt are As&cnbed- -Eucalyptus beardiana and E. gittinsii from the Kalbarri-Shark Bay region, E. Johusoiiiouo from the Eneabba sand-plain, and E. georgei and E. cerasiformis from east of Hyden. Their distribution and natural affinity are discussed. Eucalyptus beardiana Brooker et Blaxell, sp. nov. (Figures ], 6). Pryor and Johnson code SIVAB.ii; Frutex ‘mallee" ad 4 m altus, caulibus laevibus. Folia juvenilia petiolata, non-opposita, lanceolata, 2-9 x 0-5-3 -5 cm. Folia adulta petiolata, non-opposita. lanceolata. ad 15 x 1-5 cm. lufloirscenliae axillares, 1 I -florae. Pedunculus c. 3 cm longus. recurvus, teretus. Alabastia 3-4 x I cm. Hypanthium hemisphaericum vel cupulatum, c. I cm longum. Operculum conicum attenuatum, c. 2 cm longum. Fiiamenta staminum connata in dimidio inferiore et androecium in totum deciduum. Pedicelli c. I cm longi. Loculi 5. Ovula 4-seriata. Fruclus pedicellati, hemisphaerici, 12-14 x 10-12 mm. Ealvae exsertae. Discus latus, albidus, planus, leviter depressus. Type: Northwest of ‘Coburn’ HS, south of Shark Bay, Western Australia (26“ 42'S, 114= 08'E) 8 Oct. 1975, D. F. Blaxell W75/I05 (holo: NSW- iso- K. FRI. PERTH). A mallee to 4 m tall with smooth, grey bark. Cotyledons bisected, petiole 4-5 mm, arms 5-7 mm. Juvenile leaves petiolate. not opposite, broadly lanceolate, 2-9 x 0-5-3 -5 cm, green, slightly paler below. Adult leaves petiolate (1-2 cm long), not opposite, lanceolate, to 15 cm X 1-5 cm, lateral and intra-marginal veins not prominent. Glandl- obscure in dried material. Inflorescences axillary, 1 1 -flowered. Peduncle c. 3 cm long, terete, re- curved. Buds 3-4 X 1 cm, hypanthium hemispherical to cup-shaped, c. \ cm long, operculum conical-attenuate, c. 2 cm long. Pedicel c. I cm long. Fila- ments basally connate for about half their length, at first erect, and most finally inflected with anthers pendent in bud. Androecium deciduous as a whole. Anthers dorsifixed, oblong, opening in longitudinal slits. Style long, deeply inserted in tube formed by beak of operculum. Locules 5.’ Ovules \n four vertical rows. Fruit pedicellate, hemispherical, flaring at the top, 12-14 mm x 10-12 mm Disc broad, whitish, fiat, just below rim level. Operculum scars and stamino- phore c. 2 mm wide, horizontal. Valves exserted. Seed iiiegular. light grey-biown. dorsal side rounded and shallowly and finely reticulate, ventral side with shallow ribbing and inconspicuous hilum C/m//'cuboid or subulate, reddish brown. Distribution: Western Australia: northwest and south of Wannoo (South of Shark Bay on NW Coastal Highway). ' CSIRO. Division of Forest Research, Banks Street. Yarralumla, A.C.T. 2600. -i- Royal Botanic Gardens and National Herbarium, Sydney, N.S.W. 2000 i Codes have been derived from the Pryor and Jolmson classification (1971). 220 Figure I ^£»ra/i77/».v ftra/Ytow sp. nov. A- -Cotyledons, x 1 . B Ovules, x 30. C- Bud section, x 3. D— Anthers, x 25. E— Androecium (after tailing whole), x 2. F— Adult leaves and buds, X I . G- Fruit, xl . ^ From J. S. Beard 7391 except for androecium and seed (MIHB 5014) and seedling grown from MIHB 5014, 221 Other eolleeiioiis: along a survey line 15 miles west of Coburn Station. 8 April 1975. J. 5. BeanI 739! (FRI, PERTH); 71 km south of Wannoo (158 km north of Geraldton) (27 30'S, 1 14 45 E). 9 Oct. 1975. D. F. Bla.xell W75/1 1 7A (NSW), M. I. H. Brooker 5023 (FRI, PERTH, NSW, AD, MEL) and M. /. H. Brooker 5024 (FRI, PERTH, NSW, AD. MEL). Only two populations of this species are known to us at present; the Type locality and that 71 km south of the Billabong Roadhouse at Wannoo on the NW Coastal Highway. At the Type locality the site consists of low, red, sand dunes supporting a ‘unique community, to be mapped as “Tree heath’’ ’ (J, S. Beard pers. comm.). Associated species here are Eucalyptus roycei, Banksia ashhyi, Hakea sienopliylla. Acacia longispina and Plectracluie dan- thonioides. The southern population occurs in tall open-shrubland on yellow sand with occasional sand ridges supporting Actinostrohus arenarius, Banksia sceptruni and Xylomeluni angustifoUum. E. heardiana belongs in the series M ACROCARPAE of Pryor & Johnson. Jt appears to occupy a position near E. leptopoda Benth., one population of which (near Queen Victoria Spring) also has the character (almost unique in Eucalyptus) of connate filaments. Jt differs from E. leptopoda in the broader leaves, the larger buds and the larger fruit with the sunken though still broad and prominent disc. The species is named after its collector. Dr. John Beard, formerly Director of Kings Park Botanic Garden, Perth and of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, who is currently mapping the vegetation of Western Australia. During the course of his travels into remote parts of the State he has discovered several new taxa of Eucalyptus, some of which have yet to be published. We consider it appropriate that his long association with the botany of Western Australia should be perpetuated by a species endemic to the State. Eucalyptus johnsoniana Brooker et Blaxell, sp. nov. (Figs 2, 6). Pryor and Johnson code MADEJ. Friuex ‘mallee' ad 2 m altus. Folia juvenilia petiolata, opposita, ovata, 3-7 x 1-3 cm. Folia adiilta petiolata non- opposita, lanceolate, 5-12 x l-l -5 cm. ’ htflorescentiae axillares. 7-florae. Pedunculiis e. I cm longus, complanatus vel teretus. Alahastra c. 10x5 mm. Hypanthium campanulatum. Operculum hemisphaericum interdum umbone parvo. Pedicellu.i c. 5 mm longus. Aniherae dorsifixae oblongae. Loculi 3-4 Ovula 2-seriata. Fructus pedicellati. hemisphaerici vel globosi, f. I x I cm. Discus verticaliter depressus Valvae deltoideae, interdum levlter protrusae. Semina pyramidalia, alls prominentibus. Type: 6 km south of Coorow-Green Head intersection on Highway 1 south of Dongara, Western Australia (30’ 06 'S, 1 15° 24'E) 7 Oct 1975 D F ’bIoypII W75/89 (holo: NSW; iso: K, FRI, PERTH). ' ’ ' ’ A mallee to 2 m high, forming dense and broad clumps up to several metres across. Bark slightly rough, grey-brown, peeling in strips from the stems. Cotyledons orbicular to reniform, 8x6 mm. Juvenile leaves petiolate opposite for c. 9 pairs, ovate, 3-7 x 1-3 cm. Adult leaves petiolate not on- posite lanceolate 5-12 x I-l -5 cm, yellow-green, concolorous, ’with the midrib and leaf edges pale yellow-green. Glands obscure in dried material. Inflorescences axillary, 7-flowered. Peduncle c. I cm Iona, terete or sliahtiv flattened. Mature buds c. 10 x 5 mm. hypanthium campanulate, operculum hemispherical and sometimes with a small umbo, pedicel c. 5 mm Iona Sta mens indexed in bud. Anthers dorsifixed, oblong. Style short. Locuies 3-4 Ovules in 2 vertical rows. 222 From MIHB 5002 except for fruit and seed (MIHB 5033) and seedling grown from MIHB 5033. 223 Fruit pedicellate, hemispherical to globose, c. I x 1 cm. Disc vertically depressed inside the orifice. Valves deltoid, the tips occasionally protruding from the orifice. Seed pyramidal, with conspicuous wings, brown, smooth on dorsal side, ribbed on ventral side. C/;a//' cuboid, yellow and brown. Distribution: Western Australia; south of Eneabba, east of Jurien Bay. Other Collections: 1 1 -8 km south of the Coorow Green Head road intersection with Highway I. at the turn-off to Lara Downs (30 09'S. 115 26 'E) 7 Oct. 1975, D. F. lilaxell W75/88 (NSW) and A/. /. H. Brooker 5002 (ERI. PERTH, NSW, AD. K); Type locality. M. I. H. Brooker 5m (FRI, PERTH, AD, MEL). Only three small populations of this species are known to us, all along a 10 km stretch of Highway I south of Eneabba. and within a few metres of the road. The soil is white sand over laterite with little relief to the topography. The vegetation is closed-heath with isolated patches of E. Johnsonlana and mallee forms of E. todtiana barely emergent amongst dense sclei'ophyllous shrubbery. The affinities of this species are not clear, but we hei'e tentatively erect a monotypic sub-series (Johnsonianinae) to be placed between Buprestinae and Marginatinae of the Pryor and Johnson classification (a re-coding of the five series, Preissianae to Acmenoideae. is required to accommodate the dozen or so new taxa of Moiiocalyptus which have been discovered in recent years). The species is named after Dr. Lawrie Johnson, Director of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney, who has contributed so much over the years to the knowledge of the genus, in particular his enlightening publications of recent years on classification and morphology. Eucalyptus georgei Brooker et Blaxell, sp. nov. (Figs 3, 6), Prvor and Johnson code SLE:B. Fniiex 'mallee' ad 3 m altus, caulibus laevibus. albis. Medulla ramulorum glandulifera. Folia iitvenilia petiolata. non-opposila, ovata ad lanceolata, 6-8 x 2-5 cm. Folia adnha peliolata. lanceolata. ad 15x6 cm, crassa. /«//w(W('H/K/caxillares, t-tlorae. Pediincnliis ad 3 cm longus, crassus, glaucus. Alahastra 11 14 X 6 mm. Hypanthiinn obconicum, c. 7 mm longum. Operciihitn hemisphaericum, 3-4 mm longum. FUamenta primum erecta, demum deflexa. Locnii 5. Ovnia 4-seriala. hntctns campanulati, 12 15 x 9-11 mm. glauci. Discus latus, albidus, intro declivis Valvae leviter exsertae. Semina rut'a, nitentia. Type: 159 km east of Hyden along the track to Norseman, Westei'ii Australia (32 I5'S. 120 23'E) 3 Oct. 1975, D. F. Blaxell W75/45 (holo: NSW; iso' K, FRI, PERTH). A whipstick mallee to 3 m high with smooth, whitish bark. Pith of branchlets glandular. Cotyledons reniform. Juvenile leaves petiolate, not opposite, ovate to lanceolate, 6-8 x 2-5 cm. becoming intensely glaucous at about the 1 0th seedling leaf pair. Adult leaves petiolate, broadly lanceolate, thick and rigid, to 15 x 6 cm, pale yellow-green, concolorous. Petioles and proximal section of mid- rib densely glaucous. Lateral venation obscure. Glands prominent only on upper surface in dried material. Young twigs angular, densely glaucous, reddish brown beneath the waxy coating. Pith glandular. Inflorescences axillary, 7-flowered. Peduncle thick, glaucous, up to 3 cm long. 2-3 mm diameter. Mature buds 1 1-14 x 6 mm, glaucous, sessile or with a short, thick pedicel. Hypanthiurn obconical, c. 1 mm long. Operculum hemispherical, 3-4 mm long with a short and obscure umbo. Filaments at first erect then inflexed. Anthers dorsifixed to sub-basifixed, oblong to obovate. Locales 5. Ovules in 4 vertical rows. 224 Y^'i^MKl^Eiicalyptiis georgei now. A— Ovules, x 10. B— Bud section, x 4. C— Anthers X 25. D--Seed (s) and chaff (c). x 10. E- Adult leaves and buds, x 1. F— Cotyledons, x 2. G- Fruit, X 1. From MIHB 4989. 225 Fruit campanulate to almost cylindrical, densely glaucous, 12-15 x 9-11 mm, with a short, thick pedicel c. 2 x 2 mm. Disc broad, whitish, sloping inwards. Valves slightly exserted. Seed irregular, shining reddish brown, shallowly reticulate. C/)r#cuboid and subulate, yellow and brown. Distrihution: Western Australia: between Hyden and Norseman, just north of the Johnston Lakes. Other Collections- of Mt Holland. July 1930, C. A. Gardner s.n. (PERTH, FRl); 315 mile peg Hvden— Norseman road, 26 Oct. 1964.7. S. fiea/Y/3849 (NSW); Mt Holland area, 16 Aug. 1966 4 A'e.sve// 408 (PERTH, NSW); 315-332 mile peg on Hyden— Norseman track, 16 Aug. 1966 4 Kessell 424 (PERTH, FRl): junction of the Bremer Range road and Hyden track, 4 Feb 1970 A. Kessell 441 (PERTH, FRl. NSW, K); 159 km east of Hyden on Norseman track 3 Oct.’ 1975, M. /. H. fl/ouAer 4989 (FRl. PERTH, NSW, AD); cultivated. Broken Hill, N.S.W.. 24 June 1971, R. OohA/INSW). In the Type locality there are several hundred plants in a relatively small area of c. I hectare growing on a lateritic rise, a few metres above the extensive, surrounding sand plains. It forms a pure stand, but with an encircling low open-forest of E. saluhris and E. transcontinentalis. Growing with E. georgei are Triodia scariosa, Casuarina sp. and Acacia spp. This species has been known as ‘Hyden Blue Gum' for some time, and although occurring a long way east of Hyden, it seems appropriate to retain this common name. The natural affinities of E. georgei are clear. It belongs in the Pryor & Johnson series DUMOSAE between E. woodwardii Maiden and E. sheathiana Maiden. The buds and fruit are intermediate in size between these two species and are always glaucous, whereas in E. sheathiana this character is variable. It has white flowers, unlike the lemon-coloured filaments of E. woodwardii. The specific epithet honours A. S. George, a botanist at the Western Aus- tralian Herbarium, who has a great knowledge of the Western Australian flora, and who has assisted both of us in many ways. We consider it appro- priate that Alex have an endemic western species named after him. Eucalyptus cerasiformis Brooker et Blaxell. sp. nov. (Figs 4, 6). Pryor and Johnson code StF:G. Fnite.x ’mallee' ad 3 m altus. caulibus laevibus. Medulla ramulorum glandulifera. Folia iuveniUa petiolata, non-opposita, lanceolata, 3-5 x 0-6-1 -5 cm. Folia adidta peliolala, non-oppo.sila, lanceolata, 6-8 cm x 0-5- 1 •2 cm, concoloria, glandulis prominentibus. Infloreseentiae axlllares, 7-florae. Peduncidus recurvus. 