·Australian~··· ·Systematic • ... ··Botany ·.···.·Society.

...... '

·.. ·. ·Newsletter......

·:-

., ' . .·No. 91 JUNE· 1997- . Price.: $5..00

. . Registered by Post Print Post Publication Number. PP 545545 - 0055 · ·

_ISSI';Jl034-1218 '· AUST-~LIAN. SYSTEMATIC BOTANY SOCIETY iNCORPORATED

Qffice Bearers

Pr.esident · Vice President

Dr T. J. Entwisle . Dr C. J, Puttock · National Herbarium ofVicto~ia, · Australian National Herbarium; -Birdwood Avenue, . _0PO Box 1600, South Yarra, Vic. 3141 . Can~erra,ACT 2601 tel.: (03) 925.2231.3 - tel.: (06) 2465497 ·fmc (03) 92522350 fax: (06) 2465249 e'mail: [email protected] email: [email protected]

·Secretary · Treasurer .

Mrs R. M. Barker · Mr J. (:larkson- Botanic Garden of Adelaide · Herbarium, iuid State Herbarium; PO Box 1054, .. North Terrace, . Mareeba, Q1d 4~80 Ade1aid~, SA 5000 · ·tej.: (070) 928445 . tel.:_ (08) 2282303 fax: (070) 923593 fax: (08) 2231809 · email:[email protected]:au · _ · email:[email protected],au

. Councillor · - :Councillor

Dr T. Macfarlane · Dr P. Weston Western Australian Herbarium, Natioiial Herbarium ofNew South Wales,' Dept Conservation & Land Management; Mrs Macq1,umes Road; Manjimup, WA 6258 · Sydney, NSW 2000 ·. e~1ail: terrym@calm:wagov.au ·-

Affil_iate SocietY Pajma New q-uinea Botanical Society ..

Australian Botanicafqaison Officer · P~blic Officer ~nd Melllbership Officer . . . . . Dr D. B. Foreman MrA.Lyne Herbarium, · Al!siralian N atiorial Herbarium; Royal Botanic Gardens,-'Kew, Centre for Biodiversity Research - RichmoP,d; Surrey TW9 3AB, GPO Box 1600; -England· Canberra, ACT 2601 teJ.: 44-1S1c3325270 tel.:.(06) Q465508 faX:44-181-3325278 fax: (06) 2465249 .• · ein~l: [email protected] email: [email protected]

. . - ASBS Web site: http:/11-~5.187.10.1:~/asbs/asbs.html · Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

Funding for systematics and our institution, and why we study one With continuing cuts to Environment Australia's plant group and not another. Lobbying and budget, and in particular to the Australian spruiking certainly take time away from our Biological Resources Study, it is a sobering core business, but it is our responsibility to time for Australia systematists. Will any of the convince the widest possible audience of money from the sale ofTelstra go to research? the value of our science. If systematics At this stage it seems unlikely we will get more continues to decline it is not solely the fault than a few crumbs. I wrote recently on behalf of of government or voters, systematists must ASBS to Senator Hill, registering our concerns share the blame. about cuts toABRS. Such letters are necessary and sometimes lead to change, but they are not Newsletter enough. I recently sent out an urgent call to all chapter conveners and councillors, seeking a new editor It is equally important that we lobby on behalf (or brood of editors). The Darwin team, now of systematics in our own institutions, whether ably led by Philip Short, have announced that they be universities or herbaria/botanic gardens. after the December issue they want out. There Is it enough to say that you study a particular has been one nibble from the opposite because it is poorly known, or because extremity of Australia, but if there is an you suspect there are half a dozen undescribed enthusiastic editor somewhere in between, the species? There are hundreds of job is theirs. genera like that. Why are you working on a particular genus? Is it because the genus has As newsletter editor you keep in regular contact important implications in biodiversity withASBS members from all over the place. You conservation? Will your research lead to keep up with what is happening in ASBS, plant sustainable use of natural resources? Will your systematics and (through the FASTS bulletins) studies provide fundamental advances in our Australian science. Even better, you get to knowledge of evolution and the origins of life inflict your wit and wisdom on a witty and wise on earth? I'm sure other reasons spring to audience. If you have any aspirations towards mind ... science journalism, or just plain enjoy writing or editing, give it a try. We have a duty to sell systematics to the government, to the general public and to our While waxing on this subject, I should also colleagues. Talks and seminars must be exciting lobby for contributions to the newsletter. and persuasive. Our research results must be Apparently everyone in the society agreed explained and interpreted in ways that everyone with Chris Quinn's recent letter. No one has can understand. It is quite reasonable to be concerns about cuts to the ABRS budget. asked why systematics is important, why it Nothing interesting, touching or funny happens should be supported by government funds in plant systematics in Australia. And was Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) there really an ASBS conference in Melbourne International Botanical Congress, to be held in last year? StLouis, USA, in August 1999. In particular, the organisers have called for topics for symposia. A Hansjorg Eichler Scientific Research Fund HISCOM-based session has already been With too little fanfare, the application forms for suggested. If you are interested in finding out the inaugural Eichler Fund grants were included more about the Congress or in contributing to in the last newsletter. Applications were due in the program for the Congress, look at the by 12 June and the successful candidates will website http://www.ibc99.org. be announced at the Adelaide conference. The full Council will act as selection panel (except You might also consider whereASBS might on applications where there may be a conflict of meet in 1999, and how or if that meeting should interest). We propose to favour honours and relate to the IBC. There are a few options. The post-graduate students, or newly established Society of Australian Systematic Biologists botanists, to keep with the spirit of the (SASB, rather than the unfortunate acronym proposals discussed at various council meetings ASS I inadvertently chose last time) is at present over the years. Inevitably we will learn from this organising its future conference program and we first selection process. The lack of background could plan another meeting with them (but information in the newsletter is certainly one where?). Bob Hill has floated the idea of a pair aspect which will be have to be improved next of symposia focusing on systematics to be time. jointly hosted by the Korean Botanical Society and ASBS. The proposal involves a meeting in It is opportune to thank again Marlies Eichler South Korea next year, with a follow-up in for her establishment of, and substantial Australia in 1999. This may have an impact on contributions to, this fund. If anyone would like any meeting of ASBS associated with Monocots to join Marlies in fostering the research of II in Sydney next year. young and new systematic botanists, please send donations to the Treasurer. Tax Historical proposals abound. We could deductibility for the fund is currently under commemorate Dampier's landing in Western investigation. Australia with a conference in Perth (or maybe Dirk Hartog Island to tie in even more history) National Biodiversity Council in 1999. Reenactments of the Flinders voyage I neglected to mention in the last newsletter that are proposed for the year 2002, and ASBS Peter Weston is another ASBS member in the clearly has a role in these. It has been noted that NBC assembly. He was chosen as an Australian cities in need of an ASBS conference independent member. Although he does not include Alice Springs, Darwin, Armidale and represent the society, I am sure he will happily Townsville. Plenty to think about before the relay the concerns of society members. Our ASBS meeting in Adelaide. If you have ideas or society representatives are Bob Hill and Darren suggestions contact your chapter convener or an Crayn. ASBS councillor.

Conferences Tim Entwisle ASBS has been invited to participate in the next Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

1\.SBS 1110 Bl:JSINESS -

PAROORIVER Participating speakers include Professor Brian Timms (Geography, Newcastle University), Dr In my capacity as secretary of the Society, an John Pickard (Environmental Planning, Mac­ invitation has just (4th June) been received from quarie University), Dr Bill Young (CSIRO Land the Paroo River Association to attend a Scien­ & Water, Canberra), Dr Martin Thoms (CRC for tific Workshop to be held in Hungerford, Freshwater Ecology, Canberra University), Dr Queensland, from 7th-9th July 1997. Its text Sue Briggs (NSWNPWS), Mr JimPuckeridge reads as follows. (Zoology, Adelaide University), Dr Stuart Bunn (Catchment and In-Stream Research, Griffith "The workshop is a result of concerns raised by University), Dr Margaret Brock Botany, Univer­ the Paroo River Association over water manage­ sity of New England), Dr Michelle Casanova ment of the Paroo River. It is our understanding (Botany, University ofNew England), Dr Jane that there are currently 2 applications for Roberts (CSIRO Land & Water, Canberra), Dr commercial irrigation submitted for considera­ Andrew Boulton (Zoology, University of New tion by the Department of Water Resources in England), Dr Richard Kingsford (NSWNPWS), Queensland. The extraction of substantial of Dr Peter Fairweather (CSIRO Land & Water, water from the Paroo would have disastrous Griffith)and Mr Mark Morrison (Economics & consequences for all downstream and the fragile Management, University ofNSW). ecology of the river. The Paroo River remains the only river in the Murray-Darling Basin Unfortunately I will be unable to attend and by untouched by such water management. the time this newsletter is distributed the We hope the workshop will provide the local workshop will be over. community with information which will guide As a footnote, members might be interested in decision-making processes within government Siobhan McHugh's book 'Cottoning On', which aim to manage river systems. The published in 1996 by Hale & Ironmonger, Queensland Government is considering a Water Sydney and brought to my attention by David Allocation Management Plan for the Paroo Symon. It is an historical account of the experi­ River about the time of our workshop, so ences of cotton growers in recommendations from the workshop will be and provides an insight of what the Paroo River extrememly valuable for this process. Association might well face in the future. We would like to have 2 days of papers deliv­ ered by about 15 scientists. The third day would Robyn Barker be allocated to talks by landholders, govern­ [A review, by David Symon, of 'Cottoning On' ment and other interested parties. In the after­ was received after the above was written and is noon of the third day we would like to have a published herein.} discussion of the problem, followed by some recommendations." Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS UNDER THE rather than policy. This distribution has been ABRS PARTICIPATORY GRANTS questioned by individual members of the PROGRAM Advisory Committee from time to time (including during the period of my Dear Dr Short, Chairmanship) but, until last year, was not departed from to any significant extent. Thank you for forwarding a copy of Alex George's open letter to me, as published in issue The second question requires an understanding 90 oftheASBS Newsletter. His letter criticises ofthe triennial nature ofmostABRS grants. the 1997 distribution of funds under the When a grant is made, there is a tacit Australian Biological Resources Study's understanding that, subject to satisfactory Participatory Grants Program. reports on progress and the availability of funds from the Government, the project will be In seeking to respond to his criticism, I have supported for three years. This means that framed my reply around the following three projected triennial funding is based in part on questions: anticipated grant renewals, and so must be adjusted each year if the annual allocation to 1. What has been the policy basis for the ABRS falls short of the amount provided for in traditional 50:50 split between 'flora' and the forward estimates. This happened in 1996/ 'fauna'. 97, at a time in the three-year cycle when the renewal commitments for 'fauna' for 1997 2. Is this current (1997) deviation from the exceeded those for 'flora'. It was this problem 50:50 split the result of a shift in policy on which led to the 44% (flora):56% (fauna) split the part ofEnvironment Australia, ABRS or to which Dr George takes such exception. the Advisory Committee? However, by the very nature of the process, this 3. Is it the intention of the Advisory situation is soon to be reversed. While flora Committee, as argued by Dr George, to renewals for 1998 total $330,000 compared redress ' ... this situation by reversing the with fauna renewals of $395,000, renewal proportions for 1998 grants, and thereafter commitments in 1999 are $199,000 for flora but return[s] to equivalent funding'? only $64,000 for fauna. Also, nine new flora grants were awarded in 1997 totalling $246,000 In answer to the first question, enquiries made (plus an additional $65,000 for herbarium of the present Secretariat and of some past loans, etc.) compared with five new fauna grants members of the Advisory Committee suggest totalling $54,190 (of which three were for that the equal distribution of grant funds $2,000 or less). between flora and fauna has been a long­ standing practice, but one based on precedent Until now, the Advisory Committee has nearly Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) always given grant renewal commitments State of the Environment 1996: priority over new grants. Whether, given the diminishing allocation to ABRS by Protozoans 65,000 species Government, this policy can or should be Fungi 160,000 species maintained will doubtless be explored by the Bacteria 40,000 species Advisory Committee at its August meeting. But 42,000 species I would stress that the unequal allocation to Animals 335,000 species flora and fauna for 1997 was the pragmatic result of differences in renewal commitments It is pertinent to compare these numbers with and was not a decision, in principle, to give a the numbers of new grant applications received higher proportion of grant funds to fauna. by ABRS for 1998:

Let me now tum to my third and final question. Flora 37 applications totalling $1.74 The Advisory Committee, as indicated in the million previous paragraph, made no in principle Fauna 79 applications totalling $3.18 decision to depart from a 50:50 split between million flora and fauna. However, Dr George's letter, and a major shortfall in anticipated funding for While neither of these sets of figures 1997/98, will both be on the agenda for automatically suggest to me that taxonomic discussion at the August meeting of the research on 'fauna' should be given greater Committee. I will certainly advise you and your support that that of 'flora', they, combined with readers if the Committee proposes to depart the grant situation I have described above, do from past practice in the allocation of funds suggest to me that Dr George's claim that any under the Participatory Program. departure from a 50:50 split of funds represents a 'slap in the face to the botanical community' Finally, it is probably only fair that I inform is vexatious hyperbole. your readers and Dr George of my personal views on the underlying issues in his criticism. My view is that it is high time that ABRS abandoned its flora/fauna split (which Dr George suggests that 'one can argue continues to be reflected in its granting inconclusively ... whether the botanists or processes, editorial committees and zoologists have the bigger task in discovering publications), including a futile and and classifying our large biota ... '. While I'm intellectually dishonest attempt to fit sure that most Australian biologists would agree microorganisms into a flora/fauna framework. that both botanists and zoologists still have Funding priorities should surely be set on the massive tasks ahead of them in discovering and basis of national and international goals and classifying their respective components of our needs, and not on some taxon-based biota, there can surely be little disagreement demarcation dispute. that the diversity represented in 'zoology' is very significantly greater than that represented I believe that Alex George's letter has done in 'botany'. One needs only quote the estimated ABRS a great service in catalysing debate on species diversity figures provided in Australian the issue. I look forward to learning of the views Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

of the broader biological community, including setting up another organisation and spreading both taxonomists and end-users of taxonomic our already-stretched resources further. information. The conference in Adelaide in September­ Ha/Cogger, October will take place whether or not there is Chairman, another systematic society. Australian Biological Resources Study Advisory Committee I have always felt that, in general, Australia's 16 June 1997 botanists liaise very well, among themselves, with other disciplines, and internationally. My impression is that zoologists do less well in this ON THE PROPOSED SOCIETY FOR respect (there is no Australian Systematic SYSTEMATISTS Zoology Society or equivalent), and have less respect for botanists and their task (that might The President has asked for comment on the draw some response!). proposed society for systematists. I believe that we do not need another society, or a differently So, if there is to be a new society, let it flourish constitutedASBS.ASBS has served the if it can, but let it flourish alongside ASBS. taxonomic community very well, and its strong membership shows that there is still a need for Also, before getting involved with the it. From the start, our constitution has allowed Australian Institute of Biology, we should know membership to anyone interested in just what that entails. For example, does it take systematics, and we have some non-botanical a proportion of the subscription to cover its members. I am not at all sure that, by moving costs in handling another society's finances? towards a 'mixed' society, our interests would How does it 'handle professional accreditation', be served any better. If anything they could well indeed just what does that mean? Unless a clear become diluted or submerged. We already have advantage to ASBS can be demonstrated, we difficulty promoting our science in the wider should steer clear of handing it any of our community. management.

For those who feel that ASBS is not fulfilling Alex George, their needs, why not approach the Society's 'Four Gables', Council or their local chapter with proposals for 18 Barclay Road, new activities? That is far more practical than Kardinya, 6163

*** 1997 ASBS SUBSCRIPTIONS ARE NOW DUE*** Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

CONFERENCES

ADELAIDE CONFERENCE '97 UPDATE are not some exotic Japanese software, as suggested by one correspondent, but merely the Organisation of the joint ASBS and Systematic address for the holding of demonstrations of the Biology Conference in September is proceeding various ways in which software can be of smoothly and registrations have started to roll significant benefit in the processes and products in, including some from overseas. Remember of systematics. The Ngapartji Multimedia that registrations before July 4th will give you a Centre is in East Rundle St amongst all of the saving and help us in organising the coffee shops and eateries of the area and close programme. to the main conference venue.

Unfortunately Lawrie Johnson will be unable to SomeASBS members have expressed the fear deliver the Nancy Burbidge Memorial Lecture that we will be taken over by the newly formed as advertised, due to ill health. Systematic Biology Society, but we feel that this joint conference, like other joint The title of Andrew Beattie's address is conferences in which ASBS has participated, "Biodiversity: taxonomic partnerships". can only be of benefit to our members. Such conferences demonstrate that ASBS is alive and For those of you who may have had difficulty in well. accessing the ASBS web page, the address as given in the brochure is correct, except that the We look forward to seeing you at what promises 'www' should be ommitted. The telephone to be a lively and stimulating programme. number for Robyn Barker is also incorrectly quoted and should read (08) 8228 2348. REMEMBER: ALATE FEEAPPLIES TO REGISTRATIONSAFTERJULY 41H. By the way the 'Ngapartji Software demonstrations' scheduled for the Sunday Bill & Robyn Barker and Laurie Haegi afternoon and repeated on the Tuesday evening [Received 10 June 1997} Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

- ARTICLE

SOME AUSTRALIAN they received in 1848. This collection is often SPECIMENS HELD AT GENEVA referred to as the '5th colin., Drum. V or colin. HERBARIUM (G) V'. About 60 types were identified from the Drummond collections in the loan material. A. R. Bean Most of these were of names described by Queensland Herbarium, Meiers Road, Turczaninov. Marchant (1990) gives a lndooroopil/y, Queensland, 4068. comprehensive list of these. I agree with Marchant's enumeration with one exception: The curator of the Geneva Herbarium recently the type of Tetrapora verrucosa Turcz. is coil. sent me, on loan, 345 Australian specimens of 5: 127, rather than 5: 137 as cited by Marchant. unidentified Myrtaceae. The majority of these The correct number is given by Toelken (1996). specimens were collected in the 19th century. I have studied all of the specimens and have been Hugh Cuming (1791-1865) able to provide identifications for nearly all of There were 65 unnumbered specimens that them, at least to the genus level. Most were attributed to Cuming present in the loan. specimens were attributed to James Drummond, Most were collected at King George Sound Hugh Cuming, Franz Sieber and Auguste [Albany, W.A.] in 1860. A few were collected LeJolis. from easternAustralia, i.e. 'Sandy Is.,Austral. or.', in 1859. From the species collected, this James Drummond (1784-1863) location must be somewhere in present-day The loan included 144 specimens collected by N.S.W. There is no previous record ofCuming Drummond. Drummond numbered his having collected specimens from Australia collections but it is clear that he did not number (Lanjouw & Stafleu, 1954). No types were his specimens in the sequence he collected identified. them. Rather, after each major field trip, he arranged his collection in systematic order and Franz W. Sieber (1789-1844) numbered them accordingly. Hence all the Twenty four numbered specimens collected by species of a collection are grouped, Sieber from the Sydney and Blue Mountains and adjacent to them are Beaufortia and area were present in the loan, including nine Calothamnus. Drummond's taxonomic skills are type specimens. Probably a complete set of quite evident when a sequentially numbered Sieber's specimens is present at G. Although the group of specimens is examined. Unfortunately, loan was of undetermined Myrtaceae material, Drummond decided to restart his numbers from the type of pimeleoides Spreng. 1 for each field trip. Hence No. 132 may refer to ( ), Sieber No. 292 was present. several different specimens, depending on the trip on which it was collected. Auguste F. LeJolis (1823-1904) Specimens from each ofDrummond's trips are Seven unnumbered specimens collected from present at G, but especially numerous are those Sydney in 1879. There is no record ofLeJolis Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) having otherwise collected specimens from References Australia (Chaudhri et al., 1972). No types were Chaudhri, M. N., Vegter, I. H. & Wal, C. M. de identified. (1972).IndexHerbariorum Part II (3), Collectors I-L. (The International Bureau for Other collectors represented by small numbers Plant and Nomenclature: of specimens include Caley (New Holland), Netherlands). Labillardiere (New Holland), Latrobe (Port Philip), James Mangles (Swan River), F. Mueller Lanjouw, J. & Stafleu, F. A. (1954).Index (), J.A. L. Preiss (Swan River), E. G. Herbariorum, Part II, CollectorsA-D. (The Pritzel (Western Australia), W. Stephenson International Bureau for Plant Taxonomy and (Sydney), Thozet (Rockhampton) and J. P. Nomenclature: Netherlands). Verreaux (N.S.W. and ). Marchant, N. G. (1990). The contribution of the Types in many Myrtaceae genera were Russian botanist Turczaninov to Australian identified. The accepted names of the genera, plant taxonomy. In P. S. Short (ed.), History of and the number of types found in each genus, Systematic Botany in . (Australian are listed below: Systematic Botany Society Inc.: Melbourne).

Agonis 2 Toelken, H. (1996). A revision of the genus Astartea 1 (Myrtaceae) 1. The Western Australian Babingtonia 4 section Zeanuk. J Adelaide Bot. Gard. 17: 106. Baeckea 4 Balaustion 1 Beaufortia 3 Calothamnus 2 A SIMPLE EXPERIMENT CONJURES UP Calytrix 3 MORE PROBLEMS Chamelaucium 2 Conothamnus 1 Hellmut Toe/ken Darwinia 1 State Herbarium of , Hypocalymma 3 North Terrace, Kunzea 5 Adelaide, S.A. 5000 3 Melaleuca 27 The African Carpobrotus edulis and Micromyrtus 3 American C. chilensis (previously included in Ochrosperma 1 C. aequilaterus) have been cultivated for a long Regelia 1 time in Australia. Drummond (1843, J Bot. Rinzia 2 (Hooker) 2: 174) described the former as already Scholtzia 2 well established in 1842 near Freemantle. Both Thryptomene 1 are often used now to re-establish coastal vegetation. They are easily distinguished from Further details are available from the author Australian species by the combination of their upon request. large protandrous flowers (usually more than Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

2 em in diameter at the base of the perianth), together. The problem is compounded by the auriculate outer perianth lobes, and single fruit fact that the hybrids (presumably F 1 hybrids remaining erect. C. chilensis and usually also its only) of C. edulis at least in localities where hybrids are readibly distinguished by its only it and C. rossii occurred, always produced branches being usually tinged red to deep large purple flowers like C. chilensis. Usually purplish-red, apart from their purplish petaloid they had slender outer perianth lobes similar to . those the parents and unlike C. chilensis. However, too few plants were investigated to They grow in a wide range of habitats and for a judge whether here too the distinction month I admired the display of colour of plants ultimately becomes blurred. Some cultivated of C. chilensis in a roundabout on the way to plants were found to be hybrids. Since I have work. When I once stopped to investigate the seen similar purple-flowered presumed hybrids variation in this group of plants I noticed that with C. edulis on photographs from western as none of the flowers had set seed. At first I could well as eastern Australia it seems that the yellow not explain this phenomenon until I colour of the petaloid staminodes of C. edulis is remembered that a succulent collector had once a double recessive character, and similar told me of some members ofthe family problems in the recognition of true C. chilensis which are strongly self-sterile. In would occur throughout Australia. All hybrids order to test this I placed in their midst a tray of these two introduced species with native with flowering male plants of C. rossii. In a few species need to be described in order to weeks the first fruit were obviously starting to understand the species more clearly. develop. Although the planting consisted of a number of different plants of C. chilensis I soon Natural hybrids between native species were found out from the Council concerned that they also found in South Australia, but are generally were planted in one batch and it was highly restricted to a few plants. A somewhat wider likely that they were all propagated from the hybrid swarm of Carpobrotus rossii and same plant. Their extreme self-sterility being Sarcozona praecox was discovered near Port maintained in each cutting had encouraged Augusta, one of the few places where in South hybridisation. Australia arid vegetation comes into contact with the coastal one. The hybrid is, however, Closer investigations of a number plantings of restricted to coastal dunes while typical S. these two introduced species near native praecox is found not far to the inland from this vegetation including mainly C. rossii, the most locality. common species in South Australia, showed some hybrids in every case. In none of the Chinnock (1972; New Zealand J Bot. 10: 615- populations investigated were very many 626) described from New Zealand natural hybrids found but they were usually intergeneric hybrids between Disphyma immediately recognised by their more vigorous australe and C. edulis as well as C. chilensis growth similar to their introduced parents. As (then C. aequilaterus). Further experiments more hybrids were investigated it became more showed that Disphyma, a tetraploid, will always complicated to identifY their putative parents be the female (Chinnock, pers. comm.) for this unless there were only two species growing sterile triploid hybrid. No such natural hybrids Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) of native or naturalised Carpobrotus species in Considering that at least C. edulis has been Australia with the native Disphyma crassifolium recorded as established for more than 150 years subsp. clavellatum have yet been recorded. A in Australia present observations on barrier here would be significant in view of the Carpobrotus in Australia do not support compilation of Hammer & Liede (1990, S. Afr. J. alarmist views on the proliferation of Bot. 56: 356-362) of many recorded artificial hybridisation, and the usefulness of these more and natural intergeneric hybrids which was vigorous growers, C. edulis and C. chilensis, in intended among others to show a high degree of stabilising and revegetating disturbed coastal self-fertility in the family. dunes outweighs occasional hybrids. Both these species are easily established in many parts of In California the native C. chilensis was Australia but are not known to spread or observed being swamped by an extensive hybridise aggressively anywhere. Any hybrid swarm between it and C. edulis (several observations would be appreciated. personal communications). In contrast to the experiment above involving C. rossii here both Request these species are self-sterile so that only Since it is important to recognise the hybrids in hybridisation can occur unless cross­ order to be able to delimit the species and pollenation can be encouraged from distant subsequently monitor their frequency I would populations, which is, however, much less be grateful to receive any live material of such likely. But once the hybrids are established in cases, particularly from populations with only an area even such cross-pollenation will most two species present which reduces the likely only perpetuate the problem. uncertainty about the parents. I would appreciate a branch of all three plants, ideally Cross-pollination is enhanced in the Australian with some flower buds on them so that I can species by their generally trioecious nature. evaluate the material as it was naturally Although this has not yet been fully recorded growing. I shall then cultivate them under for all the large-flowered species, it seems near-uniform conditions so as to compare them significant that the few species with very small with other plants already in cultivation. flowers, like C. modestus, S. bicarinata and S. Material of Carpobrotus has always travelled praecox were always, wherever found in their well packed in newspaper to absorb excess wide distribution, hermaphrodite and produced moisture and placed either first in a plastic bag few so that one can assume a different or directly in a postage bag if dispatched floral biology. immediately. Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

