A reassessment of the genus Haeckeria (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae), with definition of new species in Cassinia

Abstract

Variation in the species hitherto known as Haeckeria ozothamnoides F.Muell. is discussed. This taxon has well-developed paleae between the florets, and many collections show development of a pappus. These characters, along with others such as leaf anatomy and morphology, strongly distinguish H. ozothamnoides s. lat. from Haeckeria s. str. and place it in Cassinia. The taxon is also shown to comprise three closely related species, which are here described as Cassinia ozothamnoides (F.Muell.) Orchard, comb. nov., C. scabrida Orchard, sp. nov. and C. venusta Orchard, sp. nov. The history, taxonomy, relationships and classification of Haeckeria is reviewed, and the genus and its two remaining species, H. cassiniiformis and H. punctulata, are described. All five species are illustrated and their distributions mapped.