2-3 cm longus, gracilis, teretus. Alahastra c. I x 0-5 cm. Hypanthium urceolatum, 6-7 mm longum. Operculum conicum, 3- 5 mm longum. Pedicellus 10-12 mm longus. F/Ah;;<>/;/o pro parte maxima inflexa. Loculi 4- 5. Ovula ad 8-seriata. Fruetus pedicellati, cylindrico-hemisphaerici, 12-15 mm longi. Discus oblique depressus. Valvoe inclusae. Type: 164 km (by road) east of Hyden, on track to Norseman, Western Aus- tralia (32“ I4'S, 120“ 25 'E) 3 Oct. 1975, D. F. Blaxell W75/5I (holo; NSW; iso: K, FRL PERTH). A mallee to 3 m high, with smooth, mottled, grey bark: young branches brown. Pith of branchlets glandular. Cotyledons bisected. Juvenile leaves petiolate, not opposite, lanceolate, 3-5 X 0-6 I -5 cm. Adult leaves petiolate, not opposite, narrowly lanceolate, 6-8 cm x 5-12 mm, yellow-green, concolorous, uncinate. Petiole c. I cm long, terete, yellow-brown. Mid-vein, intramarginal vein and major lateral veins pale yellow-green. Glands prominent on both surfaces. Inflorescences axillary, 7-flowered. Peduncle recurved, 2-3 cm long, slender, terete. Buds c. 1 x 0-5 cm. Hypanthium urceolate, 6-7 mm long. 226 Y'xauK A— Eucalyptus cerasifonnis sp. now. A- Anthers, x 15. B Ovules, x 10. C-^Bud section, X 4. D— Adult leaves, x I. E— Fruit, x I. F- Buds, x 1-5. G--Seed (s) and chaff (c), X 20. H— Cotyledons, X 2. From MIHB 4990. 227 Operculum conical, 3-5 mm long, brown or yellow-brown, contrasting with the green hypanthiiim. /’er/zVe/ terete, 10-12 mm long. Stamens yaWow, most filaments inflexed in bud. Anthers dorsifixcd. oblong to obovate. Locales 4 5. Ovules in 6-8 vertical rows. Fruit pedicellate, cylindrical to hemispherical, slightly urceolate when immature. 12-15 mm long. D/.sr obliquely depressed. Kr/Zres' depressed. -S’m/ ovoid, brown, with a shallow reticulum. C/z«//' cuboid, brown. Distribution: Western Australia; between Hyden and Norseman, just north of the Johnston Lakes. Other collections: 318 mile peg on Hyden Norseman track, 8 Feb. 1967 A. KesseH 545 (PERTH, FRI, NSW, K); same locality, 3 Oct. 1975, D. F. fi/o.ve// W75/5la (NSW), M. I. H Brook er 4990 (FRI, PERTH, NSW, K. AD). M. I. H. Brooker 499\ (FRI, PFRTH NSW. AD, MEL). We know of only one population of this species. It occurs in low open- forest on a reddish loamy soil in association with E. reditnca and E. salubris. It does not seem to occur on the yellow or white sands which are more extensive in the region. The specific epithet is derived from 'cerasus' (Latin: cherry) in allusion to the ‘bunch of cherries’ appearance of the pendent inflorescences. The affinities of E. cerasiforniis are clear. It belongs in the series ERY- THRONEMAE of Pryor & Johnson and is close to E. clielsii C. A. Gardn. from which it is distinct in the smaller buds and fruit, fruit shape and particularly the absence of a flared rim to the fruit. Eucalyptus gittinsii Brooker et Blaxell, sp. nov. (Figs 5, 6). Pryor and Johnson code EAAAG. Friilex 'malice' ad 5 m altus, caulibus laevibus. Meiliillci ramulorum glandulifera. Folia iiivciiilia petiolata, non-opposita, ovata, 4-8 x 2-4 cm. Folia adiilla lanceolata, ad 15x3 cm. //;)7mf.vcw/Z/£!r axillares 3-norae. Pednnciiliis t: I cm longus. Aiahastra c. I x 0-5 cm, quadrangulata. Opcrciiliiin c. 2 mm longum. Pcdicelhts 0-5-1 cm longus. Fiiamenta staminum 4-aggregata. Locnti 3 (4). Friicuis pedicellali, quadrangulati, 1-5-2 x I cm. Discus latus, verticaliler depressus. Valvae inclusae. Type: 67 km south of 'Billabong Roadhouse', Wannoo, Highway I, Western Australia (27= JO'S. 114= 45'E) 9 Oct. 1975, D. F. 5/r;.vc// W75 1 1 3 (holo' NSW; iso: K, FRI. PERTH), A niaUee to 5 m tall with a small stocking of peeling rough bark, smooth grey-brown bark above. Pith of branchlets glandular. Cotyledons ovate. Juvenile leaves petiolate, not opposite, ovate to ellip- tical, 4-8 X 2-4 cm, grey-green, densely pilose when young. Petioles and internodes also densely pilose with trichomes of the ‘r(E)’ type (Johnson 1972). Aduh leaves petiolate (1-2 cm long), not opposite, lanceolate, concolorous, to c. 15 X 3 cm; lateral and intra-marginal veins prominent and yellowish in both fresh and dried material. Glands not prominent in dried leaves. Youny twigs and petioles markedly angular and also yellowish. Inflorescences axillary, 3-flowered. Peduncle c. I cm long, angular. Buds c. I X 0-5 cm. quadrangular; operculum c. 2 mm long, pyramidal. Pedicel 0-5 1 cm long, terete-angular, increasing in diameter distally. Slaminal fila- ments m four groups, obliquely erect then deflexed radially with most anthers pendent^ in bud. Anthers dorsilixed, oblong to ovoid, opening in longitudinal slits. Style short, slender. iMcules 3 (4). Ovules in 4 vertical rows. Flint pedicellate, markedly quadrangular, 1-5—2 x 1 cm; calyx remnants small, persistent, Disc broad, vertically depressed. Valves 3, deeply recessed. 228 Fiaure 5—Eiiciilvpliis gitlinsii sp. nov. A- Cotyledons, x 2. B—Ovules, x 10. C Bud section X 4 D ' Anthers, x 20. E-Buds, xl. F—Fdament arrangement .seen Irom above with operculum cut away, x 4. G- Fruit, x I. H -Seed (s) and chafl (c), x 7. I Adult leaves, x I . From M 1 H B 5022 except buds ( M I H B 239 1 ). 229 Figure 6 — Distribution of Eucalyptus heardiana sp. nov., E. johnsonianu sp. nov., E. georgei sp. nov., E. cerasiformis sp. nov. and E. gittiusii sp. nov. Seed pyramidal, black, smooth on the dorsal side with ribs ascending to the hilum on the ventral side; prominent hyaline wings around the edge. Chaff cuboid, black or red-brown, glistening, shallowly reticulate. Distribution: Western Australia; north of Geraldton (on yellow sand country) and south of Shark Bay. Other collections: 65-6 km (41 miles) south of Wannoo Roadhouse. Aug. 1967, C. H. Gittins 1562 (NSW); 69-6 km (43-5 miles) south of Wannoo, 17 Sept. 1968, M. E. Phillips, CBG 036807 (FRI); c. 40 km (25 miles) from main road on road to Kalbarri township, 9 Jan. 1970, 230 M. I. H. Brooker 2391 (PERTH, NSW. FRI); 413 mile peg on NW Coastal Highway c. 48 km (f. 30 miles) north of Murchison River crossing (27 24 'S, 1 14 39 ’E). 21 Aug. 1973, M. D. Timkile 2742 (NSW'); 65 km south of Wannoo on Highway I, 9 Oct. 1975. A/. /. H. Brooker 5022 (FRI. PERTH. AD); 71 km south of Wannoo, Northwest Coastal llighway, north of Geraldton. 9 Oct. 1975, D. F. B/«.vW/ W75/1 18 (NSW, PERTH). This is a relatively common species, at least on the yellow sand plain and sand-dune country south of .Shark Bay to just south of the Murchison River. The vegetation formation is low open-woodland and associated species are Eucalyptus Jucuncia, Actinostrohus arenan'us and Banksia seep! rum. The affinities of E. gittinsii are clearly with E. eudesmioides F. Muell. on seedling characters alone. Adult specimens exhibit some characteristics of E. odontocarpa F. Muell., but the presence of 'stellate' trichomes on seedlings of both E. giiiinsii and E. eudesmioides and their absence on E. odontocarpa confirms our placement of it next to E. eudesmioides in the Pryor and Johnson classification. The species is named after its first collector (at least, to our knowledge), C. H. Gittins. a retired engineer from Epping in Sydney, who has visited many out-of-the-way regions of Australia over the past ten years or so, and who has carefully and meticulously collected many specimens for the National Flerb- arium of New South Wales and other institutions. Acknowledgements We wish to thank Dr J. S. Beard and Mr A. S. George for their help in many ways relating to field collections, checking material etc., Mr G. Moss for the illustrations and map; and Mr J. Turner for growing the seedlings. References Johnson. L. A. S. (1972). Evolution and classification in Eucalyptus. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W'. 97, 11-29. Pryor, L, D.. and Johnson, L. A. S. (1971). ‘A Classification of the Eucalypts'. (Aust. Natl. Univ. Press, Canberra). 65045 — ( 3 ) 231 Ptilotus tetrandrus Beni sp. nov. (Amaranthaceae) By G. Beni, F.L.S. j Abstract A new species of Ptilotus, P. tetroudnis Beni, is described from Western Australia. The type specimen is illustrated and the resemblance to other taxa is discussed. Ptilotus tetrandrus Beni sp. nov. (Figures 1 and 2) Diagnosis. Ab omnibus PtHotis adhuc nolis staminibus regulariter 4 fertilibus diversus; staminodio uno minimo, pseudostaminodiis nullis. Distinguished from all previously known species of Ptilotus by having 4 stamens; staminodium I, very small; pseudostaminodia none. Descriptio. Heiha aimiio tenera. Cciiiles in speciminibus examinatis singuli. sordidi-virides, 17 28cm longi (inflorescentia inlerrupta inclusa) et l ^-lmm diametro. graciles. erecti vel curvati-ereeti. angulati-striatull, partim sulcaii, basim versus lignescentes; juveniles puberuli, pilis albidis subreetis vel crispis, nodosi- sive dcnticulati-arliculatis (partim brevissime verti- cillati-ramosis), 0-5-1 -Imm longis; adulti leviter induti. pubescentia tandern ad partes superiores et in axillis foliorum restricta; primo indivisi vel pauciramosi, ramis lateralibus erectis ad 15cm longis (spica inclusa). postea nonnullis pedunculis brevibus fioriferis villosis ex axillis orientibus. Caules et rami in pedunculum et rhachidem villosam spicarum trans- eunles; in speciminibus exstanlibus parce foliati. Fotia alterna I 3 ad ca 5cm distantia, plus rninusve decurrentia, laminis integris basi petio- liformi gradatim in petiolum indislictum ad Icm longum attenuatis, oblongi-lanceolatis vel elongati-ellipticis, ad 3-5:0-4cm longis latisque. obscure viridibus, in apice acutis brevissime mucronatis (mucrone 0-2-0 •4mm) nervo medio fuscescente subtus vix prominente; summa in bracteas quasi transeuntia. Ex axillis ramuli lloriferi dense villosi baud raro oriri solent. tnftorescentiae elongati-spicatae: spicae singulae terminales baud spectabiles primo rubiginosae dein pallide viriduli-stramineae ad 1 0-1 5cm et ultra longae et 0-8cm diametro, apice e.xcepto remotiHorae (Fig. I A). Rhachis villosa eadem longitudine, pilis (sicut in cauli- bus) inter flores conspicuis induta. Ptores ca 20 ad 40. superiores densius conferti, inferiores pauluni majores dissiti usque ad I -4cm (raro longius) distantes. Bractea bracteotaoipw scariosae. nitidae. glaberrimae, inaequiformes; Bractea (Fig. IB) rigidiuscula, ovati-lanceolata, 3-3-8mm longa et 1-6- 2 -20101 lata, dilute succinea. costam et basim versus (atri-)fusca, acuminata, integerrima. Bracteotae (Fig. 1C) eordati-orbiculares ventricosae, breviores (2-2-6mm) at latiores (2- 2-8mm), incoloratae hyalinae, apicem obtusatum versus minute sed distincte erosi-denti- culaiae, vix apiculatae. Periatithiiim (rigidi-)'erectum, tepalis divergentibus campanulati-patens, basi constricta indurata in tubum angustum brevem ( I 1 - 5111111 ) -exius pilis strictis dense obtectum-coaiitum. Tepatu di.stincte trinervia (Fig. ID) -nervis lateralibus baud lotam areolam niedianam inipellucidam indudentibus-, bicolorata: primo subaequaliter rufescenlia, dein areolis incrassatis viridi-llavescenlibus (tandem olivacei-brunneis) et marginibus limbatis (basi excepla) membranaceis nitentibus denium incoloratis; marginibus interne pilis subreetis (nuinquam crispis) obsessis, superne in apicem nudum integrum acutiusculum baud raro incisum (visu emarginatuni) transeunlibus. Tepala intus glaberrima. extus pilosa, pilis niveis rigidis (denticulati-)nodosis ad 2mni longis, praecipue diinidio inferiori areolae orient- ibus, apicem baud attingentibus, subaequiformia: 2 exteriora elongati-linearia 4-5x0-8- 1 -Omni, in floribus imis solitariis ca 6-5x1 - 211101 ; 3 interiora (Fig. ID) subelliptica 3-5- 4-2xlnini, in floribus imis solitariis ca 5-5x1 - 311101 . Stamina 4 (Fig. IE) fertilia aequalia. uno abortive ad lacinulam minimam reducto; basi in cupulani vix 0-8nini altani lubo perianthii arete insidentem connata, anulo libero parvo 0-2-0-25nini alto, glaberrimo vel extus minute finibriato, in margine minutissime eroso, ciliolato; squaniulis intrastaniineis nullis. ■r Botanische Staatssamnilung Miinchen, Germany 232 Figure I. Ptiloliis telraiulrus Beni. A- Terminal portion of plant, B- Bract, inner lace, C- Bracteole. inner face. D — Inner tepal, inner view, E — Androeciuni and gynoecium. niameiua angusti-laeniata l•5-2■8mm longa, per totani longitudinem aequilata (ca 0- 1 mm), supra cupulam baud dilatata: juvenilia usque ad antheras pilosa,demum (sub)glabra. Aiiilierue fulvae longi-ellipsoideae ca 0-8mm longae et 0 -3111111 latae, basi bilobae. Oviuium (Fig. IE) asymnictricum primo complanali-subclavatum dein subglobosum, ad 1-6 (in iniis Horibus 2-2)mm longum, ad 0-9mni latum, baud slipitatuiii; in dimidio superiore bilateraliter pilis rectis minimis vel ad I mm longis obsessuni. Stylus modice excentricus juvenilis curvatus postea (stib)erectus, ad 3-5nim longus; ptibescentia ovarii in stylum transiens. Sli.yimi incon.spicuiim, Holoivpe of species: Near Carslakes Well, Glenorn Station, Western Australia; R. b: H acker no 97, 2 Oct. 1974— PERTH. Hahi/ar. The species was among "profuse annual flora which established following the 1968 73 drought", in loamy sand in mulga {Acacia aneiira). Material. The description is from the holotype (Fig. 2), a sheet containing six stems with mature spikes, but devoid of stem-bases. 233 Figure 2. Ptilotiis tetrandrus Beni. Holotype sheet. Coll. R. B. Hacker No. 97, 2 October, 1974, near Carslakes Well, Glenorn Station, Western Australia. PERTH, (new data supplied by Mr. Hacker after the photograph was taken) 234 Discussion. There are only a few species within the genus with an inflorescence consisting of conspicuously remote flowers. Interrupted spikes are known so far in (a) P . ili.ssiiifionis (F. Muell.) F. Muell., in which 10-15 solitary flowers torni a spike up to 15cm long and 4cm broad, terminating the branches. Tepals will attain lengths of about 2cm; in both var. dissiiiflorus and var. longifolius Beni., crisped woolly hairs occur inside the inner tepals. The species is known from N.T. and Qld., respectively. (b) P. remoiifiarus Beni from Queensland, a much-branched undershrub (ca 30cm in height) with tiny leaves. The tepals are up to 1 1 mm in length, the inner ones again with a woolly beard. This species is unique for its peculiar pubescence in the vegetative parts, consisting of various kinds of trichomes (see Mitt. Bot. Munchen 12:337, Fig. a, 1976). (c) P. distans (R.Br.) Poiret, another perennial with very narrow-linear leaves. Flere the tepals (up to I Ocm long) do not form a tube at their base but are free, and the filaments are united below to a free staminal cup with a fringed margin. There is some faint resemblance of P. distans (from W.A., N.T., Qld., N.S.W.) to the new w'estern species as to the glabrous bracts and bracteoles, to the hairless inner side of the tepals, to the pilose juvenile filaments etc. However, apart from the differences just indicated, P. tetrandrus is characterized by its number of stamens being constantly four, a significant feature not observed in the genus until now and readily distinguishing the present taxon from any previously described species, thus requiring special recognition. 235 Notes on the genus Pandanus (Pandanaceae) in Western Australia By Benjamin C. Stone* Abstract The genus Paiulainis in Western Australia is known so far to occur only in the northern sector, in the Kimberley District, south to about 18 lat. Only one subgenus, Subg. Pamlaniis. is represented, but there are two distinct Sections, and possibly three. Sect. Pcwdanus (possibly). Sect. Anstrokcura (herein raised to sectional rank from that of sub.section). and Sect. Semikewa. The classi- fication of species, especially in Sect. Aiistrokeiira, is not as yet satisfactory. The occurrence of P. spiralis is documented, and a review of the species most similar to it included, resulting in some new synonyms and new combinations at infraspecific rank. Two new varieties {var. flamiiieiis, var. nmllimummillaliis) are proposed. The variability of this species is discussed in relation to pre- viously known and newly obtained specimens from both Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Three other species of subg. Pandanus, P. darwinensis, P. ohiatiis and P. semiarmatus, are also reported. Finally a new suite of col- lections of P. aifiialiciis (syn. P. kiitiherleyaniis) is reported. Introduction Knowledge of Paiu/auiis in Australia goes back a long way, to the ex- ploratory activity of Robert Brown. Brown described only two species, P. spindis and P. pedtiiuulaliis. in his “Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae van Diemen" published in 1810. Brown's collections were studied recently by H. St. John, who published an account of these (St. John, 1968). According to St. John, Brown's collection no. 5799 was a mixture, and he selected as lectotype a portion of this gathering to typify P. spiralis; the material (one fruit phalange only) is illustrated in his fig. 267. Also assigned to the species but not considered to be part of the lectotype was a staminate specimen. This is correct, as all pandans are dioecious. Two phalanges were excluded from the three which made up the type materials of P. spiralis, and served as type (holotype) for St. John's new species Pandanus hrownii; these phalanges are illustrated in his fig. 270. The lectotype of P. spiralis was obtained by Brown in the Gulf of Carpentaria on Allen Island. Wellesley Group (called by Brown “Island C"). The staminate inflorescence came from the same locality. The phalanges discriminated as P. hrownii have an unknown pro- venence (except that they are assuredly from Brown's Australian travels). It cannot be assumed that they came from Allen Island, nor can it be proved that they did not. Brown's .second species was P. peduncidaiiis; this has good locality data, showing that it was collected at the north end of Great Sandy Island (now Fraser Island) off the E. coast of Oueensland. The lectotype, also in the British Museum, was collected on 31 July 1802, and is given the number 5799A. This species, which in the opinion of Domin was a variety of Pandanus tectorius, and in this writer's opinion is certainly part of the P. tectorius complex, has never been found in Western Australia; it is common however along the Queensland coast, especially on the offshore islands. It is known currently under a large number of different names, but that subject is dealt with elsewhere. Further contributions to the knowledge of Australian Pandanaceae, especially Pandanus, have come from Marlelli and more recently from St. John and Stone. Some of these contributions have dealt with collections * Herbarium, Department of Botany, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 236 made in the Northern Territory (St. John. 1962c), and several with Queensland material, but only one specifically refers to Pandanus in Western Australia; this is Part 2 of St. John's Revision of the Genus Pandanus (St. John, 1961a). In this paper St. John describes P. kimherlevanus, a species now assigned (Stone. 1974) to Section Semikeuru Stone, and considered to be a synonym of, or at most but weakly distinct from, P. uquaiicus F. Muell. St. John however also describes P. convexus. the type being a collection from Dillens Springs, now Dillon Springs, (Fitzgerald 2394). Other collections referred to the same species are a staminate inflorescence (F. 2394) from the same locality, and an unnumbered collection by W. Hulse from Escape Cliffs, Northern Territory, collected in 1874 or perhaps earlier. Martelli treated these as P. spirali.i (Martelli, Proc. R. S. Qd. 45 (1933) 24.) St. John slated that P. cunrexus is related to P. spiraU.s. differing in its fewer carpels per phalange and a few other minor features. In another relevant paper St. John (1962c) reports at length on a number of species, all but one described as new, from the Northern Territory. Al- though he states (p. 409) that P. spiralis, P. delestangii. P. ha.sedowii, P. whitei, and P. solias-laiihacliii had been reported previously from the Northern Terri- tory, he accepts only the records of P. ha.sedowii. He therefore considers that P. spiralis is limited to its type locality, as mentioned above, which geographic- ally is part of Queensland. Thus the key which St. John provides (p. 409) refers, with the sole e.xceplion of P. ha.sedowii, only to his new species. It is difficult therefore to perceive the differences which would presumably serve to differentiate P. spiralis (sensu stricto) from the several highly similar species he describes. There is of course no reason to suppose that the neat boundary lines which separate the Northern Territory from Western Australia and from Queensland are biogeographically meaningful. On the other hand, the scat- tered and local Pandanus populations of these regions which, away from the shoreline or the rivers, probably become highly disjunct, are a biogeographic feature of some importance. Therefore, to discuss Pandanus in Western Australia, reference to what is known of the genus in the Northern Territory, and even in Queensland, has to be made. There is no evidence as yet to suggest that Western Australia harbours any unequivocal endemic species in this genus. Those few that have been described are at best weakly distinguished from their relatives and. as will be detailed below, recognition of a number of varieties seems to be the appropriate taxonomic solution at least until much more detailed studies, such as cytology, can be made. The position of P. spiralis in the genus Pandanus In Australia there may be found species representing the following three subgenera and six Sections (Subgenera 1 and 3 occurring only in Queensland): 1. Subg. LOPHOSTIGMA; Section Maysops 2. Subg. PANDANUS; Sections Pandanus. Ausirukeura, Seniikeura, and Australihra.ssia 3. Subg. ACROSTIGMA; Sect. Acrostigma. Of these subgenera, only the second, i.e. Subg. Pandanus. occurs in Western Australia and in the Northern Territory. This subgenus, divided into several sections (Stone. 