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Southern hemisphere botanical ecosystems
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Australian Journal of Botany

Australian Journal of Botany

Australian Journal of Botany is an international journal for publication of original research in plant science. The journal publishes in the areas of ecology and ecophysiology; invasive biology; conservation biology and biodiversity; forest biology and management; cell and molecular biology; palaeobotany and biogeography; reproductive biology and genetics; mycology and pathology; structure and development; and aquatic botany. Read more about the journalMore

Editors-in-Chief: John Morgan and Mark Ooi

Publishing Model: Hybrid. Open Access options available.

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Latest

These articles are the latest published in the journal. Australian Journal of Botany is published under a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 17 December 2024

BT24019Comparison of chlorophyll content estimation using chlorophyll meters and leaf chloroplast pigments extracted from Eucalyptus urophylla and Khaya senegalensis seedlings

Leandro Dias da Silva, Raul Antonio Araújo do Bonfim, Mateus Pires Barbosa, Milton Carriço Sá, Leonardo Santos de Oliveira, Matheus Ferreira Almeida and Paulo Araquém Ramos Cairo 0000-0002-3619-7867
 

Chlorophyll quantification × chlorophyll meters in two tree seedling species.

The protocol to estimate photosynthetic-pigment content was optimized in Eucalyptus urophylla and Khaya senegalensis seedlings by using different extraction methods to evaluate its relationship with values estimated using chlorophyll meters. In both species, a strong positive correlation was observed between estimated values and the values from extraction that used DMSO saturated with CaCO3 at 65°C. Photograph by the authors.

BT24019 Abstract  | PDF (334 KB) - $35.00 
Published online 12 December 2024

BT24050Sabah’s hidden giant: Nepenthes pongoides (Nepenthaceae), a micro-endemic tropical pitcher plant from northern Borneo

Alviana Damit, Nur Adillah Mohd Yusof, Jemson Jumian, Charles Clarke and Alastair S. Robinson 0000-0001-8581-2718
 

The large pitcher of Nepenthes pongoides, a critically endangered tropical pitcher plant from Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.

A giant carnivorous tropical pitcher plant is described as new to science from Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. Named after the orangutan genus Pongo on account of its abundant covering of long, dark, rusty red hairs, Nepenthes pongoides naturally occurs in low numbers with fewer than fifty plants recorded. Coupled with the severe threat of poaching for the horticultural trade, not to mention vulnerability to single extinction level events such as wildfire, the species is assessed as critically endangered against IUCN criteria. Photograph by Alviana Damit.

BT24050 Abstract  |  BT24050 Full Text  | BT24050PDF (4.9 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 05 December 2024

BT24048High fire severity and frequency threaten the persistence of a widespread obligate-seeder Banksia in south-eastern Australia

Annette M. Muir 0000-0001-9383-6613, Nevil N. Amos and Paul D. Moloney
 

A Banksia cunninghamii cone that has opened after fire, with seedlings growing underneath.

Populations of Banksia cunninghamii are declining as climate change drives more frequent, severe and widespread fires. Research on this species after south-eastern Australia’s 2019–2020 wildfires found that plants are killed by fire, with a low chance of seedling regeneration where severe fires burned eucalypt canopies, or the previous fire was less than 12 years ago. Large areas are no longer likely to support Banksia cunninghamii, and management is needed to protect juvenile plants until they produce seed cones. Photograph by Annette Muir.

BT24048 Abstract  |  BT24048 Full Text  | BT24048PDF (3.9 MB)  | BT24048Supplementary Material (895 KB)

Published online 12 November 2024

BT24026Applying resource-selection functions to assess host preference in the endemic endoparasite Pilostyles hamiltoniorum (Apodanthaceae) and its principal host Daviesia (Fabaceae)

Ryan J. Craig 0000-0002-6720-0838, Bethany Pittway, Tingting Wu, Shane R. Turner 0000-0002-9146-2977 and Jacqueline Batley
 

A photograph showing evidence of parasitic infection by Pilostyles hamiltoniorum on Daviesia species.

Understanding host usage is a significant aspect of understanding the ecology of parasitic plants. For endoparasitic plants host use is strict, although for Pilostyles, there are several species within the strict set of hosts that are used. Because of this, resource-usage functionsprovide a means to assess host usage in the genus Pilostyles. This study presents the first use of these functions in assessing Pilostyles hamiltoniorum to help understand host utilisation throughout its distribution. Photograph by Ryan Craig (2021).

BT24026 Abstract  |  BT24026 Full Text  | BT24026PDF (1.2 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 08 November 2024

BT23105Exploring Myrtaceae diversity in the Caatinga: understanding the knowledge gaps for conservation

Paulo Sérgio Santos-Neves 0000-0002-4717-1785, Marla Ibrahim Uehbe de Oliveira and Ligia Silveira Funch
 

Photographs highlighting unique plants of Caatinga vegetation, and a map showing Caatinga location.

