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Australian Systematic Botany Australian Systematic Botany Society
Taxonomy, biogeography and evolution of plants
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Polianthion, a new genus of Rhamnaceae (Pomaderreae) from Western Australia and Queensland

Jürgen Kellermann A B E , Barbara L. Rye C and Kevin R. Thiele D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A National Herbarium of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, Vic. 3141, Australia.

B School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Vic. 3010, Australia.

C Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Conservation and Land Management, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, WA 6983, Australia.

D Australian National Herbarium, Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: juergen.kellermann@rbg.vic.gov.au

Australian Systematic Botany 19(2) 169-181 https://doi.org/10.1071/SB05027
Submitted: 16 September 2005  Accepted: 2 February 2006   Published: 28 April 2006

Abstract

Recent phylogenetic studies have revealed that four species of Australian Rhamnaceae, tribe Pomaderreae Reissek ex Endl., should be assigned to a new genus. This paper describes Polianthion K.R.Thiele, including one new species, P. collinum Rye, and makes the relevant combinations for P. bilocularis (A.S.George) Kellermann, P. wichurae (Nees ex Reissek) K.R.Thiele and P. minutiflorum (E.M.Ross) K.R.Thiele. The genus is defined by having two carpels, a characteristic dense stellate indumentum on both vegetative and floral parts of the plant, free stipules, long-pedicellate flowers and fruitlets dehiscent for their full length. Three species are found in the south-west of Western Australia and one in eastern Queensland.


Acknowledgments

We thank Tony Bean (BRI) for information on Polianthion minutiflorum. The curators of LD and MO, Ingvar Kärnefelt and Jim Solomon, respectively, provided images of type specimens of P. wichurae. Neville Walsh (MEL) commented on an earlier version of the manuscript. Simon Crawford (School of Botany, The University of Melbourne) assisted with scanning electron microscopy. The Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM) issued collecting permits, and Don and Joy Williams (Hi Vallee Farm) provided accommodation while collecting P. wichurae. J. Kellermann received a Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS) from The University of Melbourne during part of this project. This paper is written in preparation of the Flora of Australia treatment of Rhamnaceae, supported by the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS).


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