Additions to Amanita (Amanitaceae, Agaricales) section Arenariae from south-western Australia

A recent molecular phylogeny of Amanita recognises three subgenera and 11 sections. Members of subgenus Amanitina are characterised by amyloid spores and a mycorrhizal habit. Section Arenariae falls within this subgenus. Members of this section are known only from southern Australia; they are either sequestrate (secotioid) or agaricoid and lack clamp connections. We describe the following three additional secotioid species: Amanita arenarioides Bougher, E.M.Davison & Giustiniano, A. compacta Bougher, E.M.Davison & Giustiniano and A. pseudoarenaria E.M.Davison, Giustiniano & Bougher, which are separated on macroscopic appearance, spore shape and genetic sequences. We also describe two agaricoid species, namely, A. pupatuju E.M.Davison, Giustiniano, McGurk & E.L.J.Watkin, and A sabulosa E.M.Davison & Giustiniano, which are separated on bulb shape and genetic sequences. We provide expanded descriptions of A. arenaria (O.K.Mill. & E.Horak) Justo and A. griselloides D.A.Reid; we also synonymise A. dumosorum D.A.Reid with A. peltigera D.A.Reid. A revised diagnosis and description of section Arenariae is provided, together with a key to currently recognised member of this section.

Can fruit ontogenetic features prove to be an important tool in the circumscription of Psychotrieae alliance?

The Rubiaceae tribe Psychotrieae sensu lato and its two largest genera, Psychotria L. and Palicourea Aubl., have been considered taxonomically controversial for a long time. We aimed to identify structural features of the ontogeny of the fruits and seeds with taxonomic potential for the tribe by using species of these two genera, and Rudgea jasminoides (Cham.) Müll.Arg. The samples were obtained from a herbarium and from Brazilian state parks, and sectioned by using a rotation microtome. The fruits were found to be derived from an inferior ovary, and were characterised by a fleshy mesocarp and sclerenchymatic sinuate pyrene. The seeds were pachychalazal and arillate. The fruit was classified as a pomaceous drupoid nuculanium. The investigation showed the utility of some fruit features to discriminate species. Our study also showed that ontogenetic features of fruits and seeds are very homogeneous in Palicourea and Psychotria, which supports the inclusion of both genera in the tribe Psychotrieae.

A taxonomic revision of the Australasian genera Dracophyllum and Richea (Richeeae: Styphelioideae: Ericaceae)

The genus Dracophyllum Labill. is revised, with a total of 61 species being recognised in four subgenera and two species (Dracophyllum minimum F.Muell. and D. strictum Hook.f.) are listed as incertae sedis. The genus Richea R.Br. is reduced to synonymy under Dracophyllum where it is divided into two new subgenera, namely, Dracophyllum subgenus Cystanthe (R.Br.) S.Venter and D. subgenus Richea (R.Br.) S.Venter. Replacement names published here are Dracophyllum laciniatum S.Venter, D. persistentifolium S.Venter and D. tasmanicum S.Venter, and new combinations published here are Dracophyllum alpinum (Menadue) S.Venter, D. continentis (B.L.Burtt) S.Venter, D. desgrazii (Hombr. ex Decne.) S.Venter, D. gunnii (Hook.f.) S.Venter, D. pandanifolia (Hook.f.) S.Venter, D. procerum (F.Muell.) S.Venter, D. sprengelioides (R.Br.) S.Venter and D. victorianum (Menadue) S.Venter. Nomenclature, descriptions, illustrations, photographs and distribution maps are provided for each species and lectotypes are designated where necessary. A key to the subgenera and keys to species within these are provided.

The impact of multiple molecular and morphological data sets on the phylogenetic reconstruction of subtribe Neurachninae (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Paniceae)

The taxonomy of Neurachninane has been unstable, with its member genera consisting of Ancistrachne, Calyptochloa, Cleistochloa, Dimorphochloa, Neurachne, Paraneurachne and Thyridolepis, changing since its original circumscription that comprised only the latter three genera. Recent studies on the phylogeny of Neurachninae have focused primarily on molecular data. We analysed the phylogeny of Neurachninae on the basis of molecular data from seven molecular loci (plastid markers: matK, ndhF, rbcL, rpl16, rpoC2 and trnLF, and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer, ITS) and morphological data from 104 morphological characters, including new taxonomically informative micromorphology of upper paleas. We devised an impact assessment scoring (IAS) protocol to aid selection of a tree for inferring the phylogeny of Neurachninae. Combining morphological and molecular data resulted in a well resolved phylogeny with the highest IAS value. Our findings support reinstatement of subtribe Neurachninae in its original sense, Neurachne muelleri and Dimorphochloa rigida. We show that Ancistrachne, Cleistochloa and Dimorphochloa are not monophyletic and Ancistrachne maidenii, Calyptochloa, Cleistochloa and Dimorphochloa form a new group, the cleistogamy group, united by having unique morphology associated with reproductive dimorphism.

Colpomenia species from south and south-eastern Australia (Ectocarpales, Phaeophyceae): a DNA barcoding approach

Defining species in the brown algal genus Colpomenia is a challenging endeavour because of their morphological similarity, overlapping phenotypic variation, the absence of conspicuous diagnostic characters, and often lack of reproductive structures crucial for their identification. Thus, the use of molecular tools has become widely used to study Colpomenia taxonomy and evolution. The following four Colpomenia species are described along the Australian coast: C. claytoniae M.Boo, K.M.Lee, G.Y.Cho & W.Nelson, C. ecuticulata M.J.Parsons, C. peregrina Sauvageau, and C. sinuosa (Mertens ex Roth) Derbès & Solier. The objective of this study was to assess the diversity of Colpomenia species in southern and south-eastern Australia by using DNA barcoding techniques and single-marker species delimitation methods. We generated 44 new COI-5P DNA sequences from nine different populations across three Australian states (South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania), and applied 13 variations of four species delimitation methods (ABDG, SPN, PTP, GMYC). Our results recognised three Colpomenia species in the region, namely, C. sinuosa, C. claytoniae, and C. peregrina. Colpomenia sinuosa is the most widely distributed species in Australia. Colpomenia peregrina and C. claytoniae presented high levels of intraspecific genetic divergence. We did not find C. ecuticulata, although it has been previously reported from nearby our sampling area.