Brazil’s Caatinga is an ecologically diverse region teeming with unique plants. In this study, we have shed light on the gaps in our understanding of this extraordinary biome, uncovering Myrtaceae species diversity. We recorded higher species diversity than previously estimated and identified areas of greater richness and insufficient collection effort. This research has paved the way for targeted conservation efforts, safeguarding vital ecosystem services and ensuring a sustainable future for both nature and communities in the Caatinga. Photograph by Paulo Sérgio Santos-Neves.

BT23105 Abstract  | PDF (2.5 MB) - $35.00   | BT23105Supplementary Material (1.5 MB)
Published online 08 November 2024

BT24017A comprehensive functional trait database of seagrasses in tropical Queensland

Chieh Lin 0009-0000-0539-6372, Robert G. Coles, Michael A. Rasheed and Alana Grech
 

A photograph showing intertidal seagrass meadows with dense dugong feeding trails.

Tropical seagrasses provide important ecosystem services, but they are dynamic habitats under threat from multiple stressors. Functional trait-based approaches have the potential to increase our understanding of these dynamics. We present a comprehensive trait database for seagrasses in tropical Queensland, with a focus on services and resilience. Photograph by Chieh Lin.

BT24017 Abstract  |  BT24017 Full Text  | BT24017PDF (1.5 MB)  | BT24017Supplementary Material (2.8 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 08 November 2024

BT23107The effect of Helichrysum shrub encroachment on orchids in a tropical, montane grassland ecosystem, Tanzania

Christopher A. Mgimba 0000-0001-9940-0220, Issakwisa B. Ngondya and Anna C. Treydte
 

A photo showing Helichrysum shrub dominating the vegetation.

Five blocks dominated with Helichrysum splendidum were identified and, in each block, four plots were established by cutting and in other plot cutting and uprooting the stems of H. splendidum. High abundance of orchids was found in plots with a low Helichrysum cover. The orchids had physiological differences across the plots. Photograph by Christopher Mgimba.

BT23107 Abstract  | PDF (10.3 MB) - $35.00   | BT23107Supplementary Material (1.2 MB)
Published online 22 October 2024

BT23092Evaluation of management options for climate-change adaptation of threatened species: a case study of a restricted orchid

Caitlin R. Rutherford 0009-0009-8745-0621, Andrew M. Rogers, Suzanne M. Prober, Erika M. Roper 0000-0002-6092-8826, Emma Cook and April E. Reside
 

BT23092_toc.jpg

Climate change is posing a significant extinction risk to rare and restricted species. Following consultation with species’ experts, managers of the Tarengo leek orchid (Prasophyllum petilum) should address the region- or population-specific non-climate threats to increase its resilience to climate change. We present an adapted framework for incorporating climate-change adaptation into management, a critical tool for quantifying the severity of threats and assessing management actions for restricted species with highly specialised requirements. Photograph by Erika Roper.

BT23092 Abstract  |  BT23092 Full Text  | BT23092PDF (3.4 MB)  | BT23092Supplementary Material (3.2 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 04 October 2024

BT23051Resupinate floral dimorphy in Chamaecrista nictitans (L.) Moench (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae)

Natan Messias Almeida, Vinicius Messas Cotarelli, Thatiany Teixeira Bezerra, Ana Virgínia Leite, Reinaldo Rodrigo Novo, Cibele Cardoso Castro 0000-0002-7862-2155 and Isabel Cristina Machado
 

Two different floral morphologies in the legume Chamaecrista nictitans.

Resupination is the movement of floral buds that leads to flowers turning upside down. We tested the reproductive functioning of this characteristic in the native legume Chamaecrista nictitans and found that it causes pollen to be deposited in particular portions of pollinators’ bodies, improving pollination. Image by Natan Messias Almeida and Paulo Estêvão Araújo Vilaça Júnior.

BT23051 Abstract  | PDF (528 KB) - $35.00 
Published online 30 September 2024

BT23025Differential effects of salinity and drought on germination and early seedling growth of Parkinsonia praecox

Valeria Villarreal 0000-0001-6066-0199, Analía Llanes and Laura Sosa
 

A photograph of the shrub Parkinsonia praecox along National Route 7, near Balde, San Luis, Argentina

This study explored how Parkinsonia praecox responds to salinity and drought during germination and early growth. It found that germination was highest in distilled water but decreased with increased salinity and drought. Germination was more sensitive to drought than to salinity. Interestingly, seeds exposed to drought had better germination rates beyond −1.2 MPa compared to salt-treated seeds. This suggests P. praecox can grow in arid, saline conditions, shedding light on its geographical occurrence and distribution. Photograph by Valeria Villarreal.

BT23025 Abstract  | PDF (831 KB) - $35.00 
Published online 19 September 2024

BT24005Understanding Rhododendron intraspecific compatibility in botanic garden collections for species conservation

Ling Hu 0000-0003-2576-2143, Susan E. Gardiner, Jennifer A. Tate and Marion B. MacKay
 

The rationale and steps used to test intraspecific compatibility using controlled pollination in Rhododendron species.

