Knowledge of the geographic origins and reproductive mode of invasive species is vital for predicting and limiting the extent and impacts of invasiveness via control or eradication programs. The majority of naturalised populations of Acacia saligna across the South Australian Fleurieu Peninsula has originated from native populations located around Esperance, although other genetic entities are present. Populations reproduce predominantly via seed production. Management programs should consider the biological traits of the native source populations when managing naturalised populations of A. saligna in South Australia.

We report on the development of a somatic embryogenesis system for two Lepidosperma species. Plants were regenerated from three explant types (in vitro-germinated seedlings, immature seed and immature inflorescences). The DNA ploidy level of 486 somatic embryogenesis derived plantlets was analysed by flow cytometry. One plant was found mixoploid.

Root biomass, root : shoot ratio and below-ground carbon stocks in the open savannahs of northern Amazonia were estimated. The results indicate that the expansion factor for below-ground biomass in these ecosystems are low and differ from the default values used in Brazil’s reference report to the Climate Convention.

We tested the antitropical distribution of Lobelia loochooensis, endemic to the Ryukyu Archipelago of Japan, and its putative sister species of the same section Hypsela in Oceania (Australia and New Zealand). Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on cpDNA sequences were conducted for 41 Lobelia species of 11 sections including all the species of sect. Hypsela investigated in Asia and Malesia and 32 species of 16 allied genera of family Campanulaceae, because the genus Lobelia is known to be polyphyletic. In the result, L. loochooensis and an Australian endemic L. fluviatilis formed a clade, and this clade was sister to a clade of four New Zealand endemics: L. carens, L. fatiscens, L. fugax and L. ionantha. These two clades were nested in a clade with two other Australian congeners. We conclude that: (1) the lineage of L. loochooensis and the five Lobelia species occurring in Oceania demonstrate an antitropical distribution pattern; and (2) L. loochooensis has likely originated from a dispersal event from Australia to the Ryukyu Archipelago.

Grassland communities are threatened worldwide with few examples of high quality natural grasslands remaining in south-eastern Australia. Reproduction, fitness and genetic diversity were assessed in nine fragmented populations of the grassland herb Swainsona sericea in NSW to improve conservation of these valuable biodiversity assets.

Seeds of Alyssum minus can produce a large amount of mucilage. Seed mucilage of this species plays an important role in seed dispersal, seed settlement via adhering to soil, seed hydration via increasing surface contact with the substrate, and serving as a water reservoir for germination, especially under moisture stress.

Vegetation change was contrasted between beaches heavily invaded by marram grass (Ammophila arenaria) and controls. Marram grass invasion displaced the native sand-binders, resulted in progradation and was followed by native shrub invasion. Shrub invasion also occurred at most control sites. At half of the control sites dune vegetation retreated.

Codon usage patterns of 23 Poaceae chloroplast genomes were analyzed. The results indicated that the codon usage bias was affected by mutation bias, together with natural selection, gene length and its expression level. This is the first work to compare the codon distribution and variation of chloroplast genomes at the family level, which may provide useful information for evolutionary studies.