39 Phylogenetic placement and biogeographic history of the Australian Annonaceae Tanya Scharaschkin Earth, Environment and Biological Sciences School, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, George St, Brisbane, QLD 4001 Email: [email protected]
The Annonaceae is a tropical flowering plant family consisting of c. 250 genera and approximately 2,500 species. Forty-eight species were described in a taxonomic revision of the Annonaceae in Australia, with a large number of species, and some genera, considered to be Australian endemics. The monophyly and taxonomic placement of all Australian Annonaceae are investigated using a comprehensive sampling of both Australian and non-Australian representatives from the same or closely-related genera. The results are used to evaluate biogeographic scenarios for a Gondwanan and/or Malesian origin for the Australian Annonaceae. The phylogenetic placement of the Australian taxa is consistent with studies on individual genera. The high level of species endemism seen in Australian Annonaceae is indicative of speciation subsequent to arrival from Asia, due to one or more dispersal or range extension events.
Good grief, what’s happening to Goodenia? Kelly A. Shepherd1, Rachel S. Jabaily2, Dianella G. Howarth3 and Timothy J. Motley4 1Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Environment and Conservation, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983 2Department of Biology, Rhodes College, Memphis, TN 38112-1690, USA 3Department of Biological Sciences, St. John’s University, Queens, NY 11439, USA 4Department of Biology, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA 23529-0266, USA Corresponding author email: [email protected]
A recent cpDNA phylogenetic analysis of monophyletic Goodeniaceae supported two large clades—the smaller ‘LAD’ group comprising Lechenaultia, Anthotium and Dampiera, and the ‘Core Goodeniaceae’ including the monotypic Brunonia australis as sister to Goodenia s.l. and Scaevola s.l. Core Goodeniaceae are characterised by the presence of free anthers and an indusium with a protruding stigma. Goodenia s.l. includes Velleia, Verreauxia, Coopernookia, Selliera, monotypic Pentaptilon, and Scaevola collaris, and is much more variable in floral morphology than Scaevola s.l. The majority of Goodenia s.l. have bilabiate flowers but it is clear that fan flowers and intermediate floral symmetries have evolved multiple times across the group. In contrast, the iconic fan flower floral symmetry is almost ubiquitous within Scaevola s.l., with the notable exception of embedded monotypic Diaspasis filifolia, which has pseudo-actinomorphic flowers. Preliminary phylogenetic analysis of nrITS sequences corroborate cpDNA analyses and indicate that Goodenia s.s. resolves into three major clades with varying levels of support. Currently it appears that no morphological features unite Goodenia s.l., and that most of the included smaller genera are both monophyletic and morphologically well-defined. It is deemed likely that the recognition of new genera from within Goodenia s.s. will be the better course of action, rather than subsuming all included taxa into an expanded genus of more than 190 taxa; however, broader taxon sampling, further cpDNA and nrDNA sequencing, and a re-evaluation of morphological synapomorphies for each new taxonomic entity are required before a formal revision of this charismatic group can be made. Program and Abstracts
Australasian Systematic Botany Society Conference 2012 Local knowledge, global delivery
23–28 September, Perth, Western Australia
ASBS2012 CONFERENCE PERTH