Successful controlled pollination of threatened species can increase the reproduction of new plants for safeguarding germplasm in botanic gardens. Fruit set and seed germination identified varied levels of self- and cross-compatibilities within each of the five examined Rhododendron species or varieties. Controlled pollination should be tested for each Rhododendron species to understand the intraspecific compatibility before deciding the propagation strategy. Image by Ling Hu.

BT24005 Abstract  |  BT24005 Full Text  | BT24005PDF (4.2 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 17 September 2024

BT23057‘There must be something in the soil our little plants need’: exploring patterns of potential mycorrhizal associations in the flora of the Sunshine Coast heathlands, Queensland, Australia

Hilary Pearl 0000-0002-1226-8907 and Alison Shapcott 0000-0003-3734-052X
 

A diagram showing the mycorrhizal strategies of Sunshine Coast heath species.

General proportions of plants associated with non-mycorrhizal and mycorrhizal functional groups in the Sunshine Coast flora of Queensland are strikingly different between the rainforest and heath communities. The heath mycorrhizal associations show proportions similar to other low-fertility environments. Proportions of different mycorrhizal associations in the flora are different across the heath strata, suggesting that competitive interactions and facilitation may be contributing to plant assembly patterns. Image prepared in ITOL by Hilary Pearl.

BT23057 Abstract  |  BT23057 Full Text  | BT23057PDF (1.5 MB)  | BT23057Supplementary Material (1.9 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 16 September 2024

BT23078Flora and structure of the naturally regenerating riparian vegetation of the Rio Doce River: basis for environmental restoration actions

José Gustavo Santana Neves, Camila Silveira Souza 0000-0003-0856-9392, João Carlos Gomes Figueiredo, Cristina Pereira de Jesus Veloso, Marly Antonielle de Ávila, Odirlei Simões de Oliveira, Islaine Franciely Pinheiro de Azevedo, Rubens Manoel dos Santos, Geraldo Wilson Fernandes and Yule Roberta Ferreira Nunes 0000-0003-3328-7506
 

A photograph of the Riparian forest along a tributary of the Rio Doce river.

For an efficient restoration strategy, it is necessary to identify a reference ecosystem that can serve as a guide for planning and obtaining a measure of success. We sampled the flora of the regenerating stratum along the Rio Doce Basin, Brazil, to support the propagation and restoration of affected environments (Mariana disaster), and a total of 275 species distributed in 47 families were sampled. The results will be extremely important to propose restoration and conservation strategies for areas affected. Photograph by Odirlei Oliveira.

BT23078 Abstract  | PDF (1.4 MB) - $35.00   | BT23078Supplementary Material (1.2 MB)
Published online 02 September 2024

BT24016Floral biology, pollinators and breeding system of Passiflora chrysophylla (Passifloraceae), a South American passion vine

María T. Amela García 0000-0002-3745-1361
 

Image of the flower of the tiny passion vine Passiflora chrysophylla, beginning to open, showing pink-pigmented radii.

The pollination of the tiny passion vine Passiflora chrysophylla, a small-ranged species from the southern hemisphere, has been studied for the first time. Its sexual reproduction and, consequently, its genetic variability, is partially dependant on native bees, mainly crepuscular ones, to which it offers highly concentrated nectar during the morning. Its floral biology is similar to that of its close relative P. foetida, which is widespread, even invasive, and provides useful information in case of conservation needs. Photograph by P. I. Picca.

BT24016 Abstract  | PDF (6.2 MB) - $35.00 
Published online 27 August 2024

BT24011Variable seed quality hampers the use of Themeda triandra (Poaceae) for seed production, agriculture, research and restoration: a review

Marne Durnin 0000-0003-4909-061X, Emma Dalziell, Suzanne M. Prober and Petra Marschner
 

A photograph showing three tetraploid Themeda triandra seeds, including ripe (left) and empty (middle and right) seeds.

Kangaroo grass (Themeda triandra), a tussock grass with an international distribution, plays an important role in grassy ecosystems; however, since colonisation, it has decreased or been degraded across much of its range. It can be re-established from seed but seed quality has high population variability and seed dormancy can be a problem. With increasing calls for native-seed quality-assurance labelling, we show that this could be standardised for Themeda triandra. Photograph by Ellen Bennett.

BT24011 Abstract  |  BT24011 Full Text  | BT24011PDF (1.3 MB)  | BT24011Supplementary Material (844 KB)   Open Access Article

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Rare Plants

The conservation, management and recovery of rare and threatened species is complex and requires an understanding of many aspects of a species biology. It is also important to understand key threats to population and species persistence. This Collection of papers from the Australian Journal of Botany highlight three important research areas for plant conservation and recovery – genetics, ecology and ex-situ conservation.

Last Updated: 17 Nov 2016

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