1974) is represented in both Western Australia and the Northern Territory by three Sections, viz. Sect. Pandanus. Sect. Austrokeura and Sect. Semikeura. The riverine species P. aquaticus ("P. Kimberleyanus”) mentioned 237 above is the only representative of the typical subsection of this latter Section, while P. haseilowii is the sole representative of Subsect. Elaphrocarpus; but this species has not been found so far outside the Northern Territory. The eharacter of Sect. Ausfrokeura itself is very distinct, and the chief distinguishing features are (I) rigid, very glaucous leaves, very prickly in juveniles, becoming semi-unarmed or nearly toothless, especially toward the apex, in adults; (2) stoloniferous habit; (3) presence of zonate epidermis and high numbers (i.e. density) of stomata on adaxial leaf surface, equalling the density on the undersurface or nearly so; (4) solitary cephalia. Probably other characters can be added to this list which help to distinguish this Section from Sect. Pandanus, in which P. tectorius (P. pedtmcidaius) is found. Within Pandanus, Section Austrokeura is particularly characteristic of Australia (occurring elsewhere only in Papua, the contiguous southern part of West Irian and some immediately adjacent Moluccan islands). This group, founded on P. solms-laubacliii, includes P. spiralis. Here it is raised to sectional rank. Genus PANDANUS Subgenus PANDANUS (sensu Stone, 1974b). Sect. Austrokeura (B. C. Stone) B. C. Stone, stat. now {Pandanus Sect. Pandanus Subsect. Austrokeura Stone, Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 94 ; 517 (1974) Basionym). (a) Series Austrokeura. Type; Pandanus solms-laubachii. Phalanges laterally conspicuously sulcate, within the cephalium the phalanges interlocked by the groove-and-ridge system formed by these sulci. Phalanges various, from rotund to obovoid or suboblong. Mostly Queensland species, but some probably also in the Northern Territory. (b) Series Spirales Stone, ser. nov. Carpellis phalangiorum fere esulcatis; phalangibus rotundatis. Type: Pandanus spiralis R. Br. Mainly Western Australia and the Northern Territory. This difference is not hard and fast but on the whole seems to reflect two real trends. Using this conception a group of 'forms’ appears to cluster round P. .spiralis. This group also shows these additional phalange characters: (1) broad, rounded shape of the phalange, and (2) the comparatively large number of carpels per phalange. It becomes evident that the conspicuously ridged-and-grooved phalanges characteristic of Ser. Austrokeura are particularly common among Queensland species, becoming scarcer along an east-to-west gradient; while the smoother phalanges of the Ser. Spirales are most common in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, but scarce to absent in Queensland, especially eastern North Queensland. However, there are enough exceptions to suggest that there is possibly a "hybrid belt" of forms bridging the W. Queensland — E. Northern Territory populations, and that the ridge-and-groove character has “flowed” in a westerly direction. The species which would be assigned to these groups are, if one simply followed the classification and species concept of St. John (which I do not accept) (Those marked * appear somewhat intermediate between the two series) : 238 Ser. Austrokeura: P. dammannii Martelli, P. anilicinensis St. John, P. -fiiraceus St. John, P. cookii Martelli, P. angulatus St. John, P. auslraliensis St. John, P. tnouams St. John, P. fcrriiuonfaiiiis St. John, P. endeavourensis St. John, P. suhinermis St. John, *P. darwinensis St. John. P. orbicularis St. John. P. exarmanis St. John. P. pltiriangidalus St. John, P. puncfaUis St. John, P. stoloiiifer St. John, P. larifnictus St. John, P. papillosiis St. John, P. nioss- manicus St. John, P. radicifer St. John, P. kurandaensis St, John, and P. riridaris St. John. Also, P. hrassii Merr. & Perry of Papua belongs here, and probably P. ananas Martelli of Timor. Ser. Spirales: P. spiralis R. Br., P. integer St. John, P. convexus St. John, *P. thermalis St. John. P. ohlatus St. John. P. somersetensis St. John, P. seini- ■armaius St. John. Variability in P. spiralis The very heading here underlines the assumption that forms the argument of this paper; that is, that P. spiralis is a variable species, not a local endemic restricted to Allen Island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. The proponent of this second view, St. John, naturally concludes that pandans which strongly re- semble, but do not actually match. Brown's specimen (lectotype) of P. spiralis. must be assigned to other (usually undescribed) species. However, the significant question is: wherein does the variability lie? Brown's type specimen being fragmentary, there is really only the fruit to consider, and this is represented only by two phalanges- hardly enough to enable one to form any notion of variability in an individual, let alone a species. Study of a considerable amount of material of Pandanus has shown that there are many kinds of variation to be found among fruits or phalanges from the same plant, and from different plants of the same species. This has been dealt with at length in previous reports (Stone, 1967a, 1967b, 1976) and need not be repeated here. Suffice it to say that some kinds of variation obviously are unsuitable for discriminating species; juvenile characters, features of unfertilized fruits or unripe material, shrinkage in drying, etc., all the.se must be eliminated. Such variability as remains is then worth serious consideration. However, structures other than fruits must be e.xamined as well; foliage dif- ferences do e.xist between species, and even staminate characters may be of use. Among the Australian species, the whole of Sect. Austrokeura is however characterized by a very stereotyped leaf form, and so far, no good characters sufficient to differentiate species have been found in the leaves. So, also, the staminate inflorescences; they are inherently exceedingly similar. If differences exist, they are liable to be subtle, statistical, and ephemeral. Of necessity we fall back on fruits as taxonomic markers. On this basis, almost exclusively, St. John has proposed more than two dozen species in Sect. Austrokeura. In this paper however attention will be focussed on those which I have assigned to Ser. Spirales and to the apparently intermediate P. darwinensis; and it is the intent here to show how and why I prefer to regard P. spiralis as a complex species which, for convenience, as much as to facilitate discussion and study, is deemed to consist of several subordinate taxa here called varieties. Some of these may prove to be subspecies, in the stricter biological sense, but others may be ephemeral taxa; hence the decision to use the category rarietas (see Stone, 1976). P. spiralis, its varieties and related species The main variations in phalanges of P. spiralis and its nearest relatives involve the following characters: (1) Number of carpels per phalange (see Stone, 1967) 239 (2) Size of phalange, particularly length (3) “Rotundity” versus “complanation" of the phalange apex (4) Relative convexity of each component carpel apex (5) Presence or absence of lateral sulci (in extreme cases forming a dense series of longitudinal ridges and grooves) (6) Size of stigmas Chiefly using these characters, St. .lohn has discriminated three species {P. convexus, P. integer, P. thernialis), which were considered as close relatives of P. spiralis, but which here are regarded as subordinate taxa of that species. St. John in his original diagnoses often indicates a "closest relative” but this seems to be based chiefly on the position of such taxa in his unpublished keys to species. These species, and seven others which on morphological grounds and geographical distribution are thought also to be implicated, with the indicated 'closest relative’ according to St. John, are: P. convexus St. John, 1961 : “Closest Relative"; P. spiralis P. integer St. John, 1962: “Closest Relative”: P. convexus P. thernialis St. John, 1962: "Closest Relative": P. latifructus P. latifructus St. John. 1962: “Closest Relative": P. meilialinennis P. medial inermis St. John, 1962: “Closest Relative”: P. somersetensis P. somersetensis St. John, 1961 : “Closest Relative”: Not indicated P. darwinensis St. John, 1962: "Closest Relative”: P. whitei P. arnhemensis St. John, 1962: “Closest Relative”: P. truncatus P. truncatus St. John, 1961 : “Closest Relative”: P. hrookei From this sequence it may be seen that a series of forms may be deduced. convexus — spiralis^integer: then another series, thernialis— latifructus — medial- inermis — somersetensis; then a pair, darwinensis — whitei: and then another short series, arnhemensis — truncatus — hrookei. It is a standard feature of the taxonomic papers of Dr. St. John to state such a "closest relative”, but it is disputable whether it is correct to assume that a species has always and only one close relative. In any case the sequences noted are instructive. If ref- erence is made (prev. page) to the species listed under each of the newly pro- posed Series, it is seen that the species of the first sequence {convexus — spiralis integer) have phalanges with smooth faces and no ridge-and-groove system; the species of the second sequence {thernialis— latifructus— medialinermis— somersetensis) are mixed with respect to the ridge-and-groove character, somersetensis and thernialis lacking the system {thernialis possesses perhaps a very weak expression of this character), while latifructus and medialinermis show the character strongly developed; darwinensis vmA whitei both show the character; and m the last sequence, arnhemensis and truncatus strongly show the ridge-and-groove system, but hrookei lacks it entirely. To these facts must be added the point that as far as can be determined, P. hrookei is extremely similar ( closely related?) to P. somersetensis, a relationship not indicated by St. John. I 'do not consider that P. truncatus should be considered as a close relative of P. hrookei, nor do 1 accept P. somer- setensis as a close relative of P. medialinermis. (The latter in fact is most likely a synonym of P. dammannii Warb.). Furthermore I would consider P. truncatus as a synonym of P. whitei Martelli; this taxonomic interpretation would then link the isolated pair, darwinensis-whitei, with the final sequence where we may substitute whitei for truncatus, all these species then linking into a single sequence darwinensis — whitei — arnhemensis. 