Typification and circumscription of Nitella sonderi (Characeae, Charophyceae)
Michelle T. CasanovaRoyal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, Vic. 3141, Australia, and 273 Casanova Road, Westmere, Vic. 3351, Australia. Email: amcnova@netconnect.com.au
Australian Systematic Botany 20(5) 464-472 https://doi.org/10.1071/SB06038
Submitted: 23 October 2006 Accepted: 4 September 2007 Published: 8 November 2007
Abstract
Nitella sonderi A.Braun in family Characeae was described in 1852, on the basis of a single specimen collected by Ferdinand von Mueller from Melbourne. This specimen was lost and not referred to again, nor illustrated. From 1857 until 1935, three other specimens of N. sonderi were examined or referred to in published literature. The species was amalgamated with the Asian species N. pseudoflabellata in 1962 and a neotype (Lewis 6) was assigned in 1972. In the year 2000, a specimen with the same collection locality and collector as the type of N. sonderi, labelled N. sonderi, was found in the National Herbarium of Victoria (Mueller, September 1852). In the present paper, I deal with the following two issues: typification of N. sonderi (i.e. is the Lewis or the Mueller specimen the most appropriate type?) and whether N. sonderi and N. pseudoflabellata are the same species. The Lewis and the Mueller specimens were compared with the protologue, and the neotype is retained. Oospores and vegetative features of N. sonderi were compared with type material of N. pseudoflabellata var. imperialis (sensu R.D.Wood) and N. sonderi is reinstated as a separate species on the basis of its vegetative morphology, dioecy and oospore morphology, and a description is given with reference to specimens from its entire range. N. sonderi is a spring and summer-growing annual of sheltered sites in temporary wetlands throughout Victoria, New South Wales, and upland south-eastern Queensland. It persists during dry times via a bank of dormant, long-lived oospores in the seed bank. Linking a good taxonomy with thorough ecological studies in this way can inform management of water resources.
Acknowledgements
This study would have been much harder, if not impossible, without the copies of papers and translations provided by Beth Williams; thank you Beth. The staff at the National Herbarium of Victoria and Melbourne Royal Botanic Gardens continue to provide cheerful assistance. Particular thanks go to Monika Wells of the Mueller Correspondence Project and Jill Thurlow. Thanks also go to Julia Schult, Keely Ough, Jane Roberts and John Porter, charophyte collectors extraordinare! This manuscript was vastly improved on the basis of comments from an anonymous referee.
Allen GO
(1953) Typification of N. pseudoflabellata A.Braun. Annals and Magazine of Natural History Series 12 6, 606–608.
and 8.
Dead Horse Tank, JL Porter 169, 11.xii.1998, MTC, p082, Fig. 9.
Woolshed Swamp, JL Porter 182, 10.xii.1998, MTC, p084.
Paroo, JL Porter 251, 8-v-2000, MTC, p087.
Wentworth Weir Pool, J Roberts 12, 5.xii.2001, MTC, p379, Fig. 10.
Nymboida River, MT Casanova, 31.x.1993, MTC, p257.
VICTORIA
Bengalla, Echuca: RD Wood, 61–3-26–2, 26.iii.1961, NY.
Moodie Swamp, Benalla, J Strudwick 308, 27.ii.1989, MEL, p027.
Lanark, near Hamilton, MT Casanova 0011253a, 25.xi.2000, MTC, p231, Fig. 7.
Winton Swamp, H Aston, ws86, 14.iv.1959, MEL, p003.
Greta Rd, J Strudwick, 728, 23.xi.1989, MEL, p056, Fig. 6.
Woorndoo Olympic Wetland, MT Casanova, 17.v.2001, MTC, p281.
Casanovas Swamp, MT Casanova, 2.v.2002, MTC, p402.
Wallenjoe Swamp, K Ough, W4i, 21.i.2002, MTC, p607.
Lake Fyans, MT Casanova, 24.x.2005, MTC, p792.
Dalesford, J Powling, 14.i.2006, MTC, p822.
Goulbourne River, Avenel, Lewis, 6, MEL, neotype, Fig. 1.
Kerang Lakes, J Roberts, 261, 10.iv.2006, MTC, p884.
Tang Tang Swamp, K Ough, CS1a (pg2), 28.iv.2006, MTC, p907.
Swan Hill, RD Wood, 61–3-24–8, 24.iii.1961, NY, p911, holotype of form moniliformis, Fig. 5.
Mildura, ER Packe, p510, 10–10–1948, NY, p948.
Benalla, Broken R., RD Wood, 61–3-26–3, 26.iii.1961, NY, AD, p971, type of form pumila.
QUEENSLAND
Stanthorpe, RD Wood, 60–11–20–20, 20.xi.1960, NY, p910, type of form australis.
Stanthorpe, RD Wood, 60–11–20–21, 20.xi.1960, NY, p954.
Stanthorpe, RD Wood, 60–11–20–22, 20.xi.1960, NY, p955, Fig. 11f.