EPACR/SCAV. ·ITS PHYLOGENY AND sister clades: Group I, comprising 15 species RELATIONSHIPS TO MAIDEN including both and Rupicola & BETCHEAND BUDAWANGIA TELFORD (bootstrap 97%, decay +4, parjack 94%); and Group 2, comprising 9 species (bootstrap 88%, Michael John Southam decay +3, parjack 92%). School of Biological Science, University of NSW, Sydney, 2052 The analysis clearly demonstrates the paraphyly Ph: 02 9385 2072 of as presently circumcribed (Telford Fax: 02 9385 1558 1992; Powell eta!. 1996. Continued email: chris. quinn@ unsw.edu.au recognition of Budawangia and/or Rupicola would require the dismemberment of Epacris Abstract of a thesis submitted for Honours for into at least three genera, and more extensive Graduate Diploma of Biological Science. sampling of the genus might increase the number of segregates required. A preliminary Sequences for the atpB-rbcL spacer region were morphological data base assembled here obtained for 20 species of Epacris Cav, as well indicates that none of these segregates is clearly as Rupicola sprengiloides Maiden & Betche, R. identifiable on unambiguous morphological ciliata Telford. and Budawangia gnidioides synapomorphs. Hence, the most appropriate (Summerh.) Telford. Cladistic analysis with a course is to broaden the circumcription of range of outgroups drawn from all four tribes Epacris to include both Budawangia and sensu Powell et a!. ( 1996) and rooted on Rupicola. cerinthoides (Labill.) R. Br. yielded a relatively robust phylogeny. The topology obtained is consistent with the relationships PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS inferred between the ingroup and the WITHIN MONOTOCA R. BR.AND representatives of the outgroups on the basis of OLIGARRHENA R. BR. (EPACRIDACEAE) rbcL sequence data by Crayn et al. (1996). Styphelieae represent a derived lineage which is Corinne T. Owens sister to Epacrideae sensu Crayn eta!. (in press). School of Biological Science, University of NSW Within the last group, is again shown Sydney, 2052 to have diverged first, followed by Lysinema Ph: 02 9385 2072 which is sister to the ingroup (Epacris, Fax: 02 9385 1558 Budawangia and Rupicola). Epacris, Rupicola email: [email protected] and Budawangia form a strongly supported (bootstrap 100%, decay+ 14, parjack 100%) Abstract of Honours thesis monophyletic clade, with Rupicola and Budawangia clustering firmly within Epacris. Monotoca R. Br. is an endemic Australian genus The clade is divided into two well supported of some 11 described species (plus two others in Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) preparation: M 'aristata' Powell & Chapman combined molecular/morphological dataset and M 'minutifolia 'Albrecht), found in all support this result and associate M states but not the . oligarrhenoides F. Muell. with the Oligarrhena group and M glauca (Labill.) Druce and M A recent cladistic analysis based on submutica (Benth.) Jarman with Monotoca s.s. morphological characters (Powell et a!. 1997 The presence of keeled bracteoles, glabrous Aust. Syst. Bot. 10: 15-29), suggested Monotoca corolla tubes, tricolpate monad pollen and as curently circumscribed is monophyletic only unilocular ovaries are the main characters that if the monotypic Western Australian endemic define Monotoca s.s. The analyses indicate the Oligarrhena R. Br. is included. Relationships glabrous corolla tubes in the Oligarrhena group among the three species groups (Monotoca A, B result from the retention of the plesiomorphic and C) defined for that analysis were not condition, whereas in Monotoca they represent resolved. We have applied nucleotide sequence a reversal from the hairy condition found in data from two regions, matK and the other Styplelieae. atpB - rbcL spacer to the resolution of relationships among this problematic group. A Whereas sequence data from the atpB-rbcL revised morphological database was also spacer and matK gene are shown to be suitable assembled. for determining intergeneric relationships within Epacridaceae, there is little support in Parsimony analyses were conducted on the those data for relationships between species separate and combined datasets, using both within the two groups resolved in this study. molecular and morphological data, and the Sequence data from less conserved regions may robustness of the resulting topology determined provide more useful information. by bootstrap and decay analyses. Analysis of the molecular data, using Prionotes The atpB-rbcL spacer and matK regions have cerinthoides (Labill.) R. Br. as the outgroup, provided characters which have shed provides strong evidence for the paraphyly of considerable light upon the generic concepts in Monotoca. Two robust groups are resolved: the this previously problematic group. Where first group (Monotoca s.s.) comprises M previous morphological analyses were unable 'aristata ', M elliptica (Sm.) R. Br., M to resolve relationships, molecular data has empetrifolia R. Br., M ledifolia DC., M identified very robust groups. This linifolia (Rodway) Curtis, M rotundifolia demonstrates the usefulness of molecular data Willis and M scoparia (Sm.) R. Br.; the second to taxonomy. group ( Oligarrhena group) comprises M tamariscina F. Muell. and Oligarrhena. Another monotypic Western Australian endemic, {Abstracts provided by Darren Crayn, 30 May Needhamiella L. Watson, clusters weakly with 1997} the latter group. The two groups show no close relationship with each other, being separated by other genera (including, inter alia, Trochocarpa R. Br. and Pentachondra R. Br.) in all analyses. Analyses of the morphological data and a Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

ABRS REPORT

STAFF

The staff ofABRS Flora Section were very sorry Australian to hear in April that our Director, Dr Gwen Shaughnessy, had decided to take (relatively) Biological early retirement. Her last day was 30 April. Resources Gwen had been with the Section for a little under 2 years, but in that time had endeared Study herself to the staff with her quiet but firm and level-headed management style. We will miss her. For the next 3 months Mr Ian Cresswell will be Acting Director, while the long term directions of ABRS are reviewed, and PUBLICATIONS strategic plans for the new millenium are put in place. Fungi ofAustralia Vol. 2A, Catalogue and Bibliography ofAustralian Macrofungi 1. NEW ABRS E-MAIL ADDRESSES Basidiomycota p.p., by Tom May & Alec Wood. Ian Cresswell: [email protected] Tony Orchard: [email protected] Volume 2A was published by ABRS/CSIRO on 23 April 1997. It comprises 348 pages and will THE PUBLICATIONS PROGRAM be an essential reference for all those working on or interested in Australian rnacrofungi. It will Many of you will have seen the recent also have considerable relevance in countries 'consumer survey' of Floras written by Rudolf far beyond these shores. For the first time we Schmid (Taxon 46 (1): 179-194 (1997)). Here 22 have a comprehensive census and synonymy for current Floras were examined in detail against the groups covered, and a meticulously an extensive list of desiderata. Flora of compiled bibliography of the Australian Australia was one of those surveyed, and literature tied to these names. The book is received a final ranking 'Amongst the very available from CSIRO Publishing, PO Box best'. This welcome ranking reflects the 1139, Collingwood, Vic. 3066 for $64.95 enormous amount of planning that has gone (hardcover) and $49.95 (softcover). Prices are in into the series over the years, both by the staff Australian dollars for Australian and New and by the Flora Editorial Committee, as well as Zealand customers, and US dollars for overseas the conscientious efforts of the over 150 customers, and include postage (by air contributors, and similar number of illustrators, overseas). Enquiries can be directed by email to who have so far provided materials for the [email protected]. series, and the efforts of the editors who have Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) meticulously checked manuscripts and never intended that all Flora treatments would assembled the books. About one third of the be based on new revisions, as such an Flora ofAustralia is now published, and about undertaking would result in an unacceptably half has been written. Australian botanists can long timeframe for completion of the Flora. The be very proud of their Flora, and all would grants scheme, which has evolved into the surely want to see it completed as soon as ABRS Participatory Program, has delivered possible. In the last 12 months we have also enormous dividends over the last 20 years, and seen the publication ofthe first 3 volumes of resulted in a much better state of taxonomic the parallel series Fungi ofAustralia, an even knowledge for Australia's plants and animals larger task than the Flora, but one which is than would otherwise have been possible. The attracting very favourable comment and a Flora ofAustralia is fortunate, in a world considerable degree of enthusiastic context, in having the facility to pay for some cooperation. of its treatments through its grants and contract systems. There are, however, some worrying trends becoming apparent, which could prevent the Over its lifetime a large part of the text of the completion of Flora ofAustralia, or greatly Flora ofAustralia has been donated, with little delay it, and these need to be considered or no financial outlay from ABRS. Without this carefully by the botanical community. This is generosity on the part of individuals and after all a national project that requires input institutions (particularly from the Directors and from the widest botanical constituency if it is to staff ofthe major Australian herbaria) the succeed. So please indulge me while I outline project would not be as far advanced as it is. In some uncomfortable facts. the early days as much as three-quarters of the manuscripts were donated. As the project has It is instructive to stand back a little from the proceeded that proportion has decreased, for a project, and look carefully at its origins. One of number of reasons. The early treatments mined the principal driving forces leading to the the capital of already (recently) completed establishment of ABRS was the oft-repeated call monographs, while the later treatments have from the botanical community for an up-dated inevitably contained a higher proportion of Flora australiensis. This call was strongly 'difficult' groups. In addition, changed enunciated by Maiden in 1907, and repeated by economic circumstances have forced more many others over the succeeding 60 to 70 years. institutions into the situation where cost­ When ABRS was established in 1979 one of its recovery has become a major consideration in major planks was the production of a new Flora research planning. Over the years there has also ofAustralia, based largely on current been a subtle change in taxonomic community knowledge. However it was also recognised that expectations, with at least some now expecting 'current knowledge' was very uneven and that that all or most Flora ofAustralia treatments for some groups was quite inadequate to will be based on new revisions. This is produce even a 'status quo' Flora. The unrealistic given the financial resources Government therefore wisely established a available and the timescale in which the project grants scheme that could be used to produce must be completed. It is also contrary to the targetted revisions of problem groups. It was founding spirit of the Flora project. Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