240 On the basis of the ridge-and-groove character, P. thennaHs links more readily with the spiralis group, and we may postulate the sequence convextis-- spiralis — integer — thermalis. Having thus removed both /’, thermalis and P. sumersetensis from the second sequence, and added P. clammannii (to replace its synonym P. meclial- inermis). only a pair remains; latifriictus — clammannii. However, it is now evident that P. clammannii is similar to P. arnhemensis; hence we may form a linkage with the last sequence, which would now be clarwinensis — wliitei — arnhemensis — clammannii — latifriictus. Reviewing the situation we now see only two sequences: { 1 ) P. convexus— P. spirali.s- P. integer— P. thermalis: and (2) P. clarwinensis — P. whitei — P. arnhemensis — P. clammannii - P. latifriictus. The first of these corresponds to Ser. Spirales, the second to Ser. Austro- keura. The distinctiveness of the two Series is partly threatened by P. clarwin- ensis, which has a strong ridge-and-groove system, but has large, rotund phalanges with a fairly high (11-13) number of carpels per phalange, approach- ing P. spiralis: and by P. thermalis, which has a weakly developed ridge-and- groove system but otherwise rather smooth phalange faces, large rotund phalanges, and a moderate number of carpels per phalange (9-11), thus also approaching P. spiralis. In other words, it is possible to view P. thermalis and P. clarwinensis as a linked pair; to do so would necessarily link the two sequences, or Series, as indicated above. Does this not then make ineffectual the distinction between Series Spirales and Ser. .Austrokeural I do not think so. and this is because the distributional and geographic data support the distinction. If the two Series are not completely separate, it is because there is a distributional continuity across the northern tropical region of Australia. It remains a useful distinction, although it may only be an expendable taxonomic tool, as long as a multiplicity of species in these Series is accepted. It affords recognition to the probability that species charac- ters (better to say phalange characters) are subject to reassortment, and that the ridge-and-groove character may be incorporated through inheritance as a randomly assorting character, ff this be so then one may postulate that forms such as P. clarwinensis and P. thermalis may be hybrids of a type approxi- mating to the expression; "spiralis’' type x "whitei" type, which in geographic- terms is to say "Northern Territory" x "Oueensland." It is what might be expected at the interface of two distributional areas, whence further recom- binations might produce, toward the western portion, forms such as P. thermalis. But it is not necessary to assume that P. clarwinensis, etc., are species, and if these speculations as to origin are anywhere near the historical reality, then other taxonomic dispositions of such ‘species' might be preferred. Perhaps the designation P. x clarwinensis would be suitable. However, in the absence of any proofs of hybridization, this designation might be prejudicial. In any case a suspicion exists (based on other, non-Australian Pandanus species) that asexual forms of reproduction may occur. Of course, clonal reproduction by stolons is known to exist in P. spiralis and several other Australian species, but it is also possible that apomixis may occur. If so, then the possibility of a taxonomic situation resembling that found m such genera as Tara.xacum, Hieracium, and Rubus might exist, which if it did occur would profoundly affect all the taxa enumerated here. 241 Taxonomy of Western Australian Pandanus Tentative Key to species and varieties 1. Phalanges slender oblanceoloid, small (mostly 4-5 cm long), usually I -celled or sometimes 2-3-celled. Cephalia when ripe subglobose-ovoid. Staminal phalanges with racemosely disposed filaments, these comparatively few and wide-spaced on the column. Habitat along streams Section SEMIKEURA (One species, P. aquaticus) 1. Phalanges obovoid to subglobose-rotund, often large to massive, always of more than 4 cells and often with 7-22 cells (or more), Cephalia when ripe ellipsoid to subglobose. Staminal phalanges with numerous crowded racemosely disposed filaments. Habitats various Section AUSTROKEURA 2. Phalanges with several to many supernumerary ridges and grooves besides the normal intercarpellary sulci, in intact cephalia interlocking adjacent phalanges (mortise-tenon effect). Phalanges usually large (7 cm -t j, equidiametric, rotund, or somewhat laterally compressed. .3. Phalanges about 7-5 x 6 — 7-5 cm, massive, rotund, convex, carpel tips convex 4. P. darwinensis var. darwinensis .3. Phalanges about 5 x 6-7 cm, convex, the carpel tips very low-convex to flattened, whole phalange somewhat laterally compressed 4. p. darwinensis var. latifructus 2. Phalanges with no, or very few, supernumerary ridges and grooves, the faces com- paratively smooth, broken only by the intercarpellary sulci. Phalanges medium to massive, rotund and equidiametric or somewhat laterally compressed. 4. Phalanges mostly equidiametric. rotund. Carpels rather numerous to numerous (to 20 or more) within the phalange. 5. Carpels with sharply acute convex tips; carpel number high (15-23) I . P. spiralis var, multimammillatus 5. Carpels tips low convex to nearly flat. 6. Phalange apex slightly concave, the carpel tips flat; phalanges tending toward extreme shallowness I, p, spiralis var. flanimeus 6. Phalange apex rotund, low convex, or nearly flat, but not concave; individual carpel tips usually slightly convex. 7. Phalanges multicarpellate (carpels 12-24), carpels broad. 8. Phalange apex dome-shaped, carpel tips little prominent. Lateral faces of phalange smooth; carpel number high (up to 24) I. P. spiralis var. spiralis 8. Phalange apex dome-shaped but the individual carpel tips somewhat obtruding; lateral faces of phalange with a few supernumerarv ridges and grooves: carpel number moderate (9-11. perhaps more') 1. P. spiralis var. thermalis 7. Phalanges with mostly 5-15 carpels ... 1. P. spiralis var. convexus 4. Phalanges mostly subcompressed to compressed laterally, not rotund. Carpels mostly 5-12 per phalange, 9. Phalanges about 6-5 — 7 x 5 cm 2. P. oblatus 9. Phalanges about 5-5 x 5 cm 3 . p. semiarmatus 1. Subgenus Pandanus, Section Austrokeura (Stone) B. C. Stone, supra. (1) Series Spirales Stone. 1. Pandanus spiralis R. Br. (Fig. 1). var. spiralis. Phalanges broad, rotund, about 6 x 7-8 cm, multicarpellate, with as many as 19-23 carpels per phalange; apical sutures shallow, individual carpel apices very low convex, hardly raised above the general dome-like phalange apex; lateral sutures few, shallow, short; stigmas I -5-2 mm wide. 242 Figure I Phalange (top anti profile) of Pandanus spiralis var. spiralis. (From ASG s.n. 8/1975, Drysdaie River N.P.). 243 Figure l^Pamlamis spiralis var. comexus. Above: habit and habitat; below; a phalange. (From ASG 12634). 244 New collections-. WESTERN AUSTRALIA; Drysdale River National Park, August 1975 A. S. Geoi-fte s. n. PERTH). (Phalanges precisely as in the R. Brown collection); Prince, Regent River Reserve, 19 August 1974, K. F. KenneaUy s.n, (PERTH), var, convexus (St, John) B. C, Stone, stat, nov. (Fig. 2), Basionym: P. convexus St, John, Pacif. Sci. 15 (1961) 183, f, 10. Type: W. V. Fitzgerald 2394, Dillens Springs, Western Australia (NSW). Syn. P. integer St. John, Pacif. Sci. 16 (1962) 414, f. 142. Type: R. A. Perry 2630, 20 mi. S. of Laguna Sta.. N.T. in Herb. BRI. Phalanges broad, rotund, 5-6 x 5-7 cm, with about 6-10 carpels per phalange; apical sutures shallow, carpel tips flattened; lateral sutures none or few; stigmas 3-5 mm long. New collections: WESTERN AUSTRALIA; Prince Regent River Reserve, W. Kimberley: residual pool in sandstone outcrop; common in this area; 14 August, 1974 K. F. KenneaUy 2041 (PERTH); Same locale, Fern Gully, fringing forest along creek, rocky sandy-substrate; tree 10 m tall; fruit top orange-brown, base red ; 25 August 1974, A. S. George 12634 (PERTH); Drysdale National Park, August 1975, K. F. KenneaUy 3080. 4348, 4518 (PERTH). Figure 3 — Panciunns .spiralis var. flammeiis. Profile and top view of phalange (from holotype). var. flammeus B. C. Stone, var. nov. (Figures 3, 4). Holotype: K. F. KenneaUy 5680, Logues Springs, W.A. in Herb. PERTH. Isotype in KLU. Phalanges 6- 12 carpidialae, plerumque 3-5 — 4-5 cm longae, 5 — 6-5 cm latae, apicaliter complanato-depressae. superficie distali vadose depresso-concava, suturis pervadosis tenuis irregulariter suberosis, suturis lateralibus raris vel carentibus; pericarpio aurantiaco-rubro. WESTERN AUSTRALIA; Logues Spring (18 25' S, 123 05' E) south-east of Broome; screwpine to 5 m, stems thin, foliage glaucous, fruits scarlet with 16 "drupes' (i.e. phalanges); restricted to small narrow gorge containing a scries of water holes fed by a spring; soil rocky, with fine, white, dusty clays boggy during wet (season); 15 Augu.st 1976. K. F. KenneaUy 5680 (PERTH). The slender leaves, those of adults only 4-5 cm wide (the juvenile leaves, as usual, prickly, and the adult leaves almost unarmed), the small cephalium about 13 X 13 cm., and small number of phalanges borne on the cephalium, may be additional characters of this variety. The carpel number per phalange shows two peaks; analysis of the ceph- alium gives the following results: 1 phalange with 6 carpels; 2 phalanges with 7 carpels; 4 phalanges with 8 carpels: 2 phalanges with 9 carpels; 2 phalanges with 10 carpels; 3 phalanges with II carpels; 1 phalange with 12 carpels. 245 Figure 4 Pundwnis spiralis var. flammcus. Above: habit and habitat; below; cephaiium. (From type locality and holotype), The stigmas are small and obscure, difficult to make out in the ripe phalanges; most are 1-2 mm long. Several phalanges exhibit abnormal, peripheral, dwarf or undeveloped, partly free and convex supernumerary carpels. 246 var. miiltimammillatus B. C. Stone, var. nov. (Figure 5). Holotype: A. S. George 13380, (PERTH), W. of Cape Londonderry, W.A. Isotype in KLU. Phalanges 15-23-carpidiatae, rolundae, convexae, 5-6 x 5-6-5 cm, fere subglobosae; carpellis subaequalibus. apice alle pyramidato-convexibus, angulatis. pyraniidis usque ad 7-9 min allis, sligmalibus obliquis atrobrunneis 2- 3 mm longis. Mesocarpium in basi hbris brevissimis. Epicarpium pauci-canaliculatum in medio. WESTERN AUSTRALIA; Far north west coast, West of Cape Londonderry, tree to 5 m tall in black loam in woodland with dense grass understorey, fruit orange-red, 5 August 1975, A. S. George 1 3380 ( PERTH). In its imilticarpellate phalanges of rotund form this variety approaches var. spiralis, but the smaller phalange size, and especially the steeply pyramidal carpel tips with obvious slanted stigmas give this variety clearcut distinguishing features. The apical sutures are often dark-tissued (scars) and the phalange sides are fairly smooth, a few- shallow ridges and grooves developing unequally in some but not all phalanges. The leaves seem to have no distinguishing features, the adult leaves apparently (as is normal) armed remotely along the margins proximally but the leaf apices minutely and sparsely prickly oi tor long stretches of margin or even the entire apex unarmed. Figure S— PcnidauKS spiralis var. miilrimammillaliis. Profile and top view ot phalange (from holotype, ASG 13380). var tliermalis (St. John) B. C. Stone, stat. nov. Basionym; P. ihermalis St. John, Pacif. Sci. 16 (1962) 423, f. 148. Type: S. T. Blake 16433, Hot Springs. Douglas R.. N.T. in Herb. BRI. Phalanges broad, rotund. 7-7-5 x 6-8-8-5 cm, with about 9-11 carpels; ohalange apex dome-shaped, carpel lips nearly flat, apical sutures shallow, lateral sutures well marked and deep but comprising only, or mainly, mter- carpellar sutures; stigmas 3-5-5 mm wide. Ne^- collections: WESTERN AUSTRALIA: nrysdalc River National Park 14 49' S, D6 E tree to 8 m. fruit red. aerial rootlets present; m sand; woodland. 10 August 1975. a c Ccorve 13677 (PERTH) (Carpel tips oblique subdepressed; lateral faces with giooves). Prince S Rive Reserve. Aug. 1974, K. F. Kenneally (PERTH); Hrysdale River SJU inn-u Park IS 02' S 126 49' E, Carson Escarpment, Drysdale River, seepage area at base of sandstone^ hill” tree 8 m, fruit pale orange-brown, red at base, 16 August 1975, A. S, George 13898 (PERTH). 247 2. Pandanus ( Austro ke lira) oblatus St. John 1 ( P. somersetensis St. John) (Figure 6A). WESTERN AUSTRALIA; Drysdale River National Park, 15 02' S, 126 40' E, Worriga Gorge, tree to 8 ni tall, with aerial rootlets, fruit red. in damp black loam by creek in grassy woodland. 20 August 1975, A. S. George 14084 (PERTH). In its phalanges this collection shows a very strong resemblance to Pandanus oblaiiis St. John (Pacif. Sci. 15 (1961) 569, f. 27, 28). described from specimens collected by L. J. Brass in the Iron Range. Cape York. Queensland, at 20 m alt. (no. I93I2 Type, in BRl), still the only known collection. However, the leaves in that species are described as fully armed, with the margins denticulate from base to apex. Almost certainly, this indicates that the leaf collected by Brass was from a vigorous juvenile individual, or perhaps a tiller shoot, but this cannot be proven. In the George specimen cited above, the leaves are almost unarmed, i.e. perfectly normal for Sect. Austrokeura adult leaves. In addition the phalanges of the George specimen are slightly shorter. Thus I refrain from actually certifying an identity. There is no easy alternative identification and indeed the George collection is unique among the Western Australian speci- Figurc 6^rofiles and top views of phalanges. At right, upper and lower; Pandanus oblatus (from ASG 14084). At left, upper and lower; Pandanus semiarmatus (from KFK 4514). 