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Taxonomy, biogeography and evolution of plants
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 20(5)

The first phenetic analysis of species limits in Bertya (Euphorbiaceae)

M. Fatemi A B C , C. L. Gross B and J. J. Bruhl A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Botany, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

B Ecosystem Management, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: mfatemi@une.edu.au

Australian Systematic Botany 20(5) 448-463 https://doi.org/10.1071/SB06019
Submitted: 2 May 2007  Accepted: 27 August 2007   Published: 8 November 2007

Abstract

Morphological and phytogeographical data support the recognition of 41 taxa in Bertya, a genus endemic to Australia with many rare and threatened species. We used 107 morphological characters (69 qualitative, 38 quantitative), including novel characters of leaf basal glands and indumenta, and 166 operational taxonomic units. In three iterations by using cluster analyses and semi-strong hybrid multidimensional scaling ordination, operational taxonomic units were resolved into 41 species (6 new; 5 with very localised distributions). Fifteen (including 3 new) have or merit status as rare, endangered or threatened.


Acknowledgements

The authors thank Ian Telford and Lachlan Copeland (NE, UNE) for collecting specimens, advice and useful comments on the manuscript; the directors and staff of AD, BRI, CANB, HO, MEL, NSW, and PERTH for access to collections and/or loans; David Halford and Rod Henderson (BRI) for sharing their database of specimens, facilitating the timely transfer of loans and helpful comments. NE provided essential herbarium facilities for this project. We thank Dan Faith (Australian Museum) and Peter Weston (NSW) for discussion on phenetic analysis, and two anonymous referees for their reports. Specimens were collected under permits GLE/E 327 and S11043 from National Parks and Wildlife Service, New South Wales; and 1557 from Queensland Department of Natural Resources, and W4/002556/00/SAA from Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service. The first author acknowledges financial support from the Noel C.W. Beadle Fund (Botany, UNE, Australia), and scholarship from the Ministry of Sciences, Research and Technology, Iran.


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