In the last couple of years new complications The amount available in 1998 is expected to have arisen. The rate of publication ofthe Flora decrease again. The publications program of has increased, and with it the demand for ABRS is under tight scrutiny to try to identifY completion of manuscripts. A large number of savings and new directions. One result of this is volumes are partly written, and I have been that the Fauna ofAustralia series will be trying to concentrate on getting as many of suspended indefinitely once the current volume these completed as soon as possible. Multi­ (Molluscs) goes to press in the next few weeks. author works always pose a problem, where one ABRS senior staff are investigating possibilities or two authors fail to meet deadlines, delaying a for joint projects with various arms of the new whole volume in the process. The Flora of Natural Heritage Trust (proceeds ofTelstra Australia is no exception. We currently have partial sale) program, althoughABRS will not five volumes almost ready for press, but each be a direct beneficiary of the Trust. Should held up by non-delivery of manuscripts from these approaches be successful, financial one or two authors. In some cases agreed support will likely flow to specific contracts, deadlines have been repeatedly missed over rather than feed back into the grants program. several years. This is most unfair on those authors who have delivered on time, and who What does this mean for Flora ofAustralia, see their treatments languishing and going out Fungi of Australia, and associated of date. It also causes severe problems for publications? It seems unlikely that ABRS will ABRS. Already-edited sections often have to be be supporting many large, long-running re-worked to keep them up to date. If the projects through the grants program in the missing sections are the subject of contracts, immediate future. Disposition of grant funds is then budgetted funds are often lost to ABRS at of course at the discretion of the ABRS the end of the financial year when manuscripts Advisory Committee, but they will be are not delivered in accordance with contracted constrained by the reduced pool of funds obligations. The contractor, however, still available, and by past commitments to on­ expects to be paid in full when the contribution going projects which will work their way is eventually delivered, and ABRS has to find through the system in the next couple of years. the money again. This kind of problem has cost The pool of program funds available to support us several thousand dollars in the last couple of small contracts will also be diminished, and this years, money that could have been more will impact particularly on small writing usefully spent on supporting new projects. contracts and preparation of illustrations. At the same time there is an expectation that At the same time as demand for support of publications will continue to appear at a rate at taxonomic work is increasing, ABRS finds its least equal to that in the recent past. This is budget rapidly shrinking. The ABRS budget in essential if Flora ofAustralia is not to suffer the 1996-97 and in 1997-98 was and will be only a same fate as Fauna ofAustralia. Consequently little over half of that available in 1995-96. The ABRS will have to adopt a stricter regime for Grants program, as the biggest single cost, will contracts. Contractors will be expected to meet suffer the largest decrease in dollar terms. Total reporting deadlines, payments will tend to be grants expenditure on botany in 1996 was on receipt of goods rather than in advance, and $954,000 whereas in 1997 it will be $585,000. payment will not be guaranteed for work Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) delivered late, especially in those cases where Fungi ofAustralia and other publications are the late delivery involves carry-overs to a new brought to a successful conclusion. I am financial year. Of course, we recognise that determined that Flora ofAustralia will not things can go wrong, and there will be an become just another partly completed Flora on ability to vary contracts to accommodate this. the dustbin of history. My hope is that However, such variations will need to be Australian botanists will agree with this negotiated well in advance of due dates, not sentiment, and that together we can write and afterwards. publish the remaining parts in an efficient and timely manner, while moving on to the Fungi These changes may sound harsh at first glance, (and let's not forget the Algae!). but with goodwill on both sides need not be. I intend to do everything possible to maintain I hope to present a more cheerful report in the the high level of friendly cooperation that next issue! currently exists between ABRS and the botanical taxonomic community, as this will be Tony Orchard necessary to ensure that the Flora ofAustralia, [Received 30 May 1997]

Australian Chelsea Flower Show 20-23 May 1997 I only spent half a day at the Show but this was Botanical enough to get a good overall view of this annual highlight of the gardening world. The crowds were reasonable as long as you did not Liaison want to stop moving for more than a few minutes. Surprisingly it did not rain, well at Officer least not while I was there.

The Kings Park display attracted a lot of attention and was one of the more spectacular displays under the 'big top'. There will be an Since my last report the days have lengthened added bonus of some plants for Kew. Another considerably, it has even rained a little bit and Australian highlight was a rather large display we have had temperatures as high as 25° C. promoting the Melbourne International Flower However, in the middle of all this we still and Garden Show to be staged in the first week managed one frosty morning of about minus 5°. ofApril next year. Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

The range of plants and display gardens was closed for about 5 weeks while the rewiring is mind boggling, not the least being a new done. Various other building works will Clematis cultivar ('Clematis Blue Moon') that continue well into 1998 and some areas ofthe unfortunately will not be released in Australia herbarium will be closed. If you are planning a for a few years. On the last day of the Show you visit in the next 12 to 18 months please let the could pick up bargains such as two giant urns Keeper know. for £40,000 .or a fully grown Blue Cedar tree for £1,800. No? Well how about a basket of sweet Retirement? peas for just £8. Thursday 22 nd of May saw a wonderful spread of food and drink to celebrate the retirement of At 14 pounds for a half day ticket I thought it Senior Messenger Brad. The previous day was was a bit expensive but thousands flocked to Dick Brummitts last day on full salary but see the Show and all the tickets were sold. fortunately for the world of Botany he was back the next day wondering which half of the day to The Great Debate work. I have been trying to persuade Dick that A debate 'That this house believes that Linnean his many friends in Australia would like to see classification without paraphyletic taxa is him. nonsensical' held at the Linnean Society, on 6 th March 1997, attracted a capacity crowd. The The Millennium Seed Bank debate resulted in a win for the Kew team The appeal for the Millennium Seed Bank consisting of Dick Brummitt and Alan Paton. A recently received a boost with a grant of9.2 lively discussion followed the debate and million pounds from the Wellcome Trust. The voting was done with the aid of the traditional Trust is particularly keen to see plants of Linnean ballot boxes. Keep your eyes open for medicinal value saved at the Seed Bank. Work publication in the Linnean, possibly in the on the Seed Bank is due to start later this year at October edition. Wakehurst Place.

Blue Bells The Eden Project The Blue Bells in the Gardens, particularly Plans for a series of huge biodomes to be built around the restored Queen Charlotte's Cottage, in a disused clay pit in Cornwall recently put on a really spectacular display for a week or appeared in the press. Stretching for a kilometre so. Joy and I took advantage of an opportunity and rising to 60 metres the project is expected to visit a Blue Bell Woodland near Henley-on­ to cost 106 million pounds. It is suggested that Thames. The reserve consisting of258 acres over 10,000 species of plants will be housed in supports of 450 species of plants including a the biodomes when completed. few rarities. Robert Brown Slips Disruptions Housed at the Natural History Museum are Window replacement in D wing (which includes Robert Brown's collecting slips which can often the Library) has gone ahead without too much provide information, particularly about the disruption except for an unexpected collapse of locality, that is not given on the specimen some ceiling tiles. However, during September labels. I have recently spent some time going and October the Library and Archives will be through some of the boxes and was Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) disappointed to see many of slips, all of which using the Kew facilities in recent times. are numbered, out of order. Stopping to put the slips back in the correct order made my job that Adelaide Conference bit harder. A small group from Kew will be coming to the Adelaide Conference and hopefully HlSCOM as CGE well. This will be a great opportunity to If you have requested loans from CGE and have exchange ideas and for Kew staff to see what not had response please let me know. They are has already been achieved in Australian unable to process loans but it is possible to go Herbaria. to Cambridge and photograph the material. Don Foreman New York [Received 30 May 1997] No I am not going to New York but Ken Hill As an addition to the above Don faxed (on 30 (NSW) is. If you have any requests from this May) the following note from the then current institution let Ken know as soon as possible Kew staff newsletter: 'Dr Brummitt has left for (before the end of June). California to represent Kew at an /OPI/SPP meeting. He will also do some field work on Visitors Calystegia. Dick will be returning towards the There has been a continuing influx of end of June to start a new contract as a re­ Australian visitors with Linda Broadhurst, Mark employed officer. He will work on SPP and Clements, Karen Wilson and Betsy Jackes all manage the bibliographic research group.'

APRIL CIRCULAR university budgets. Current realities are that not all 37 universities in Australia can offer LFASTS goes West! top-level scientific and technological facilities The FASTS submission to the West Review of in education and research in all disciplines. Higher Education has called on Government Reorganisation of the higher education sector is and universities to work together to create an required - and the rearrangements will not be efficient, competitive, well-equipped university minor. FASTS investigated and considered the sector. consequences of three alternative courses of action in our submission: The increase in the student numbers combined with a decrease in the funding per effective a. closing some universities full-time student has put enormous strains on b. refocussing the universities within a regional Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

area to eliminate course duplications research at Australian universities. c. concentrating infrastructure support on the highest-performing departments. e. a whole-of-Government approach to Australia's Ocean Territory We also urged further support for infrastructure - libraries, labs, buildings and equipment - to 3. FASTS in science policy accompany the process of reorganisation; and Minister McGauran has continued to express pointed out that it is almost impossible for appreciation for the role FASTS plays in policy university graduates to meet industry formulation. In a recent letter, he said he had expectations unless the university equipment instructed his Departmental officers to seek our they use matches industry standards. Many advice on international scientific collaboration. university laboratories no longer meet basic He has also invited me to discuss with Chief occupational health and safety requirements, Scientist John Stocker Victorian initiatives to and are increasingly operating on outdated and set priorities for S&T, which were views I failing equipment. initially raised with the Minister.

I have to thank Dr Chris Easton for his sterling The role of FASTS in policy areas was the work in drawing the submission together. A full subject of a television interview which Lesley copy is available on our web site. Warner ofUCQ recorded with me for the Open Learning Program. It turned out to be a good 2. The Budget discussion of FASTS' role in policy, and The Budget is being handed down on Tuesday Member Societies might find it useful to show May 13. Peter McGauran has again invited me to their meetings. Copies can be borrowed from to view the Budget from his office, and to the FASTS' office. discuss SET matters with him. I am not expecting any dramatic news as far as S&T is 4. The WISET Report concerned, although there have been disturbing WISET made recommendations about boosting rumours about cuts to the CRC program. the participation of Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WI SET). It was We will pay particular attention to the five completed in May 1995, and has since matters raised in our pre-Budget submission: disappeared into a black hole. The Labor Government failed to respond in its final a. the impending shortage of qualified months of office (although the Report was mathematics and science teachers. commissioned by one of its Ministers). The new Government has declined to make a formal b. creating a national vision for Australia which response to what it sees as a Labor initiative, so develops specific aims for S&T even though the Report has been dubbed 'a valuable analysis' it still lies dormant. We are c. the restoration of the 150% tax deductibility urging the Government to take a more active for industrial R&D. interest in its findings. Australia suffers because the whole area of SET 'expresses a strong sense d access to high-quality science education and of masculine ownership' (WI SET p. 3), to the Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) extent that only 6.9% of staff in engineering 8. John Bell and processing in higher education institutions John Bell, former Deputy Secretary ofDIST, has are women. resigned to take up a position as Managing Director ofANUTech atANU in Canberra from 5.Affiliate members May 19. He has been one ofFASTS' strongest A number of groups have been invited to allies and supporters, and his resignation places become non-voting Affiliate Members of added pressure on the Chief Scientist and his FASTS, at the discretion of the Board. They all staffinDIST. have an interest in S&T policy and share the broad aims ofFASTS but do not fit the narrow 9. The newImages Conference definition of a professional or learned society as I participated in this Anglo-Australian set out in the FASTS' Constitution. I believe Conference in Sydney. It compared the roles of that the support of these groups will bolster the Chief Scientists of the two countries. In the FASTS' capacity to represent the broad UK the position is supported by 100 staff, but interests of S&T groups to Government in one wonders whether a cost-benefit analysis Australia. Government prefers to deal with would show the advisory function there has large representative groups which cover the been any more effective than in Australia. broad sweep of interests of that sector, rather Likely outcomes include additional exchanges than smaller bodies with strong sectional for young scientists, and a cooperative interests. approach to science festivals of each country. But it is clear that the UK has a definite role in 6. The Stocker Inquiry the European Union and Australia a growing The submission and discussion rounds are role in Pacific Rim SET alliances. almost complete, and the final report is expected about June 22. I expect that among 10. Media other issues the inquiry will comment on the President-elect Peter Cullen and I had lunch way in which priorities are set in different with the Editor and Science Writer of the portfolios dependent on a S&T information Canberra Times, to discuss increasing coverage base, and on the advisory processes within and of SET. We were advised to maintain regular to Government. contact (not only when we need them!), and make our stories locally relevant. I still look to 7. Senate inquiry into Commonwealth powers every regional newspaper in Australia having in environment regular weekly S&T sections, as the Canberra The Senate has initiated an inquiry into Times does. Toss Gascoigne is a valuable Commonwealth powers in environmental mentor in this area. protection and ecologically-sustainable development in Australia, to be chaired by SA FASTS' media coverage this month included: Democrat Senator Meg Lees. An information 'Forum tackles science career issues' (R&D pack on how to make a submission and the News); 'Tips for media-shy scientists' terms of reference are available from Committee (Australian); 'Nation's scientists start lobbying Secretary Robert King on (06) 277 3525. The to discover wider power base' (Canberra Times); closing date for submissions is Friday June 20. 'Group to start sciences push' (West Australian); Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