248 mens which I have seen. It may be a new species, but in the welter of already published names, and the evident redundancy (and synonymy) of species names in this deceptive and difficult group, it is not deemed appropriate to make a decision at this stage. It cannot readily be included within the (now broadened) concept of P. spiralis because of the very small and paucilocular phalanges (less than 5 cm long), although because of the smooth phalange faces it would appear to correspond with this species insofar as being placed in Ser. Spirales. It is possibly a very depauperate form of P. spiralis var. camexiis, or clo.sely related to it. It is obviously a form which is at the extreme border of the concept of one species or another. 1 consider P. somerselensis St. John (Pacif. Sci. 15 (1961) 570, f. 29) as identical with P. ohianis. 3. Pandanus semiarmatus St. John, Pacif. Sci. 16 (1962) 421, f. 147. (Figure 6B). Type: Blake 19694 (BRI). from Koolpinyah, N.T. WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Urysdale River National Park. Site B3, 127 12' E, 15 17' S, on edge of remnant pool of .lohnson Creek, very common, 9 August 1975, K. F. Keimeiilty 4138 (PERTHi: Same locale, 127 05' E. 14 47' S, side of dry creekbed, commonly around remnant pools, 10 August 1975, heu/wolly 4174 (PERTH): Same locale. Site B2, 126 55 E, 14 49' S, beside creeks 14 August 1975, keimeally 4318 (PERTH); Same locale. Site C3, 126 54' E, 14 43' S, common along edge of creek and by remnant pools, 20 August 1975, Keit- iwallv 4514 (PERTH); Same locale, 126 44' E, 15 16' S, in sand in woodland, tree 6 m tall, foliage slightly bluish, fruit green, 3 August 1975, A. S. Gwrge 13202 (PERTH). All these specimens accord well with each other, and with the diagnosis and illustration of P. semiarmatus, though the last cited specimen {Georye 13202), being of a very immature fruit, is less surely placed. These records make this species an addition to the Western Australian flora from their previous local distribution in the Northern Territory (Koolpinyah just E of Darwin), but the distance is not excessive and no doubt this species has an intermittent but probably even wider distribution along the north Australian coast and hinterland. St. John relates this species to P. somerselensis of Queensland. The Blake collection (the type) was until now the only known collection. P. semiarmatus is clearly a member of Sect. Austrokeura, as shown by its unarmed leaf apices and the massive endocarps. It is very close to P. spiralis and could well be considered a variety of it, a disposition which may be pre- ferred after further studies in this group; yet it has a certain distinctiveness, in the slightly compressed phalanges and their very smooth lateral faces. The character which suggested the epithet semiarmatus {unequal presence of prickles on the leaf margins— one margin often unarmed) is by no means a specific character and should carry no weight at all. for although it is odd it varies from tree to tree and has also been noticed in cultivated plants of the (hardly closely related) P. tectorius. (2) Series Austrokeura 4 Pandanus darwinensis St. John, Pacif. Sci. 16 (1962) 417, t. 144. Type: Allen in 1927, near Darwin, N. T. (BRI). var. darwinensis (Figures 1, 8). Phalanges massive, rotund, with thick epicarp, very short basal mesocarp; caroel tips convex, whole apex of phalange convex; apical sutures obvious; lateral sutures obvious; phalange sides (carpel sides) with longitudinal ridges and grooves; phalanges about 7-5 x 6-7-5 cm; carpels 11-13 and subequal; stigmas 3-3-5 mm long. 249 Figure 7 — Pandamis danvincnsh. Phalange, profile and top view, (From BCS 10650' 250 New lolleclions: WESTERN AUSTRALIA; Prince Regent River Reserve. 19 August 1974. A. S. Geoi-f^e 1241 1 (PERTH); Same locale, .1 August 1974, K. F. Keiwea/ly s.n. (PERTH); Drysdale River National Park, August 1975, A. S. George 13315, 1.3457 (PERTH). NORTH- ERN TERRITORY: Dashwood Creek, near Oarwin, 3 Sept 1971. fi. C. Slone 10650, 10651 (KLU). In relating P. darwineiisis to P. spiralis. I acknowledge that the character of lateral longitudinal ridge-and-groove systems of the phalanges can occur in the species. It appears to me that this character is derived from hybridization with related species in Ser. Austrokeura to the east, especially P. whitei and its relatives. Indeed. P. liarwinensis may be in part a recombination of characters from P. spiralis and P. whitei. the massive size and rotundity of the phalanges from the first, the ridge-and-groove system from the second; of course this is sheer speculation. It is also true that the incidence of the character — which affords a kind of mortise and tenon interlocking (not really effective perhaps)- may vary somewhat within a cephalium, and not every phalange is equally affected. It is a very obvious character, yet its signilicance, as well as its heredity, is not well understood. var. latifructus (St. .lohn) B. C. Stone, stat. nov. Basionym: P. lalifraciiis St. John. Pacil'. Sci. 16 (1962) 420, f 146. Figure 8-- Pandaiuis dcirwinensis. Habit, showing branch, leaves and cephalium. From ASG 12411, Prince Regent River Reserve. 251 Type: U. St. John 24225, 22 mi. S. of Darwin, N.T. in BISH. Phalanges broad, rotund, about 5 x 6-7 cm, with 12-20 carpels per phalange, apex of phalange dome-shaped, carpel tips very low convex to flattened but apical sutures deep and rather wide; lateral sutures deep, num- erous; stigmas 1-2 mm. Very similar to var. arnhemensis, also to var. darwinensis. New collections: WESTERN AUSTRALIA; West of Cape Londonderry, 5 August 1975, A. S. George 13375 (PERTH). II. Pandanus Siibg. Pandanus Sect. Semikeura B. C. Stone, Contrib. Herb. Austral. No. 5, (1974) 42. This small, characteristic section is composed of two subsections; of the.se only one so far is known from Western Australia. The other, subsect. Elaphro- carpus B. C. Stone, is monotypic, and its single species, P. hasedowii C. H. Wright, is known to date only from Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. Subsect. Semikeura Type species: P. delesiangii Martelli, a synonym of P. aquaticus F. Muell. This subsection, which I consider monotypic, ranges right across north Australia from Queensland to Western Australia. Although five species have been described in this group, there are no useful distinctive characters, although one form, named P. kimherleyamis St. John, has fruits of which the drupes are rather short for what seems to be the average. With Blake (1954, 130, pi. 7, f. 3) I consider P. aquaticus the correct name of the species, and although slightly variable there seems no justification to recognize additional species. Some new collections have recently been made, cited here. 5. Pandanus aquaticus F. Muell. in Hook. J, Bot. Kew Card. Misc. 8(1856) 329, nomen provisorium; Fragm. Phyto. Aust. 5 (1865) 40 (validation); Stone, Contrib. Herb. Austral, no. 5 (1974) 42. Syn. P. kimberleyanus St. John, Pacif. Sci. 15 (1961) 180, f. 9. Type: Fitzgerald 2395, Fitzroy River, Kimberley, W.A. (NSW). WESTERN AUSTR.ALIA: Drysdale National Park, 15° 02' S, 126° 55' E, common on river banks, trees 5-6 m tall, rather slender, aerial rootlets present, fruit fallen, 6 August 1975, A. S. George 13486 (PERTH); Same locale, Carson River, 14 49' S. 126 49' E, II August 1975, .4. S. George 13705 (PERTH); Same locale. Site C2, 15 03 ' S. 126 44' E. very common, 17 August 1975, K. F. KenneaUy 4388 (PERTH). Of these specimens the drupes of 13705 are like those of the form called P. kimherleyamis, but not quite so blunt; while in 4388 the drupes are more slender, as in P. delestangii. Addendum There is in the W.A. Herbarium (PERTH) a collection made by E. M. Bennett, no. 1815. labelled “Pandanus tectorius” and consisting of some phalanges of what is clearly a member of the Austrokeura group; however locality data are lacking (collected 20/5/1967) and 1 refrain from describing it. It is almost certainly an undescribed new variety oi Pandanus spiralis. Acknowledgements J am indebted to the Curator and staff of the Western Australian Herb- arium, Perth, for loans of specimens and photographs, and especially to A. S. George and K. F. Kenneally for their interest and cordial assistance in the 252 study of Australian Pandans. The photographs were provided by them, except for the isolated phalange (A. S. G. 12634) which was photographed for me by the Rijksherbarium, Leiden, and forwarded to me by Mr. A. K. Groen- ewegen of that institution. The line drawings herein are by Encik Rosali of the Dept, of Botany, University of Malaya. References Blake. S. T. 1354. Botanical Contributions of the Northern Australia Regional Survey. II. Studies on miscellaneous northern Australian Plants. Aust. J. Bot. 2 ; 99 — 140. Brown. Robert. 1810. Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae van Diemen. London. St. John. H. 1960. Revision of the Genus Pandanus Stickm. Part I; Key to the Sections. Pacif. Sci. 14 : 224—241. - 1961a Ibid. Part 2; Pandanus in Western Australia and Notes on the Section Foidlioya. Pacif. Sci. 15 : 180-185. 1961b Ibid. Part 6; New Pandaniis species from Queensland. Australia. Pacif- Sci. 15 : 563—575. — 1962a Ibid. Part 9; Three New species from Queensland, Australia. Pacif. Sci. 16 ; 74—87. 1962b Ibid. Part 12; Queensland Pandanus. Pacif. Sci. 16 : 291—346. 1962c Ibid. Part 13; Pandanus in the Northern Territory, Australia. Pacif. Sci. 16 : 409—428. - - 1967. Ibid. - 1968. Ibid. 421. -1969. Ibid. Microsiignia. Stone. B. C. 1967a. 54 : 939—944. Part 23; Three Australian Species of Pandanus. Pacif. Sci. 21 : 523 — 530- Part 28; The Australian species published by 1968. Pacif. Sci. 22 : 412- Part 33; Further Accounts of Australian species, and a key to the Section Pacif. Sci. 23 : 89—114. Carpel number as a taxonomic criterion in Pandanus. Amer. J. Bot. 1967b. Studies of Malesian Pandanaceae, I. Gdns Bull. Singapore 22 : 231—257. - 1974a. A review of the Australian species of Pandanus section Semikeura (Pandan aceae). Contr. Flerb. Austr. No. 5 ; 41 — 44. -1974b. Toward an improved infrageneric classification in Pandanus (Pandanaceae). Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 94 ; 459—540. — 1976. The Pandanaceae of the New Hebrides, with an essay on intraspecific variation in Pandanus tectorius. Kew Bull. 31 : 47 -70, PI. 9. 