Flower size variation in Danhatchia (Orchidaceae)

Danhatchia novaehollandiae and D. australis were separated at species rank due to differences in petal length and flower opening, with the Australian species having smaller tardily opening flowers. From this, flower lengths for Australia and New Zealand are expected to be bi-modally distributed with peaks at c. 3 mm and c. 5 mm respectively. Quantification of flower size found flower length was unimodal, with nearly identical ranges in Australian and New Zealand plants. Flower size variation in Australian and New Zealand Danhatchia specimens has two significant contributing components, inter-individual variation, and ontogenetic variation where flowers increase in size as they age. Dimensions quoted by Edgar and Moore (1970) and Jones and Clements (2018) reflect upper and lower limits on the range of variation in flower size present in both New Zealand and Australia, respectively. Within herbarium material, 20% of flowers on New Zealand specimens, and 40% of flowers on Australian specimens exhibited signs of opening. There was no correlation between flower size and opening, as might be expected if the two species were both present in Australia and/or New Zealand. Neither the biogeographic context, pollination ecology, nor morphological evidence support Danhatchia australis and D. novaehollandiae as distinct species

Validation of Riccardia pseudodendroceros R.M.Schust. ex M.A.M.Renner (Aneuraceae: Marchantiophyta)

The name Riccardia pseudodendroceros R.M.Schust. ex M.A.M.Renner (Aneuraceae: Marchantiophyta) is validated

Cololejeunea reniformis, a new species from the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia (Lejeuneaceae: Marchantiophyta).

Cololejeunea reniformis is described as new based on a single collection from Tully Falls National Park in north-east Queensland. Cololejeunea reniformis is similar to C. cairnsiana in the size and the falcate leaf lobes and ampulliform lobules, features which are distinctive among Australian species, and was initially thought to be that species. While C. cairnsiana is an epiphyll, the single known gathering of C. reniformis was found on bark, and the two species differ in a number of micromorphological characters, including details of the vitta, which contain 6-9 cells in a single row in C. cairnsiana and 12-20 cells in 2 or 3 rows in C. reniformis. Cololejeunea reniformis shares many micromorphological features with the south-east Asian C. ensifera, but differs in its smaller size and falcate leaf lobes, in addition to other characters. Thirty-nine Cololejeunea species are now known for Australia

Two new combinations in Corybas and Genoplesium (Orchidaceae) for New South Wales.

The new combinations, Corybas longituba (D.L.Jones & L.M.Copel.) M.A.M.Renner and Genoplesium trifidum (Rupp) M.A.M.Renner, are provided for a species described in a genus not currently accepted (Corysanthes), and another species described in a genus since split (Prasophyllum) for which no valid combination in Genoplesium exists. The circumscription, recognition, and distribution of Genoplesium trifidum are all reconsidered

Opportunities and challenges presented by cryptic bryophyte species.

Cryptic bryophyte species exhibit a decoupling in the degree of morphological and molecular divergence, as a result of different processes, from recent divergence to stasis. Here a body of cryptic species literature comprising 110 papers published between 2000 and end 2018 is reviewed. Most studies of cryptic species focused on northern hemispheric taxa, but we do not yet have sufficient studies to assess whether a geographic bias in the distribution of cryptic species exists, and we don’t know how many cryptic bryophyte species there might be globally. Fully two-thirds of all studies on cryptic bryophyte species rested their claims of morphological crypsis on previous taxonomic investigations, without revision of morphology to confirm cryptic species status. There is more than one kind of morphological crypsis, and while quantification of morphological patterns can contribute to our understanding of crypsis this is a widely neglected component. The usage of ‘cryptic species’ as an etymological tool to flag instances where traditional species concepts are deficient devalues the term, and a distinction between genuine crypsis and business as usual revision of species circumscription should be re-established and maintained. Hybridisation is possibly an under-appreciated contributor to cryptic species, but inference of hybridization has been limited by study design. Opportunities exist in the application of geometric morphometric methods and next generation sequencing technologies to overcome intrinsic limitations in traditional morphological and molecular data sources

Contribution to the bryoflora of Australia, V. Radula tonitrua sp. nov. from Queensland