'Bleak prospects for young scientists' (Search); John Finlay-Jones outlined some of the 'Suspicion of media remains an issue' (New challenges facing scientists in the media. He Scientist); 'Geologists' PhD dearth' (Fin used the recent rash of food-borne pathogens to Review); 'An end to the shrink-wrapped career' illustrate the difficulties of gaining accurate (ANU Reporter); "Raw deal' for young coverage for complex issues. scientists' (Search); 'Call for national science body' (Australian) The media can be tricky, but favourable media coverage encourages a range of positive A reminder that the excellent talks at the outcomes: create jobs, improve public health, National Press Club by Ian Lowe and Peter increase funding for research programs, change Doherty are available from Media Monitors. policy, and satisfy public curiosity. And as most Video tapes $40, audio tapes $26, transcripts of the funding for research in Australia is $50. Ph (06) 239 5233, or fax (06) 239 5244. provided from the public purse, scientists have Both speeches are also on the FASTS' web site a duty of accountability to explain how public (free!) funds are being spent and what the benefits are. The future for groups which depend on public Joe Baker funding and do not have community support is 7 May 1997 bleak. Microbiologists make a major contribution to the wealth and health of society, Address of Executive Director but is this contribution properly recognised? Do Mr Toss Gascoigne people understand what microbiologists do? Executive Director The industries they sustain? Do they accept the Federation of Australian Scientific and need for continuing funding of microbiological Technological Societies (FASTS) research? PO Box 218, Deakin West, ACT 260 1

Phone: 06-257 2891 (work); 06-249 7400 Julian Cribb, former science writer for The (home) Australian newspaper, claimed that scientists Fax: 06-257 2897 had let Australia down because they have not Mobile: 0411-88 3418 told the people what they are doing: 'Scientists Email: [email protected] have been so wrapped up in their work and their Web address: http://bimbo.pharmacol.su.oz.au/ discoveries, they have forgotten to explain fasts/fastshome.html them to the society that pays their miserable wages. They have omitted to put their work in language that ordinary people can understand. They have failed to explain its relevance to our WHY SCIENTISTS SHOULD daily lives - our health, wealth and well being COMMUNICATE as a nation - and how to put it into practice in our industries.' He was a great advocate of using [Written by T. Gascoigne for Australian the media as a tool in building support, a Microbiology Newsletter] proposition that scientists sometimes find difficult. Scientists and journalists tend to eye In the May issue of Microbiology Australia, each other suspiciously from great distances. Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

But some scientists have learned to use the basic details of the story, spell everyone's media with great skill (and profit). To help those names correctly, and have your phone just starting out, here are five tips for basic contact points. And consult your survival: collaborators and colleagues to make sure everyone agrees on the wording - it can head 1. Get your message straight. Work out the two off territorial arguments before they start. or three main points you want to get across, phrase them in simple non-technical 5. Understand the importance of pictures. language, and stick to these points. There is Good pictures can make all the difference. A no time or space for complicated compelling photo can gain a story explanations. prominent newspaper coverage; and the rule is that without interesting pictures, there is 2. Talk about the implications of your work, no television story. rather than the clever science. People want to know how they are going to be affected Show enthusiasm for your story; don't wear by your work. Is it going to mean cheaper sunglasses on TV (you'll look like a crook); be bread? Will it expose some dangerous food­ available to journalists; always look at the handling practices? Will it create a new reporter on TV and NEVER look down the export industry? camera lens; and be conscious of reporters' deadlines. 3. Learn about the world of the journalist. They live by ferocious deadlines, and are There is a lot scientists can learn in making the always in a hurry. They work in a highly media work to their advantage. Unless they competitive industry, and few understand learn to use the media to explain their work to even basic scientific facts. But they do try to the public, they cannot hope that the public get things right - the onus is on you to will support them. Lack of public support explain your work in clear and simple terms. translates rapidly into loss of public funding, and the sidelining of what should be one of the 4. Prepare a single sheet of paper with the driving forces of Australian life. important details. This should set out the

AWARDS

Congratulations to a long time member and supporter oftheASBS, Mrs Enid Robertson, on being made a Member in the Order ofAustralia in the latest Queen's Birthday Honours list. Enid's award was for services to botany, conservation and native vegetation management. Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

PLANT NOTES

PANICUM RACEMOSUM the sand. This was followed with planting of Acacia sophorae and Banksia integrifolia (D. In August 1993, during a coastal reconnaissance Conway, P. Moffett, pers. comms.). Conway also in the Newcastle area, a stretch offoredune at remarked that P. racemosum was locally known Stockton was found to be covered by a grass as another kind of 'marram', that it had spread that, on first sight, looked very similar to from the football oval situated near the northern Spinifex sericeus (PCH 93019, CANB 465866). end of the reclaimed area, and that it may have It had the same, somewhat clumped growth been used in combination with marram. habit resulting from shoots forming at runner However, no explanation could be given for nodes, and its long runners extended downslope when and how it had arrived in the area in the onto the upper beach. However, it lacked the first place. As at Geelong, P. racemosum does dense pubescence of S. sericeus. No fertile not appear to have spread much beyond the material was present, but colleagues found some reclaimed dune area. Sparse flowering, i.e. shoots in fruit five months later (PCH 93019A, limited propagule production, could be one CANB 465883). These were identified as reason for this. However, far from being a Panicum racemosum (P. Beauv.) Spreng., a troublesome weed, it fulfills an important role foredune grass from South America. as dune stabilizer. Identification was kindly confirmed by S. A. Renvoize (K) and F. 0. Zuloaga (SI). In Petrus C. Hey/igers, Hon. Associate, CSJRO Australia, this species has also been found near Wildlife and Ecology, Gungahlin ACT. Geelong, where it 'has persisted for some years as a troublesome weed around grain storage Michael Lazarides, Hon. Associate, CANB. areas, but does not appear to have become naturalized elsewhere' (Walsh 1994, p.p. 585- References 586). Cordazzo, C. V. & Seeliger, U. (1993). Zoned habitats of southern Brazilian coastal foredunes. P. racemosum is widespread along the shores of J Coast. Res. 9: 317-323. the Atlantic Ocean from about 11 o S (Renvoize 1984) to about 38° S (Pfadenhauer 1993). Eskuche (1973). Pflanzengesellschaften der Renvoize also reports it to occur in Chile. At Kiistendiinen von Argentinien, Uruguay und least in the southern half of its range along the Si.idbrasilien. Vegatatio 28: 201-250. Atlantic Ocean P. racemosum is a dominant element of the foredune vegetation (Cordazzo Pfadenhauer, J. ( 1993 ). Dry coastal ecosystems and Seeliger 1993, Eskuche 1973, Pfadenhauer of temperate Atlantic South America. In Vander 1993; Eskuche's figure on p. 211 shows how Maarel, E. (ed.),Dry Coastal Ecosystems,· similar the growth habit of P. racemosum is to Ecosystems of the World, Vol. 2B, pp. 495-500. that of S. sericeus). Renvoize, S.A. (1984). The Grasses ofBahia. In the late 1980s the dunes at Stockton have (Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew). been rehabilitated by the Newcastle City Council. Trenches were dug to bury the prolific Walsh,N. G. (1994).PanicumL.InWalsh,N. G. stands of Chrysanthemoides monilifera, while & Entwistle, T. J. ( eds), Flora of Victoria, Vol. 2: Ammophila arenaria was planted to stabilize 584-590. Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

MISCELLANY

E-mail addresses ofsomeASBS members, Victorian Chapter

[email protected] Michael [email protected] Anna Carrucan -a.carrucan@pgrad. unimelb.edu.au Andrew Doust- [email protected] Andrew Drinnen-drinnan@botany. unimel b .edu.au Sophie [email protected]. unimelb.edu.au Tim Entwisle- entwisle@botany. unimelb.edu.au Christina Flan-cmflal @mfs03 .cc.monash.edu.au [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Liz James-gene1\[email protected] Pauline Ladiges [email protected] [email protected] Tom [email protected] Steven McLoughlin- [email protected] Max [email protected] Nicole [email protected] Dan [email protected] Peter [email protected] Ian Pascoe- [email protected], [email protected] Deborah. penrose@publish. csiro.au Elisa Rawlings- [email protected] [email protected] Jim [email protected] Frank [email protected] .edu.au Anthony [email protected] Neville Walsh- [email protected] Trevor Whiffen- [email protected]

[Provided by Marco Duretto, 19 May 1997} Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

AN EDITORIAL COMMENT-2 or: Volume 35 of the Flora ofAustralia places A TENSE SITUATION Brunonia in its own family.

This issue's comment is on the tense used when referring to a published work or worker. When There may be the occasional situation when it is quoting or discussing what a previous author appropriate to depart from this, for a particular has written, some writers use the present tense, effect, but in most cases following the above some the past; likewise when referring to the practice would improve the standard of our work or publication itself. Some mix their writing. tenses without apparent consideration or understanding of which is correct. Alex George, 'Four Gables', 18 Barclay Road, It seems that, grammatically, the past tense Kardinya, Western Australia 6163 should be preferred when the intent is to state what a writer wrote or did. After all, the work was done and the text written in the past; moreover, the writer, or her/his opinion, may no I REALLY DO WISH TO THANK longer be extant. For example: in Flora Australiensis, Bentham described 8125 species Philip Short raised the issue of overly wordy of plants; or: George, in Nuytsia 3: 430 (1981), acknowledgements in the last issues of the considered it 'not practical to formally divide ASBS newsletter, and while I don't want to blow [Banksia leptophylla] into infraspecific taxa'. the issue out of proportion, I can't resist On the other hand, the publication itself commenting. Acknowledgements are often the remains a current resource. When we refer to it only place where people who do a lot of the (as though holding it up), we should say: Flora work get recognition. Sometimes it is essential Australiensis describes 8125 species of plants; to acknowledge places or people even if they Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) haven't done a very good job and thanks here The Home Pages can be accessed at:- http:// can be hypocritcal. However, when people do a www.science.uts.edu.au/sasb/ good job they deserve acknowledgement for it and the word 'thanks' can convey a lot. Thus The Pages currently have content under the while I don't personally care whether you 'wish following headings: to thank' rather than just 'thank' (there are probably better ways to shorten most Introducing the SASB manuscripts), I disagree with Phil about About the SASB deleting thanks altogether. Small words can Officers matter a lot. If someone has done a good job for Membership Details you, thank them for it. Doing science doesn't SASB Documents excuse you from adopting common courtesy. Letters Book Reviews Bob Hill Invited Contributions University of Tasmania Conferences SASB Conferences I quite agree with Bob. I did state that 'it may be Other Conferences a bit blunt' to delete 'I thank'. The issue was the Systematics Internet Resources superfluous 'wish to' (P.S.S.). Electronic Discussion Internet Links

The Introducing the SASB pages will be updated after the General Meeting in Adelaide, 'SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIAN SYSTEMATIC BIOLOGISTS' WORLD WIDE WEB HOME when the name of the Society will be formally PAGE decided on, and there will be a formal Executive (rather than the current Organizing At a meeting on the 4th October 1996 at the Group). Any prospective new members can be University of Melbourne, in conjunction with directed to these pages for information on how the 'Beyond the Floras' Conference organised to join the Society. by the Australian Systematic Botany Society, it was decided to form a new society with the aim One of the objectives ofthe Society is intended of representing all systematic and evolutionary to be the lobbying of government agencies and biologists in Australia. This society currently granting agencies; and the results of these has the working title 'Society of Australian activities will be available via the Letters page Systematic Biologists', although the name of (there is one pair ofletters there, at the moment). the Society is to be formally decided after the General Meeting in Adelaide (in conjunction The Book Reviews section contains a number with the joint conference). Currently, the only of reviews, of some of the currently-available really visible product of this new Society is the texts in systematics; currently these are World Wide Web Home Pages, although a modified versions of reviews that originally membership drive is underway and organization appeared in theASBS Newsletter. The reviews for the General Meeting is well advanced. are designed to be comprehensive, rather than Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) the usual 500-word jobs that are usually Computer Software available in the printed literature; and, of Journals course, the reviews should appear ahead of the Miscellaneous Resources often lengthy delays that can happen with printed-journal reviews. In the future, the If you can't access the information you need reviews will be expanded further into areas such directly from this page, then the first section as computer programs (MacClade is the only should provide a pointer to where the program covered, so far). information can be found (if it exists, of course). I certainly learnt a hell of a lot about the The first part of the Invited Contributions Internet while compiling this list. concerns introductory material for phylogenetic analysis. Some of the contributions are already Finally, the Electronic Discussion section is available, with more in preparation. Other currently in preparation. When it is operational Contributions are being planned, as ideally this it will allow members to post electronic section should be dominated by timely reviews messages to all other members. of topics important to systematics, as well as the introductory/background material. I spent a lot oftime reading up about home pages, and looking at other societies' home The Conferences pages are intended to include pages, while preparing the SASB Home Pages. a comprehensive list of upcoming systematics­ I'm not yet sure whether maintaining these related conferences, both local and Pages will turn out to be more work or less work international, with Internet links to the than editing the ASBS Newsletter. appropriate home pages (including those for the next International Botanical Congress). David Morrison University of Technology, Sydney If the Internet Links section succeeds, then it should be the first port-of-call for people [Received 27 May 1997] searching for systematics-related information on the World Wide Web. There are currently lists of links in the following sections:

General Sources oflnformation Australian Biological Societies and Organizations Overseas Systematics Societies and Organizations Australian Herbaria and Botanic Gardens Australian Museums Australian Universities Australian Government Departments Databases Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

BOOK REVIEWS

Historical biogeography of the southeast Malesia is a special place in the history of Asian genus Spatholobus (Legum.­ biogeography, for this is where Alfred Russel Papilionoideae) and its allies. J. W. A. Ridder­ Wallace spent the most productive years of his Numan. Blumea Supplement 10. Published by working life (van Oosterzee 1997). Here he Rijksherbarium I Hortus Botanicus, Leiden, independently discovered the theory of Netherlands, 1996. evolution by natural selection. Not only this - he also founded the modem science of The Rijksherbarium in Leiden is justly famous biogeography and identified one of the most for its longstanding programme of high quality important biotic boundaries in the world. research on the flora ofMalesia (the southeast Today this line carries his name, and we now Asian mainland and the archipelagos stretching know that it results from a monumental from there to New Guinea). Major outcomes are collision between chunks of the long-separated Flora Malesiana and its companion journal supercontinents Gondwana and Laurasia, Blumea, in which is published the paper reuniting their biotas. However, we are far from reviewed here. This research is impressive in its understanding fully the complexities of this breadth and depth. It integrates floristics, region's history, as the present paper shows. monographic revisions, phylogenetics, comparative biology and biogeography. It is This paper by Jeanette Ridder Numan is a systematics in the broadest sense. Thus it is not beautiful example of the legacy of Wallace and suprising that Leiden has produced leading van Steenis, for it is a study integrating theoreticians such as van Steenis, Zandee, Roos, evolution, biogeography and geology. It Geesink, Komet and Turner. contains the greater part of her Ph.D. thesis, which by Dutch convention was itself Leiden has also produced more than its share of published, but in a limited edition (Ridder­ biogeographers. They would have been inspired Numan 1996). Only the chapter on pollen in part by C.G.G.J. van Steenis, who produced morphology has been omitted from the Blumea major papers in the 1960s and '70s on the paper, and has been submitted to the Review of phytogeography ofMalesia and the Pacific. His Palynology and Paleobotany. Initially Ridder­ collaborator M.M.J. van Balgooy, who is still Numan's study was supervised by Rob Geesink, active, followed with a series of books on plant and it further develops his work on the patterns in the Pacific. In the last decade a series primitive legume tribe Millettieae. Sadly and of workers have produced dissertations prematurely the supervisor died before the integrating phylogeny and biogeography of student completed her thesis. Malesian plant groups. A nice example is an analysis of the western Pacific flora and its The paper is divided into three parts: a cladistic origins by three of these authors (Van Balgooy analysis of Spatholobus and allied genera, a et al. 1996). The present paper continues this review of the geological history of the Males ian tradition. region, and a biogeographic analysis that Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

integrates the previous two parts. It is thorough, parsimony analysis using PAUP. Encouragingly meticulous and very detailed throughout. The for such a large data set, only three methods used are by and large sound and up to parsimonious trees were found, with minor date, however this is an empirical study. For differences due to uncertain placement of a explanation and discussion of theory and couple of species. All three ingroup genera are methods, other works are referred to, such as shown to be monophyletic. One of the three Turner (1995). (Hubert Turner's thesis is an trees is chosen as 'best', based partly on a excellent example of the recent theoretical character weighting procedure proposed by contributions from Leiden.) Turner (1995), and partly on intuition. The tree is evaluated in detail in terms of the support of Appropriately, the phylogenetic analysis in part branches by the characters. Again I quibble one of this work is based on a monograph of the because none of the widely used tests of study group, completed some years earlier by phylogenetic robustness are employed here (e.g. the same author (Ridder-Numan and Bremer support, T-PTP tests or the Felsenstein Wiriadinata 1985). The study group consists of bootstrap), even though some ofthem are all the species in three genera: Spatholobus (29 available in PAUP. However, the dynamic spp.), Butea and Meizotropis (2 spp. each). From character-weighting cum tree-searching earlier cladistic analyses, these are known to procedure of Goloboff (implemented in his comprise a monophyletic group, and the closely program Pee-Wee) is tried, but the resulting related genus Kunstleria is used as the trees are intuitively unsatisfying - they do not outgroup. A thorough knowledge of the group even show the genera to be monophyletic. is revealed by the large set of morphological (80), anatomical ( 10) and pollen (7) characters Part two of the paper is a review of the used. A good rule of thumb is that one needs at geological history of the region in which the least twice as many characters as terminals in a study group occurs. This comprises the Indian cladistic analysis, and this data set is well above subcontinent and west Malesia (excluding New that limit. Thirty five pages, several excellent Guinea). A very large amount of literature is line drawings and some large tables and graphs cited, and this review would be a useful are devoted to a detailed discussion of the 97 reference for anybody interested in the characters. This section epitomises the biogeography of this region. It is supported by thoroughness of the study and is recommended and excellent series of detailed maps, showing as a model for similar studies. My only quibble plate boundaries, subduction zones, sea levels is with the discussion of the nine quantitative and terranes at various time slices from the characters. Several of these are graphed, clearly Palaeozoic to the present. It is not light reading, showing the continuous nature of the variation, for this region must have one of the most yet there is no discussion of how the states are complex geological histories in the world. It is defined. A substantial literature on the problems thought to have accreted from many small of 'gap-coding' continuous characters is terranes, most of which rifted north from overlooked (Gift and Stevens 1997 and Gondwana over a very long period, references therein). commencing in the Palaeozoic or perhaps even earlier. Of course, major impacts on the region The cladistic analysis itself is a standard have been caused by the collision of first India Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) and then Australia. Even today it is a highly whose use is largely restricted to the Leiden active zone, as frequent reports of earthquakes school. With both these she uses two different and volcanic eruptions testify. Figure 3 .17, rules ('assumptions' 0 and 1) for dealing with mapping only the Philippine-Moluccan region, the confounding effects of widespread shows eleven currently active subduction distributions and missing data. Phylogenies zones! input for analysis are not only the Spatholobus group but additionally some from distantly Part three (historical biogeography) is the main related taxa, with the aim of finding a more guts of the paper. Here an attempt is made to general area-cladogram - one that reflects a explain the origin, spread, fragmentation and history of externally imposed vicariance, rather diversification of the study group by than one-off dispersal events that only affected reconciling its phylogeny and distribution with the history of Spathlobus. The results of the the geological history. This section has two four different analyses have some area-clades in parts: (I) a component analysis of several taxa common and some differences. None is including the present study group, with the aim completely resolved. Again using largely of deriving a general area-cladogram that shows subjective reasons, she prefers one of these (that the history of vicariance events in the study fromBPA with assumption '0'). area; and (ii) a reconciliation of the Spatholobus group with both the general area­ I would not dare to report here in all its cladogram and the map to elucidate the unique complexity the general area-cladogram history of this group. preferred by Ridder-Numann. It shows an early history of vicariance events in what is now Like the first two parts of the study, this analysis mainland Asia, and later ones among the is thorough and rigorous. The critical first step islands. She attempts to reconcile this with the of defining areas for analysis is discussed in geological history, which is a brave act, given detail, with citation of some but not all of the the complexity of the latter. More interesting relevant literature. The standard problems, such perhaps is her final section, a reconciliation of as empty areas and areas containing widespread the Spatholobus cladogram with both the species, are canvassed. It is stated that general area-cladogram and the geological delimitation of areas is based on distributional history. Again these are too complex to report discontinuities but the method seems subjective here. Of course, this section is highly or at least unclear (this is no different from most speculative, but was probably fun to do. Briefly, studies). However, it is noted that many (but not she hypothesizes the origin of the group (and of all) the areas correspond with geological units all three genera) in the early Tertiary of described in the previous section. mainland Asia, perhaps before the impact of India. From there Spatholobus migrated to the Several methods are available for deriving islands ofMalesia in a series of episodes general area cladograms, all are flawed and mediated by rifting, lower sea levels and vigorous debate continues about them. Ridder­ corridors of suitable vegetation, and Numan chooses Brooks parsimony analysis differentiated gradually into the extant species. (BPA), which is in widespread use, and The lineage even appears to have migrated back component compatibility analysis (CCA), to mainland Asia (e.g. Indochina), and Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