253 Nomenclatural notes and new taxa in the Conostylis aculeata group (Haemodoraceae) By Stephen D. Hopper* Abstract On the basis of detailed field studies of the Conostylis aculeata R.Br. group and an examination of specimens at the major Australian herbaria, (i) C. robusta Diels is reinstated as a species distinct from C. aculeata, (ii) confusion concerning the identity of C. styliclioides F. Muell. is clarified; this species is redescribed and C. prolifera Benth. is reinstated as a distinct species: and (iii) C. aculeata ssp. hrevifloru ssp. nov. and C. puuciflora sp. nov, are described; both are restricted endemics of the western coastal region of the South West Botanical Province of W.A. A key to the 7 species now recognized in the C. aculeata group is provided. Introduction The Conostylis aculeata R.Br. group consists of a complex of seven species of perennial herbs which are restricted to the western coastal plain and nearby plateau regions of south-western Australia. The group forms part of the section Conostylis (Bentham 1873; Geerinck 1969), and is characterized by leaves with marginal spines or setae, numerous ovules borne all over the placental surface, and a basic chromosome number of x 8. The taxonomy of this species complex has been notably problematical in previous systematic studies of the genus. Several authors have commented on difficulties in delimiting taxa (Bentham 1873; Ewart 1906; Domin 1912; Green I960). Indeed, herbarium studies leave the impression of a polymorphic but intergrading assemblage of populations with few forms that are consistently distinct throughout their geographical range. Elsewhere, the present author has shown that both hybridization and ecologically-correlated intraspecific variation occur in species of the C. aculeata group near Dawesville on the Swan Coastal Plain (Hopper 1977). It was there demonstrated that while the identification of specimens from this region could be difficult in the herbarium, critical field observations enabled the satisfactory placement of individuals into morphologically definable species and or their hybrids. This work suggested that a wider field study of popu- lation variation and ecology would facilitate a sound taxonomic understanding of the C. aculeata group as a whole. The present publication seeks to formalize neces.sary changes in the tax- onomy of the group arising out of detailed field surveys conducted in 1975 and 1976 and a critical examination of herbarium specimens lodged at PERTH. UWA, AD, MEL, NSW, CANB, CBG, NE and BRI. This research has revealed (i) evidence in favour of the reinstatement of C. rohusia Diels as a good species, (ii) past confusion concerning the application of the name C. stylidioicles F. Muell., and (iii) the existence of two undescribed taxa. While it is felt that present information allows for a reasonably sound assessment of the species situation in the C. aculeata group, a number of problems regarding the status of infraspecific taxa remain unresolved, par- * Botany Department, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, W.A. 6009 and Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Agriculture, George Street, South Perth W.A. 6151. 254 ticularly in C. aciileata and C. caiulicans Endl. These problems warrant careful studies of geographical and ecological variation throughout the distri- bution of the species concerned. Key to species in the C. aculeata group J. Leaves grey-white, tomentose when young, sometimes becoming glabrous with age; perianth lobes golden yellow inside when iVesh. 2. Leaves 10 50 cm long and 2-5 mm broad; habit caespitose inland, proliferous near the coast; chromosome number n 8 (Scott River, Yalgorup Shark Bay) C. candicans Endl. 2. Leaves I 5 cm long and less than I mm broad; habit proliferous; chromosome number n -- 16 (Walkaway — Dirk Hartog Island) . . C. stylidioidcs F. Muell. J. Leaves green, glabrous except for marginal spines or setae; perianth lobes creamy yellow inside when fresh. 3. Leaves with rigid, indurate, pungent marginal spines; habit caespitose to proliferous, 4. Leaves terete or subterete, I 2 mm broad (Cannington — Jurien Bay) C. filifolia F. Muell. 4. Leaves flat. 2 15 mm broad. 5. Leaves 5-15 mm broad and 15-50 cm long, faintly glaucescent; scapes usually much longer than the leaves (Mingenew — Murchison River) C. robusta Diels 5. Leaves rarely exceeding 5 mm breadth and 5 50 cm long, olive green; scapes usuallv shorter than or i equal to the leaves (Albany — Murchison River) C. aculeata R.Br. 3. Leaves with flexible, membranous marginal setae; habit proliferous. 6. Leaves I 10 cm long and 0-5-2-0 mm broad; flowers 7 13 mm long; anthers 1-2 mm long, equal to the filaments (York— Murchison River) C. prolifera Benth. 6. Leaves 10-25 cm long and 1 2 mm broad; flowers 8-15 mm long; anthers 2-3 mm, longer than the filaments (Busselton Mandurah, ? Yanchep) C. pauciflora Hopper The status of Conostylis robusta Diels ConostvUs robusta was made a subspecies of C. aculeata by Green (1960) -on the basts that it was difficult to distinguish from some extreme forms of C. aculeata and that it appeared to occupy a distinct geographical range. The two taxa are now known to occur in close proximity to each other at a number of localities (Fig. I), and their neighbouring populations are readily distinguishable on the characters given in the above key. Moreover, a dis- criminant function analysis (Fisher 1936; Blackith and Reyment 1971) of 10 perianth measurements made on nearby populations of C. robusta and C. aculeata at Kalbarri indicates that the taxa are distinct in (loral structure as well (Fig. I). Since their distributional ranges overlap considerably, the recognition of C. robusta and C. aculeata as geographical subspecies is no longer tenable. The remaining taxonomic options are to regard them as (i) separate species, (ii) ecological and/or morphologically distinguishable sub- species of the same .species, or (iii) varieties of the same species. I consider that the morphological differences between aculeata and robusta arc comparable with those used to distinguish other species in the group, and consequently recognize C. robusta as a distinct species. The identity of Conostylis stylidioides F. Muell. and C. prolifera Benth. In his revision of Conostylis. Green (1960) reduced C. prolifera Benth. and C. racemosa Benth. to synonomy under C. stylklioicles F. Muell., stating that “field studies, especially in the Geraldton area, have shown that Bentham’s 255 distinctions between C. stylidioides, C. prolifera and C. racemosa are quite unworkable; in one case, different parts of a single specimen fell into each of the three species”. Benthain (1873) distinguished C. stylidioides from the other two taxa primarily on leaf shape. It was described as having "leaves nearly terete, short and rigid", whereas C. prolifera and C. racemosa have “leaves flaccid, very narrow but flat, green and grass-like or white only when very young”. The latter species differed in that racemosa had flowers ^ in. long in a loose raceme whereas prolifera had somewhat shorter flowers in a dense head. 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 Figure I. Geographical distribution of Conostylis rohiista (black circles) and C. aciileala (open circles) in the Mingenew — Shark Bay area and results of a discriminant function analysis of lO floral measurements taken on samples of the two species from near Kalbarri. Camera lucida drawings of representative half-flowers are illustrated. Measurements taken on half- flowers: 1. perianth length; 2, style length; 3, ovary to base of highest anther; 4, ovary to base of lowest anther; 5. ovary to base of lowest filament; 6, perianth lobe length; 7, anther length; 8, perianth width across lobe bases; 9, perianth w'idth at the ovary; 10. perianth lobe width at the base. 256 My own field surveys in the Geraldton — Shark Bay region confirm Green’s (I960) observation that these differences in leaf shape, flower length and in- florescence structure are unreliable taxonomic characters, sometimes varying within single individuals and among different plants of the one population. However, a critical study of populations throughout this region indicates that two morphologically and chromosomally distinct taxa do exist. One has green, usually flat leaves, perianth lobes which are cream-coloured on the inner surface, and is diploid (n 8). The other has white, densely tomentose leaves which are often subterete when young, golden yellow perianth lobes, and is tetraploid (n 16). An examination of those type collections represented at MEL revealed that the types of C. proliferci and C. racemosa are variants of the diploid taxon while the type of C. stylidioides agrees in detail with the tetraploid taxon. On referring back to Bentham's descriptions of the three taxa. it was found that the distinction regarding the presence of a densely white leaf tomentum in C. stylidioides w'as clearly stated but not incorporated in the key to species. Consequently, emphasis was placed on the less-consistent leaf shape differences, a situation which led Green (I960) to regard the three taxa as conspecific. To clarify the identity of C. stylidioides in the light of these findings, this species is redescribed below and its geographical distribution and morpho- logical features are illustrated (Fig. 2A). I consider that C. proliferci and C. racemosa are conspecific. and since Bentham (1873) regarded the latter as a possible variety of C. prolifera, C. racemosa will be reduced to synonomy under C. prolifera. The reader is referred to Bentham (1873) for an adequate des- cription of C. prolifera and to Green (I960) where this species is described and illustrated under the name C. stylidioides. Conostylis stylidioides F. Muell., Fragm., 8: 17 (1873) (Figure 2A) Type citation: In vicinia fluminis Murchisoni, .Aug. Oldfield (holo: MEL; iso: K, not seen.) Herb, proliferously branched with stolons up to 20 cm long. Leaves grey-tomentose when young, sometimes becoming glabrescent with age. distichous, equitant. conduplicate at the base, otherwise flat to subterete, linear, up to 5 cm long (usually I -5 —2-5 cm), less than I mm wide. Inflore.s- cence a capitulate cyme on a simple undivided scape 3-20 cm long, usually much longer than the leaves. Flowers golden yellow'. 9- 13 mm long; perianth tomentose outside, glabrous within, the lobes 4-6 mm long and equal to the tube, the inner surface golden yellow': stamens slightly biseriate. filaments 1-2 mm long, anthers 1-2-5 mm long; .style 5-8 mm long, the stigma ' level with or slightly higher than the anthers; placenta covered all over with numerous ovules. ,Sm/.y not seen. Chromosome numher n 16. Distrihution and habitat: (Figure 2). The south-west of Western Australia, within 90 km of the coast from Geraldton to Shark Bay and Dirk Hartog Island. The species occurs predominantly in /Ict/c/u-mallee scrub in dry red or yellow sands, usually on hillslopes or flat plains. Selected .specimens e.vamined (all housed in PERTH). 3-5 miles NNW of Mt. Curious, 19 May 1968, ./. Bannister "O"; Murchison House Sialion, 21 October 1973, J. S. Beard 6877; Mullewa Plains. 21 .September 1931, th'. F. Blackull 71 1 : between Yuna and Mullevra, 21 September 1940. IV. E. Blackall 4H5H; Utakarra, 4-8 km E ol' Geraldton, 26 August 1970, B. Coveny 3032; 6 miles W of Northampton. 