Two new species of genus Epacris (Epacridaceae) from Tasmania

Epacris apsleyensis R.K. Crowden, sp.nov. and Epacris grandisRK Crowden, sp. nov. are described. Notes on the distribution, habitat and affinities of both species are included

New species in the family Epacridacea

Three Tasmanian endemic species from the Epacridaceae are considered. Specific status has been given to Monotoca scoparia var. submutica and a new variety, Monotoca submutica var. autumnaZis, is described. In addition, descriptions for two recently di scovered species, Cyathodes penduZosa and Epacris navicuZaris, are included

The taxonomic value of pollen surface patterns in some Australian Epacris (Epacridaceae)

Pollen grains of most known species of Epacris in Australia were examined by scanning electron microscopy. There is a range of pattems of surface ornamentation present, based upon which the species can be grouped into two broad classes: (l) "smooth", in which the tectum is essentially intact but pitted and rugulate to varying degrees; (2) "warted", in which the pollen is intectate with a range of surface processes generally >2µm. The patterns are useful at the interspecific level to delimit certain taxa with morphological overlap

A descriptive ecology of the vegetation in the lower Gordon River basin, Tasmania

The vegetation of the Lower Gordon Ri vel' Basin consists of rainforest, sclerophyll forest, scrub and sedgeland-heath, each of which is composed of a number of plant communities forming an intricate mosaic. Field studies conducted over three summer seasons suggest that differential fire regimes are the primary determinants of the composition, structure and distribution of the major vegetation types. Climatic, topographic and edaphic factors play a relatively minor role except through their interaction with the fire regime. The observed patterns and processes in the major vegetation types can be interpreted readily in terms of vegetation succession and ecological drift, but the ubiquity of diffuse ecotones argues against the occurrence of stable fire cycles

Genetic variation in the Epacris tasmanica complex (Epacridaceae).

RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) markers were used to delimit species in the Epacris tasmanica complex (Epacridaceae) collected from various locations in Tasmania, Australia. The RAPD analysis placed morphologically similar taxa located closely geographically into discrete clusters. However, geographically distant populations of morphometrically similar taxa, such as the southern and northern Tasmanian populations of E. virgata and E. tasmanica, were less closely related to each other than those taxa classified as different species. The most geographically remote population (E. glabella [Serpentine Hill]) shared the least genetic similarities with the other taxa. The genetic information obtained from this study reinforces some previous morphometric data used to delimit species in the E. tasmanica complex. Furthermore, the strong geographical structure of the genetic variation is consistent with a model in which gene flow between populations is limited

Tasmanian species of Ranunculus - a new key

A key to all Ranunculus species occuring in Tasmania is provided. Diagnostic characters are presented by means of diagrams. Ecological notes, the main distinguishing features, and chromosome numbers are given for each species

The anthocyanins of Epacris impressa Labill

Cyanidin-3-xyloside and cyanidin-3-glucoside have been identified as the major anthocyanin pigments in Epacris impressa Labill. It has been shown that the colour gradation evident. in flowers in natural populations of E. impressa is due to parallel quantitative differences in both pigments. Investigation of other parts of the plant has shown that the same two pigments are present though in varying proportion