differentiated further there. Spatholobus (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae) and its allies. Rijksherbarium!Hortus Botanicus. It would be difficult to test such a detailed 180. (Leiden University: Leiden.) scenario. One way would be to use a molecular clock to date the nodes on the cladogram, and Ridder-Numan, J. W. A., and Wiriadinata, H. to test these against the dates of the matched ( 1985). A revision of the genus Spatholobus vicariance events. Ridder-Numan is careful to (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae). Reinwardtia avoid hypothesizing anachronistic events. For 10, 139-205. example she notes (p. 128) that the area patterns shown by her taxa do not reflect the pre­ Turner, H. (1995). Cladistic and biogeographic angiosperm (Triassic) collision of Sibumasu Analyses of Arytera Blume and Mischarytera with Indochina I East Malaya, whereas Gen. Nov. (Sapindaceae ). (Leiden University.) geological entities within Borneo, which assembled during the Tertiary, are evident in the Van Balgooy, M. M. J., Hovenkamp, P. H., and distributions of her species. (Sibumasu is an Van Welzen, P. C. ( 1996). Phytogeography of ancient fragment of north Gondwana that today the Pacific - floristic and historical distribution comprises parts of east Burma, west Thailand, patterns in plants. In 'The Origin and Evolution west Malaya and west Sumatra.) ofPacific Island Biotas, New Guinea to Eastern Polynesia: Patterns and Processes'. (Eds A. A cynic might dismiss the final scenario thus. Keast and S. E. Miller.) pp. 191-213. (SPB The geological history of the southeast Asian Academic Publishing: Amsterdam.) region, comprising numerous plate splits and collisions, climatic changes and sea-level Van Oosterzee, P. (1997). 'Where Worlds fluctuations, is incredibly complex. Therefore it Collide: The Wallace Line.' (Reed Books: Kew, would be possible to construct a plausible Victoria.) scenario of vicariance and dispersal events to fit any taxon's phylogeny and distributional Mike Crisp pattern. However, I am not a cynic. We now Botany and Zoology know far more about the history of Malesia than Australian National University Wallace did, and as more taxa are studied with [Received 10 June 1997] the rigour ofRidder-Numan and her colleagues, the many pieces of this gigantic mobile jigsaw will gradually be put into place. The ecology and biogeography of Nothofagus References forests. Edited by Veblen T. T., Hill, R. S. & Gift, N., and Stevens, P. F. ( 1997). Vagaries in Read, J. Published by Yale University Press, the delimitation of character states in Yale. (1996), pp. 403. quantitative variation - an experimental study. Systematic Biology 46, 112-125. This splendid book opens with the words 'The unifying theme of this book is its focus on Ridder-Numan, J. W. A. (1996). Historical change in Southern Hemisphere Nothofagus biogeography of the southeast Asian genus forests'. Not only does this book achieve the Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) task of portraying the changing Nothofagus in landmass position) and biodiversity and forests through time and space, but it also conservation. Chapter 2 sets the evolutionary unveils the changing hypotheses and perspective discussing current beliefs on the perceptions that historically scientists working origin and diversification of the genus. The on Nothofagus have held. Nothofagus is so authors comment that the argument for the often used as the key Gondwanan link in recognition ofNothofagaceae rests heavily on biogeographical studies, yet discussions of long the difference between the origin of Nothofagus distance dispersal in the family are now eroding cupules and those of other fagaceous genera away the almost mythical status that these (Nixon 1989), but that the most recent plants once held. This is not to say that this infrageneric classification (Hill & Read 1991) family is no longer a critical player in the now rationalises the formal taxonomic division biogeography game, in fact this book elegantly of Nothofagus with well established, but and in minute detail, demonstrates that the recently revised pollen groupings (Dettmann et importance of the genus goes beyond only this al. 1990). Possible centres of origin predict notoriety. either the southern South America-Antarctic Peninsula region or the Southeast Asian­ Almost everything that is currently known Australian region, with the first currently being about southern Nothofagus forests, both past the more supported hypothesis. The early and present has been said in this book. The 403 diversification and migration discussion is very pages are a testament to the interest that this interesting, highlighting the point that fossil genus has created. This book really is a one stop Nothofagus pollen is so abundant and well shopping place for scholars of Nothofagus and known that its absence from Africa and India is southern forests. One of the extremely one of the few cases in which 'negative appealing aspects of this book is its integration evidence' in the fossil record is of major of an ecological and historical perspective on importance. southern vegetation change. The introductory and concluding chapters are inspired lessons, Of all the detailed information this book setting a standard for others on how to portray provides one of the most stimulating paragraphs to the reader, the possibilities that integration that the book provides is to be found on page of concepts and themes can achieve. For me 17. 'One of the important features of they are the icing on this rich cake; definite Nothofagus to biogeographers is its extremely reading material for the novice and professional poor fruit dispersal (Rodway 1914, Preest alike. 1963), suggesting that land-based dispersal was the only option for the genus. Recent pollen The introductory chapter covers themes such as: evidence (Macphail et al. 1994) strongly temporal and spatial scales of vegetation suggests that rare long distance gene flow has dynamics, paradigm shifts in successional occurred over the Tasman Sea from Australia to theory, disturbance and the patch dynamics New Zealand during the Cenozoic ... perspective, microscale climatic variability and Independent evidence from nucleotide vegetation change, macro- and megascale differences between the closely related N. vegetation change (including climate change, moorei (Australia) and N. menziesii (New photoperiod, carbon dioxide levels and changes Zealand) supports speciation, substantially Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997) postdating the separation of the two landmasses postglacial spread, and the effects of fire and (Martin and Dowd 1988) and the cladistic volcanism. Again evidence is presented which analysis shown is also consistent with this suggests that Nothofagus has crossed hypothesis. If long-distance dispersal of substantial ocean gaps at times in the past. Nothofagus, either by fruit dispersal or perhaps McGlone, Mildenhall and Pole so rightly point by live whole trees or parts of trees that floated out that there are probably many other species between landmasses and established with impeccable Gondwanic inheritance, vegetatively, was a repeated (if rare) which have undergone long distance phenomenon, a major reinterpretation of dispersal, particularly to New Zealand and Nothofagus biogeography will be required.' why should so much emphasis be placed just Now if that isn't putting a fly in the supporters one attribute, presumed poor seed dispersal. of vicariance, land-based dispersal ointment I Indeed the 'experiments' that created the don't known what is. The long distance legend, by today's standards, don't hold water, dispersal banner is flown high in several so to speak. chapters and for me is one of the most thought provoking ideas to come from the book, but it The ecology of Australian Nothofagus forests is is only one of many. There is so much detail well documented by Read and Brown, about Nothofagus written on the pages of this discussing habit and distribution of the three book, its a pity that the font size is just a tad species, the determinants of cool temperate rain small, because its the sort of book you find forest boundaries and distribution, phenology hard to put down. The buff coloured paper is a and reproductive biology, physiological nice touch though and the figures and tables ecology, regeneration and population are clear and very well presented and the dynamics, biodiversity of Australian headings are pertinent and informative. If you Nothofagus forests, conservation and hunger for detail, this book will satiate your utilisation. Hill, Jordan and Macphail write an appetite. excellent chapter on the history and palaeoecology of Australian Nothofagus Chapter 3 discusses the ecology ofNew forests, reflecting on the role of Nothofagus in Zealand Nothofagus forests, covering topics the past Australian vegetation, dispersal again such as New Zealand geography, the taxonomy supporting the long distance dispersal debate, of the four species and their geographical finding there is no consistent pattern to the time distribution, the distribution of these species of first appearance in New Zealand, data which along environmental gradients, comparative life clearly suggests an important role for long histories, disturbance regimes in beech forest distance dispersal from Australia to New areas, forest associations, productivity and Zealand. They discuss evolutionary trends nutrient cycling, associated biota and the amongst the beautifully preserved and trophic web and beech forest management. illustrated macrofossils, which includes leaves, Chapter 4 leads the reader through the history cupules and fruits. and palaeoecology of New Zealand No thofagus forests, discussing the fossil taxa, pollen The next four chapters described elements of dispersal, Cretaceous, Tertiary and Quaternary the ecology and history of the other three history, the controversial Nothofagus gaps and regions of high Nothofagus diversity; New Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

Guinea and and South America, investigation. comprising Central Chile, Southern Chile and Argentina. The fascinating past and present Finally the last chapter attempts to reaffirm the story of the fourteen species which occupy the role of Nothofagus as a 'key genus' (van Steenis New Guinea highlands and the five different 1971) for understanding the biogeography and low altitude New Caledonian species is well ecology of the Southern Hemisphere. The documented in Chapters 7 and 8. Read and arguments are well supported and there are Hope suggest that the gradient in latitudinal many very pertinent issues raised. I believe that occurrence of this group of plants, provides the whole book sells the message of the 'natural experiments' that may provide insights importance of the past and present southern into adaptation of morphology and Nothofagus forests and promotes thoughts for ecophysiology to climate and soil, as well as future research and inquiry. All of the differences in community structure and species contributors are to be congratulated, as are the richness. They suggest that Nothofagus is editors for the excellent task they have done. therefore a key taxon, not only in its The Ecology and biogeography of Nothofagus contribution to studies of palaeoecology and forests belongs on the shelf of every student of biogeography, but also in its potential Nothofagus, southern forests, biogeography and contribution to studies in ecophysiology and evolution. One of my concluding thoughts as I ecology. The integration of knowledge acquired was finishing the book was, how will the next from all four of these aspects is surely an version of such a work portray the southern example which should be attempted for other forests. Even since the publication of this book plant groups too. deciduous Mid Eocene Nothofagus leaves have been described from Western and South History and palaeoecology of the South Australia (Scriven et al. 1995) and the American Nothofagus forests is described in relationships between climate change and Chapter 11. Nine fossil Nothofagus plant Nothofagus evolution in Tasmania has been associations are distinguished in southern discussed (Scriven & Hill, 1996). There is an south America from the Cretaceous through to every increasing pool of knowledge forming the late Tertiary. These nine groups are then with respect to Nothofagus. How will our placed into four major groups: the Cretaceous, perceptions of the key genus Nothofagus mixed flora, subantarctic and open forest change in the future? groups, of which the temporal sequence appears to coincide with major periods of Leonie J. Scriven environmental change. An interesting Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens comment appears on page 376, that these Queens Domain, Hobart, Tasmania 7000 ecosystems were probably not affected by major changes in photoperiod and thus may be References considered as a reference point for other Dettmann M. E, Pocknall D. T, Romero E. J & Gondwana land areas. As we delve into the del C. Zamaloa M. (1990). Nothofagidites climate change debate, knowledge of the Erdtman ex Potonie 1960: A catalogue of possible affects of changes in photoperiodicity species with notes on the paleogeographic on a megascale may indeed require further distribution of Nothofagus BL (Southern Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

Beech). New Zealand Geological Survey Nothofagus (Nothofagaceae) populations. Palaeontological Bulletin 60: 1-79. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 121: 345-364. Hill, R. S & Read J. (1991 ). A revised · infrageneric classification of Nothofagus Scriven, L. J., McLoughlin, S. & Hill, R. S. (Fagaceae). Botanical Journal of the Linnean (1995). Nothofagus plicata (Nothofagaceae), a Society 105: 37-72. new deciduous Eocene macrofossil species, from southern continental Australia. Review of Macphail, M. K,Alley, N., Truswell, E. M. & Palaeobotany and Palynology 86: 199-209. Sluiter, L R. K. (1994). Early Tertiary vegetation: evidence from spores and pollen. Steenis, van C. G. G. J. (1971). Nothofagus, key R. S. Hill ( ed. ), History ofthe Australian genus of plant geography, in time and space, Vegetation: Cretaceous to Recent. Cambridge living and fossil, ecology and phylogeny. University Press, Cambridge, pp. 189-262. Blumea 19: 65-98.

Nixon, K. C. (1989). Origins ofFagaceae.Jn P. R Crane and S. Blackmore (eds.), Evolution, Systematics, and Fossil History ofthe [The above review first appeared in Southern Hamamelidae, Volume 2: 'Higher' Connections Bulletin No. 11. We thank Bob Hill Hamamelidae. Systematics Association (editor) and Leonie Scriven for permission to Special Volume No. 40B, Clarendon Press, reprint it. (Eds.)] Oxford, 23-43.

Martin, P. G. & Dowd, J. M. (1988). A molecular evolutionary clock for angiosperms. Taxon 37: 364-377.

Preest, D. S. (1963). A note on the dispersal characteristics of the seed of the New Zealand podocarps and beeches and their biogeographical significance. In J. L. Gressitt (ed.), Pacific Basin Biogeography. Bishop Mueum Press, Hawaii, pp. 415-425.

Rodway, L. (1914). Botanic evidence in favour of land connection between Fuegia and Tasmania during the present floristic epoch. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 1914: 32-34.

Scriven, L. J. & Hill, R. S. ( 1996). Relationships among Tasmanian Tertiary Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

Cottoning On. Siobhan McHugh. Published by the usual high price will be paid by a later Hale & lronmonger, Sydney, New South Wales. generation. 1996. RRP $29.95. The final paragraph in the book sums it up. This book is not about taxonomic botany. It does not even give the botanical name of 'Paul Kahl once described cotton-growing as a cotton, or of cultivars, or how to grow them. It is disease, meaning it could consume you. He has a socio-political account of cotton growing on certainly passed on the fever to another the river systems of northern New south Wales generation or two. But unless the next rarely even touching Queensland. Success generation can learn to farm the land without cannot be denied, yields are high, quality is ravaging the river, and to protect their crop good and cotton has leapt to fifth place without poisoning the air, Paul Kahl's words amongst Australian exports. Why recommend it may be more prophetic than he had intended, to our readers? Because taxonomists are with cotton the cancer spreading through the concerned with the enormous ecological countryside. Will they get the balance right, consequences of this success. There are now between profits and profligacy? For that is what huge areas oflaser levelled fields without a tree matters in the end .... The dedication and hard in sight. More water rights have been sold than work of the cotton industry cannot be denied, there is water to supply them. Landholders nor can their financial contribution to both the downstream are now suffering from reduced local and national economy ... [But] Australia's flows. Botanically rich areas like the Macquarie greatest asset and most viable commodity is not Marshes with their significant numbers of cotton. It is people, healthy people, and their aquatic birds are under threat. There has been ability to produce and protect the future cavalier use of fertilizers and pesticides which generations of our nation.' have contributed to a Green Darling River. This hugely successful venture makes a nonsense of David E. Symon 'sustainable agriculture' and demonstrates how 16 June, 1997 little the ecological consequences are weighed against the enormous political clout of a successful export industry. One can only be relieved that efforts to extend cotton growing to the Cooper seem to have been halted for the moment.

The book makes fascinating reading. It documents the spectacular success of the industry. some of the principal people appear in the scatter of illustrations, there is a simple map to keep one grounded. As usual the ecological consequences of the disruption of a major river system are only now evident and Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

A.S.B.S. INC. MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

AUSTRALIAN SYSTEMATIC BOTANY SOCIETY INCORPORATED.~

(incorporated under the Associations IncorporationAct 1991) .: ,', 1 1 SUBSCRIPTION FORM

Subscriptions for A. S.B. S. membership for 1997 are due on 1 January, 1997. Ifyou have already paid your subscriptions for 1997, please ignore this pro forma notice. The Australian Systematic Botany Newsletter will not be sent to unfinancial members. Correspondence concerning membership and subscriptions should be sent to the Treasurer at the address below. Subscriptions for 1997, including the A.S.B.S. Newsletter, are: Ordinary/Institutional ...... $35.00 Full-time Student ...... $15.00 In addition, your contribution to the Hj. Eichler Research Fund would be most welcome. Please return the form below with your 1997 subscription, plus any arrears, voluntary contributions to the Research Fund or payment for CSIRO journal subscriptions, with any address corrections, to the Treasurer at the address shown below. Your cheque should be made payable in Australian dollars to: Australian Systematic Botany Socie1y Inc.

Name: Address:

Email:

1997 subscription Arrears (for years Voluntary donation to research fund Subscription to CSIRO journals Total (cheque enclosed for this amount)

Return to: Mr J. Clarkson HonoraryTreasurer,A.S.B.S. Inc. Queensland Herbarium PO Box 1054 Mareeba, Qld 4880 Australia. Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

~.S.B.S. Pl.JBl.ICAliiiiS .