Further study of the two geographic lineages within Radula novae-hollandiae sens. lat. have resulted in the detection of morphological differences among individuals from the Queensland Wet Tropics, and those from New South Wales. Individuals from the Wet Tropics have perianths that are shorter at maturity (1.6-2.0 v. 3.8-4.4 mm), leaf lobes that usually bear numerous marginal gemmae, and leaf-lobules that are smaller and more quadrate. The morphological differences, particularly in perianth length, were not fully appreciated previously and provide evidence supporting the recognition of the Queensland Wet Tropics lineage as a distinct and new species, Radula tonitrua, which is here described. The degree of phylogenetic divergence and fixed molecular difference between R. tonitrua and R. novae-hollandiae, are comparable with the separation observed between R. ocellata and R. pulchella, another species pair exhibiting the same geographic disjunction

Marsupials and monotremes sort genome treasures from junk

A recent landmark paper demonstrates the unique contribution of marsupials and monotremes to comparative genome analysis, filling an evolutionary gap between the eutherian mammals (including humans) and more distant vertebrate species

Two new species of Genoplesium R.Br. sensu lato (Orchidaceae: Prasophyllinae) from the Central Coast of New South Wales

We describe two new species of Prasophyllinae from New South Wales, in the genus Genoplesium R.Br. following the generic classification currently in use at the National Herbarium of New South Wales. One of these new species, Genoplesium branwhiteorum M.A.M.Renner & P.H.Weston, which we name for the Branwhite family, has been known for nearly a decade under the informal name Corunastylis sp. Charmhaven (NSW896673). The other new species, G. geminatum M.A.M.Renner & Towle has been confused with both G. rufum (R.Br.) D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. and G. trifidum (Rupp) M.A.M.Renner, although it is more similar to G. mucronatum (Rupp) M.A.M.Renner and G. tasmanicum D.L.Jones, and possesses a combination of features of consistent expression supporting its recognition as a new species. Three new combinations are made. Genoplesium cuspidatum (D.L.Jones & L.M.Copel.) M.A.M.Renner, comb. nov. is based on Corunastylis cuspidata D.L.Jones & L.M.Copel., Genoplesium laminatum (Fitzg.) M.A.M.Renner, is based on Prasophyllum laminatum Fitzg. and Genoplesium mucronatum (Rupp) M.A.M.Renner is based on Prasophyllum mucronatum Rupp. [listed as a synonym of G. rufum in PlantNet]

A review of Dendrobium kingianum Bidwill ex Lindl. (Orchidaceae) with morphological and molecular-phylogenetic analyses

Populations of Dendrobium kingianum Bidwill ex Lindl. from near Newcastle, New South Wales to southern and central west Queensland and encompassing all regions of the distribution were studied using field observations, morphometric analysis and nrITS sequences. A total of 281 individuals were used to construct regional descriptions of D. kingianum and 139 individuals were measured for 19 morphological characters, and similarities and differences among specimens summarised using multivariate statistical methods. Patterns of morphological variation within D. kingianum are consistent with a single variable species that expresses clinal variation, with short growing plants in the south and taller plants in the northern part of the distribution. The nrITS gene tree suggests two subgroups within D. kingianum subsp. kingianum, one comprising northern, the other southern individuals, which may overlap in the vicinity of Dorrigo, New South Wales. The disjunct D. kingianum subsp. carnarvonense in central west Queensland, which can be distinguished by a predominately subterranean habit and a narrower labellum midlobe, was resolved sister to D. moorei, which renders D. kingianum paraphyletic in the nrITS gene tree, but this position was not supported. Regional descriptions documenting clinal variation are provided. All previously described varieties, including D. kingianum var. pulcherrimum Rupp, are colour and growth forms of D. kingianum subsp. kingianum

A nomenclatural history for Plectorrhiza purpurata (Orchidaceae)

The nomenclatural history of the Australian epiphytic orchid Plectorrhiza purpurata (Rupp) M.A.M.Renner is reviewed. The first name published for this species, Cleisostoma gemmatum Rupp, is illegitimate, and Rupp proposed a replacement name, Cleisostoma purpuratum Rupp, shortly thereafter. Though the replacement was somewhat obliquely worded, Rupp fulfilled the requirements of the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants, such that Cleisostoma purpuratum was available to serve as the basionym for the name generally used for this orchid since 1967, i.e. Schistotylus purpuratus (Rupp) Dockrill. The transfer of this taxon to Plectorrhiza under the new name Plectorrhiza gemmata M.A.Clem., D.L.Jones & D.P.Banks resulted in the publication of a superfluous name, because the earliest legitimate epithet purpurata is available in Plectorrhiza and ought to have been adopted. The required new combination is made