2.5 September 1926, C. A. Gardner 1980: 48 km N of Ajana, 28 .August 1931, Gardner and Btackall 590; near Herald Bay outcamp, Dirk Hartog Island W,A. 25 52' S, 1 13 06' E, 3 September 1972, A. S. Geort'e 1 1461 ; 24 km S of Tamala Station (Shark Bay): 25-8 km S of main road along E boundary track, 20 257 August 1975, S. D. Hopper 556; 22-5 km E of Binnu on road to Balia and Yuna, 22 August 1975, 5. D. Hopper 561 ; 6-9 km E of Yuna, 22 August 1975. S. D. Hopper 559; 28 km ESE of Binnu, 22 August 1975, S. D. Hopper 560; • 1 km S of Greenough River floodway on Yuna-Tcnindewa road, 22 August 1975, S. D. Hopper 558; 4 km NE of Binnu, 22 August 1975, S. D. Hopper 557: 9-2 km W of Binnu along West Road, 19 August 1975, S. D. Hopper 555; Bowes, 31 October 1903, A. Morrison. Conostyii.s’ slylidioides has affinities with both C. cmidicans and C. proUfera. It bears a very close resemblance to diploid hybrids of these species (e.g. S. D. Hopper 138. PERTH) and is most probably a stabilized allotetraploid hybrid derivative. C. siylidioides can be distinguished from C. candicans by its short leaves less than 5 cm long and I mm wide, while it differs most noticeably from C. I proUfera in its tomentose leaves and its golden yellow perianth lobes (the latter character is only discernible in fresh material). i C. siylidioides has been found growing sympatrically with C. proUfera \ at The Loop (Kalbarri National Park) and near Yuna. No hybrids were i observed in these mixed populations. New Taxa Two new taxa belonging to the C. aculeaia group have been encountered. Both are restricted endemics of the western coastal region of the South West Botanical Province. All measurements given in the description were taken from Herbarium specimens. Unless stated to the contrary, all collections cited are housed at the Western Australian Herbarium (PERTH). Conostylis pauciflora Hopper sp. nov. (Figures 2, 3 and 4) Ab C. aculeaia R.Br. spiuis foliorum flexilibus, membranaceis, dense tomentosis, < 2 mm longis; loliis 2 mm latis. • 25 cm longis; et floribus per inflorescentiam paucis, diflert. Differs from C. aculeaia R.Br. in the flexible, membranous and densely tomentose leaf spines less than 2 mm long, in the leaves less than 2 mm wide and 25 cm long, and in the few flowers per inflorescence. Type: Hacienda, 20 km S of Mandurah on the Old Coast Road, on the eastern slopes of the Spearwood Dunes overlooking Harvey Estuary, in Jarrah-Marri woodland, in sandy soil, II August 1976, 5. D. Hopper 131 (holo: PERTH, iso: PERTH). Herb, proliferously branched with stolons up to 15 cm long. Leaves green, equitant at the base, otherwise flat, ensiform, maximum length 15 cm on average (up to 25 cm); marginal spines flexible, membranous and densely tomentose, rarely more than I mm long. Inflorescence a capitulate cyme, usually of less than 10 flowers, on a simple scape (8) 16 (30) cm high, equal to or longer than the leaves. Flowers yellow, 8-15 mm long; perianth tomentose outside, slightly hairy within, the lobes 4-7 mm long and usually exceeding the tube; stamens uniseriate, filaments 0-5-1 -0 mm long, anthers 2-3 mm long; style 5-12 mm long, the stigma i level with the anthers; placenta covered all over with numerous ovules. Seeds not seen. Distribution and habitat: (Figure 2). The south-west of Western Australia; Yalgorup-Dawesville area of the Swan Coastal Plain within 10 km of the coast. The species is known from only a few localities on sandy hillslopes of the Spear- wood Dune System, occurring in mixed Jarrah-Marri-Banksia woodland. Specimen examined. Between Lake Preston and Lake Clifton, Yalgorup National Park 20 October 1972, 5. Paiisl 1361, 258 Apart from its membranous marginal setae and few-flowered inflorescence, Coiwstylis pauci flora has shorter leaves and scapes than do plants of C. aculeata occurring nearby in the Dawesville area (Figure 4). These differences are sufficient I feel to warrant specific status for C. paiiciflora. Some hybrids of C. aculeata ssp. aculeata and the coastal ecotype of C. candicans bear a strong resemblance to C. paiiciflora, and it is proposed else- where ( Hopper 1 977) that the new species is in fact a stabilized hybrid derivative. pS. I- J i S ( i H \ \S j W HI- S' H \\ i>i ) } ..< Vi: -.. -■> -S,. .-, , S-A^!i^OA, •< ' j, J Figuie 3. Cofwstylis pauciflora sp. nov. holotype. Both specimens from the same collection— HA 6 and HA 8 are field numbers. 260 Natural hybrids between C. paiiciflora and C. aculeata ssp. aculeata have been found at one locality (Hopper lac. cit.). Hybrids displayed a slight reduction in pollen fertility relative to the parental species, and occupied a habitat intermediate in soil moisture between the dry hillslopes favoured by C. pauciflora and the wet flats by C. aculeata. Further field work may extend the known range of C. pauciflora southward as far as Busselton, since specimens resembling C. pauciflora-C. aculeata hybrids have been collected in this region (e.g. R. D. Royce 3165). Also, a specimen in the Canberra Botanic Gardens Herbarium {R. Whittaker and W. A. Niering D70-55) collected in the Yanchep National Park resembles C. pauciflora. but may be a hybrid of C. candicans and C. aculeata. Population studies are needed to clarify the situation. The specific epithet refers to the few-flowered inflorescence. Conostylis aculeata R.Br. ssp. breviflora Hopper ssp. nov. (Figures 2 and 5) Ab subspecibus aliis C. oculeatue R.Br. floribus minoribus 6 9 mm longis, differt. Differs from other subspecies of C. aculeata R.Br. in the smaller flowers 6-9 mm long. Type: 1 1 -4 km S of Hill River bridge on Brand Highway, in Xanthorrhoea heath and roadside ditches about 500 m S of laterite-capped flat top hill, 15 September 1976, 5. D. Hopper 222 (holo: PERTH). Herb growing in tufts up to 50 cm in diameter, proliferously branched with stolons up to 18 cm long. Leaves green distichous, equitant. conduplicate at the base, flat and linear for most of their length, maximum length 13 cm on average (up to 18 cm), 1-3 mm broad; marginal spines 3-8 mm apart, rigid, pungent, indurate, glabrous, 1-3 mm long. Inflorescence a capitulate cyme on a simple or once divided scape up to 20 cm high, equal to or longer than the leaves. Flowers yellow. (6) 7-5 (9) mm long; perianth tomentose outside, glabrous within, the lobes 3-6 mm long and exceeding the tube; stamens uniseriate. iilaments 0-5-1 -0 mm long, anthers 1-2 mm long; style 3-5 mm long, the stigma • level with the anthers; placenta covered all over with numerous ovules; ovary scarcely enlarging in fruit. Seeds not seen. Chromo- some number n 8. Distribution and habitat: (Figure 2). The south-west of Western Australia, within 70 km of the coast from Dandaragan to the Arrowsmith River. C. aculeata ssp. breviflora is common in winter-wet flats, swamps, depressions and roadside ditches (Figure 5) in sandy soil throughout the Mt. Lesueur— Eneabba heathlands. Kptt>rtt>il ‘iDccimens e.vomined. Cockleshell Gully. 24 August 1938, It-, h. Blackcitl 3572. 5 miles N^of Hill River (Solley's Farm), 27 September 1957, D. M. C/iwf/i/// 691 (UWA): HMI River bridge. Brand Highway, 8 .luly 1975, S. D. Hopper hU: 20 km SSW Badgingarra. 15 June 1975, S. O. Hopper 690; 14-6 km E ot Brand Highway along Green Head- Coorow Rd 17 June 1975 5. D. Hopper 691 ; 26 km W of Arrmo, 6 August 1975, S. D. Hopper 692; 9-5 km W of Eneabba, 24 June 1976. 5. D. Hopper 694; 22 km S\V ofThree Springs. 4 August 1975 S D Hopper 689; Hill River bridge on .lurien— Cervantes Rd, 15 September 1976. V n Honner 225’ 2-3 km N of turn-olT to Drummond's Crossing on Eneabba- Mmgenew Rd 6 August Wis, S. O. Hopper 697; Brand Highway. 19 km N of Eneabba. 6 August 1975 V n Hopper 693- 52 miles N of Regans Ford. 7 October 1967. W.A. Loneragan 67-124 (UWA); B miles N of Cockleshell Gully. 8 October 1967, W.A. Lonerugem 67-125 (UWA); Dandaragan. 3 December 1965. F. LuHfitz L4478. Conostviis aculeata ssp. breviflora is closely allied to but occupies a distinct eeographical range from other subspecies of C. aculeata. It is readily dis- tinguished from these by its smaller flowers, (averaging 7-5 mm long m com- parison with 9-11 mm for the other subspecies) and by its shorter leaves. 261 Figure 4. Maximum leaf length and stem height of a population sample of C. pauciflora sp. nov. and two of C. oculeala ssp. aciilealu (Spearwood Dune hillslopes and Harvey Estuary flats) from the Dawesville region of the Swan Coastal Plain. Data from Hopper (1977). Collections of small-flowered, short-leaved plants of C. aculeata have been obtained north of the Murchison River (e.g. W of Nerren Nerren, 20 October 1974, J. S. Beard 7101), but these differ from C. aculeata ssp. brerijlora in having unusually long marginal spines and narrower leaves. Their status must remain obscure until detailed field studies have been carried out. Hybrids of C. aculeata ssp. hreviflora and C. candicans are known from Cockleshell Gully and the Hill River bridge on the Juricn — Cervantes road (Figure 5). At both localities the new taxon occupies low-lying alluvial flats while C. candicans occurs on adjacent drier hill slopes. Hybrids are confined to narrow zones of overlap where the two species grow intermixed. Specimens collected 13 km S of the Hill River on the Jurien Bay — Cervantes road (S. D. Hopper 1 15) and 18 km SSW of Three Springs (S. D. Hopper 221) have features intermediate between C. aculeata ssp. hreviflora and C. aculeata ssp. aculeata, suggesting that these two taxa hybridize where their distributions overlap. The subspecific epithet refers to the characteristic short flowers of the new taxon. 262 Figure 5. Top C . uciiiccita ssp. hrerifloni ssp. nov. growing in a roadside ditch on Brand Highway near the Hill River. Bottom leaves and half llowens of (left to right) C. candiccms. a hybrid and C. iiciilcciiii ssp. hrcviflnra from the Hill Riser bridge on the .liirien Bay- Cervantes roatl. 65045 -( 4 ) 263 Acknowledgements I wish to thank the curators and stafT of the following herbaria for allow- ing me to examine their collections: PERTH. UWA, AD, MEL, NSW, CANB, CBG, NE and BRI. Mr. A. S. George provided the Latin diagnoses for the paper. Constructive comments were also made by Mr. P. G. Wilson and Dr. J. W. Green. 1 am grateful to students in the Botany 300 course of 1976 (University of Western Australia) for assistance in measuring flowers for the discriminant function analysis. Research for the study was supported by Grant No. 74/692 from the Australian Biological Resources Study Interim Council and by a University of Western Australia Postgraduate Travel Grant. The project was undertaken while the author was in receipt of a Commonwealth Postgraduate Research Award and later while in the temporary employ of the Western Australian Herbarium. References BENruAM, G. (1873). ‘Flora Aiistraliensis’ Vol. 6 (Reeve. London). Blackith. R. E., and R. A. Reyment (1971). ‘Multivariate Morphometries’ (Academic Press, London). Domin, K. (1912). Additions to the flora of Western and North-Western Australia. J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 41: 254-283. Ewart. A. J. (1906). Contributions to the Flora of Australia (No. 2). Proc. Roy. Soc. Vic. 19 (N.S.): 33-45. Fisher. R. A. (1936). The use of multiple measurements in taxonomic problems. Ann. Eugen.. 7: 179-188. Geerinck. D. (1969). Le genre ConostvUs R.Br. (Haemodoraceae d’Australie). Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg., 39: 167-177. Green, J. W. (I960). The genus ConostvHs R.Br. II. Taxonomy. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S.W. 85: 334-373. Hopper, S. D. (1977). Variation and natural hybridization in the Conostylis acideafa R.Br. species group near Dawesville, Western Australia. Aust. J. Bot. 25: 395-41 1 Publication date of Volume 2 Number 3 The publication date of Volume 2 Number 3 was 4 April 1977. 65045/4/77— IM WILLIAM C. BROWN, Government Printer, Western Australia Notes for authors Nuytsia publishes papers relating to the flora of Western Australia. All papers are refereed outside the Western Australian Herbarium. The Herbarium reserves the right to reject papers. Manuscripts must be submitted in duplicate. They should be typewritten, double spaced, with 2-5 cm margins and no underlining. Pages should be numbered. The desired position of text figures may be pencilled in the margin. An abstract should be provided. For style and layout, recent numbers of Nuytsia should be followed. Galley proofs will be forwarded to authors for checking. Reprints may be ordered at the author’s expense. CONTENTS Three new species of Acacia (Mimosaceae) from Western Anstraiia. By A. B. Court A new character to distinguish vegetative material of the mangrove genera Bmguiera and Rhizophora ^Ihizophoraceae). By K. F. Eenneally, P. G. Wilson and V. Semeniuk A new species of Anigozanthos Lahill. from the Murchison River, Western Australia. By S. D. Hopper New taxa and new combinations in Australian Pittosporaceae. By Eleanor M. Bennett Page 168 178 181 184 Studies in the genus Acacia (Mimosaceae)— 7. The taxonomy of some diaphyllodinoos species. By B. R. M^lin Five new species of Eucalyptus from Western Australia. By M. L H. Brooker and D. F. Blaxell PtQotus tetrandms sp. nov. (Amaranthaceae). By G. Beni Notes on the genus Pandanus (Pandanaceae) in Western Australia. By B. C. Stone Nomenclatural notes and new taxa in the Conostylis aculeata group (Haemodoraceae). By S. D. Hopper 200 220 232 236 254