History of Systematic Botany in Australia Edited by P.S. Short.A4, case bound, 326pp. A.S.B.S., 1990. $30; plus $10 p. & p. For all those people interested in the 1988A.S.B.S. symposium in Melbourne, here are the proceedings. It is a very nicely presented volume, containing 36 papers on: the botanical exploration of our region; the role of horticulturists, collectors and artists in the early documentation of the flora; the renowned (Mueller, Cunningham), and those whose contribution is sometimes overlooked (Buchanan, Wilhelmi).

Systematic Status of Large Genera A.S.B.S. Newsletter Number 53, edited by Helen Hewson. 1987. $5 + $1.10 postage. This Newsletter issue includes the reports from the February 1986 Boden Conference on the "Systematic Status of Large Flowering Plant Genera". The reports cover: the genus concept; the role of cladistics in generic delimitation; geographic range and the genus concepts; the value of chemical characters, pollination syndromes, and breeding systems as generic determinants; and generic concepts in theAsteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Epacridaceae, Cassia, Acacia, and Eucalyptus.

Evolution of the Flora and Fauna of Arid Australia Edited by W.R. Barker & P.J.M. Greenslade. A.S.B.S. & A.N.Z.A.A.S., 1982. $20 + $5 postage. This collection of more than 40 papers will interest all people concerned withAustralia's dry inland, or the evolutionary history of its flora and fauna. It is of value to those studying both arid lands and evolution in general. Six sections cover: ecological and historical background; ecological and reproductive adaptations in plants; vertebrate animals; invertebrate animals; individual plant groups; and concluding remarks.

Ecology of the Southern Conifers Edited by Neal Enright and Robert Hill. ASBS members: $60 plus $12 p&p non-members $79.95. Proceedings of a symposium at the ASBS conference in Hobart in 1993. Twenty-eight scholars from across the hemisphere examine the history and ecology of the southern conifers, and emphasise their importance in understanding the evolution and ecological dynamics of southern vegetation.

Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter Back issues of the Newsletter are available from Number 27 (May 1981) onwards, excluding Numbers 29 and 31. Here is the chance to complete your set. Cover prices are $3.50 (Numbers 27-59, excluding Number 53) and $5.00 (Number 53, and 60 onwards). Postage $1.10 per issue. Also available are sweaters ($25), t-shirts ($15), mugs ($8 each, or $42 for a six-pack), and scarfs ($20).

Send orders and remittances (payable to "A.S.B.S. Inc.") to: Jane Mowatt A.S.B.S. Sales Flora section, A.B.R.S. G.P.O. Box 636 Canberra, ACT 2601. AUSTRALIA Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 91 (June 1997)

A.S.B.S. GHARI'ER CONVENERS ·

Adelaide P.O. Box 496 Bill & Robyn Barker Palmerston, NT 0831 State Herbarium Tel: (08) 8999-4512 North Terrace, Adelaide, SA 5000 Hobart Tel: (08) 8228-2348 Bob Hill Department of Plant Science Armidale University ofTasmania Jeremy Bruhl Hobart, Tas. 7000 Department of Botany Tel: (002) 202-601 University ofNew England Armidale, NSW 2351 Melbourne Tel: (067) 973-2429 Marco Duretto National Herbarium ofVictoria Brisbane Birdwood Avenue Laurie Jessup SouthYarra, Vic. 3141 Queensland Herbarium Tel: (03) 9252 2300 Meiers Road e-mail: [email protected] Indooroopilly, Qld 4068 Tel: (07) 3896-9320 Perth Jenny Chappill Canberra Department of Botany Lindy Cayzer University ofWesternAustralia Australian National Herbarium Nedlands, WA 6009 GPO Box 1600 Tel: (09) 380-2212 Canberra, ACT 2601 Tel: (06) 246-5499 Sydney Peter Jobson Darwin National Herbarium of New South Wales Clyde Dunlop Mrs. Macquaries Road Northern Territory Herbarium Sydney, NSW 2000 Parks & Wildlife Commission ofthe NT Tel: (02) 9231-8131

Telephone and Fax Numbers for Major Australian Herbaria International dialing sequence from outside Australia:- add the Australian country code 61 and omit the leading zero of the area code.

This list will be kept up to date, and will be published in each issue. Please inform us of any changes or additions. AUS'fRALIAN SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. SOCiETY INCORPORATEii ..

The Society TheAusf~alian Systematic Botany s~~iety is an-incorporated associati!Jh ofover 300 people with professional : or-amateur interest_itrbotany. The aim of the Society is to promote the study Ofp\ant systematics. ' . ' .. - . . '

· _Membership

· . Mem~ership is open to ~11 th~se interested in plant systetnatics.. Mel?Jbership ·entitles the member to· attenii · geher~l meetings_ and chapter meetings, and to receive thelofewsletter, Any person may !lPPlY for memb~rship by filling it). an'"Membership Application" form and· forwarding it, with the appropriate subs.cription, to the treas- ·.urer. Subscrtp,tions.hecome _due onJan:uary 1 each year. · · · · · . . . . ,

Th,~ Newsletter .. The Newsletter appears quarterly, keep~ members· infci_rmed of Society events and Jews, apd provides a · :vehicle for debate and discussion ...In addition, otigina,l articles, notes and letters (not exceeding ten published . pages irt l~ngth) will be considered......

Conttibutio.ns .should be se.nt .t~ ~~e ~f the editors. at the· addr~~s giveh be[ow. They s)lould ·preferably be. submitted ~ :- an.unformattedword-proce~sor.or ASCII file on an MS-DOS or Macintosh diskette, accompanied ·by· aprinted copy;· as .an unforrru1tted. word-processor or ASCII email fi.le,, accompanied by a fax message reporting. the sending of the file; or aS two typed cbpies with double~spacing if less than dne page. ,· . . ~ . - ·' ' . .· . :. . . . - . . . The deadline. for contributions is the last day of February; May, August, .and November.. - ' ...... ' . All i~ems.incorp0rated in the Newsletter will be duly acknowledged. Author~ .alone are responsible for the views . expressed, and statemen,ts made by the authqrs do not nece.ssarily.tepresent the views ofthe Austraiian Syste!Jl- . . atic Botany Socletyinc. ·.Newsletter items should not be reproduced without the pen:riission of the author of the · _ . material. · · · · · · ·

Notes A.S:B·.s. annual ~embershipis $35 (Aust);-fullctime students $15 .. Pl~a.Se make cheques outtoAS.B.S. Iric.,;and remit to the treasurer. All ch~ges'of address should· ~e sent directly to the treasurer, as well. . . - .' . Advertising spacds availabl~ for products or ser~ices ofint~rest toA:S.B.S: members;. Current rate.. is $.100 per full page, :$50 per half-page or less. Contact one ·of.the New;letter·editors for further inf?nnation. ·

· . Editors . ·

· ·. Philip. Short·.: .. :., .... ~ .... :,...... :...... ,::.: ...... :...... : ...... :...... ;:.··········:···· (08) 89.99451'4 · ·Ernail. : ...... ;...... :...... , .. :...... [email protected] GregLeitch ...... ,: ..... :, ... , .... :···: .... .,: .... : ... : ..· ...... , ..... :.· ...... :...... (08) 89815826 · Email: ...... :.... : ...... _,: ...... ·...... : ...... [email protected] iari Cowie ... : ..... :.... ,...... , .. ,..•... ,...... : ...... :· ...... ' ...... :.: .. ; ... , (08) 89994511: . Email, ...... :...... : ... ·: ...... :., ...... : ...... ~ ...... ,.... [email protected] Clyde Dunlop :..... :.:.: ... :...... _ .. ,... ·...... :~·...... :...... ;: .•...... :..... :.: ..... :(08). 89994:S12 ·· · Email:~ ...... : .... :.;.:...... :······ ...... :: ...... , .. : ..... ·.. [email protected],au

.PostalAddres~ N.T. Herbarium . . . Parks & Wildlife ¢onunissi6n of theN. T. . · P.O. Box 496 . . ·...... PAL:t-..ffiRSTON NT OS~ 1 ·. Australian Systematic Botany Society Newsletter 9 i (June ,1997) < • • 4 • •

·.·CONrnNTS

· President's Rep.ort ...... ~ .. ~ ...... ,~ .... \...... :.... :...... :...... :.... :.: ...... :... :.~.' ...... :...... ·· · 1 ...:. . ·.ASB~ Inc; Busin~!lS· ...... -.: ... :.... :...... :...... : .. .-...... ·:~ ...... :...... ::.:·: ...... _ ...... :,.:•. ,...... :...... ,.:.:. 3

· · . Letters to the -;Editor D.istribution of funds under the ABRS ·Participatory.Grants Program -Hal Cogger ...... ~-· .... :. ::. · . 4 0~ the proposed society for systematists- Alex George ...... '/ ... :.: .... _...... ,... :.: ...... :..... :.-·. 6

Conferences ; .... :..... : ... :...... ,·....•.... :.. ::...... '.: ...... :···.-: .. : ..... ,...... ·: ...... , ...... : ...... :...... :.... · 7

Articles , · S!)meAustl'alianMyrtaceaespecimens·he~datGen~vaHerbarium(G)-A. R. Bean ... ;...... 8 Asimpl~ experiment.conjures.1.1pmon~ problems ,...H Todken ·.... :.: ...... ,... :: ...... :: ... :... . · 9 • ' . , . , . , . a

Thesjubstrads . . .· . • . .· ...... " Epac;ri~ Cav. ~ its phylogt?n:Y and relati<;mships t~ Rupicola Maiden & Betche.. . . and Budawangitt Telford -,-M J. Southam, ... :...... :... :: .. :.-: ...... ::.: ... ~ ...... · 12 .. Phylogenetic relatio.n8hips w.ithiriMonotoca R. Br. and Qligarrhena R. Br. . . . · . (Epacfidaceae) :...c T. Owens ...... :...... :.:.: .. :..... :... :.. :..... · ...... ~.: .... :.. :...... :... :._...... ' .. :; ..... ,.. ~. · 12

AustralianBi.Ol~gical Resources ~tudy ...... :: .. ,.,.:...... :...... _..: .. : ...... : ...... ~ .... :... _..' .. ·..... :.: · 14. •

ABLOReport_: ...... :.. ,.... _.._.: .. :: ..... ::...... ,...... :...... '.. ,.·.: ...... :,.' .. _. .. ,... : .. ;.,.., ...... :... .'., ... :...... :...... :· .. :···•:· 17 .'.

N~ws 'from FASTS:.,.: ..... :.:...... ,· ...... '...... :,.: ... ,, ... ,...... :, ... ::.;;, .... , .. ~ .. : .. ·: .. :.: .... :.•.. ;: . .'.: ..... ~ ...... '... . 19

Awards ..... :: ...... ;' ..... :...... :... :." ...... ,.', ...... ·...... : :.: ... ~ ...... ·.: .. :...... '.,... ;: .... ,,.... ,.·::·...... :.:· ...... ~ ... :.. . :?.3 ·.

Plant Notes· · Panieu'm r.acemosum ,.... :...... ,.. ,... :.... , ...... :...... :...... ,..... :: .. •·~: ..... ~: ...... ,..... :.... :·.. 24

Mi$cellany . · Email addresses ...... ~ ...... • ::...... :...... :... .':.:.. ;.'.. ·.. :...... :.:.: ...... -...... ::: ...... ::; .. :...... :. 25 An ~ditorial comin.ent~2.: A tense situation· ...... ~:·· ...... :...... ~., .. :., .. :.: ...... ;.; ...... :.. 26 'I really do wish to thank' .... ~.: ...... : ...... :,: ...... :...... :., .... :.... , ...... ,.. :.. . 26 . 'Society ofAustralian syst~matic Biologistd' World Wide Web Home Page.~ ...... :..... :.. .. 2J ...... - . . ~ . ' . . - . . . . . , · Book Reviews · . 'Historical biogeography of the. southeast Asian genus Spatholobus (~egum.~Papilionoideae) ·and its hl~ies.' ...... ::: .... :...... ~: ... :...... ~ ... ,. .. ·.... ·... :.,: ... , ...... :...... '..... :. .' ..... :: ...... :...... :...... 29 'The -ecology arid biogeography ofNothofagits forests' .. ,...... :...... ,.... :...... -.: ...... :. · 32. 'Cottoning. On' .... :.. :; ... .' ... :...... " ...... _., ... : ... :::: ...... '...... ,· .. , ...... :.: .... _.·..... ,...... ' ..... , .•..... 37.