A revision of the tropical white-flowered species of Comesperma (Polygalaceae) in Australia
Andrew J. Ford A D , David A. Halford B , Marlien Van Der Merwe C and Michael T. Mathieson BA CSIRO, Land and Water, Tropical Forest Research Centre, Maunds Road, Atherton, Qld 4883, Australia.
B Queensland Herbarium, Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong, Qld 4066, Australia.
C Royal Botanic Gardens, National Herbarium of NSW, Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: andrew.ford@csiro.au
Australian Systematic Botany 30(2) 159-182 https://doi.org/10.1071/SB16044
Submitted: 26 October 2016 Accepted: 5 May 2017 Published: 17 August 2017
Abstract
A taxonomic treatment is presented for all eight white-flowered Comesperma species that occur in tropical Australia (here defined as north of latitude 21°S). In total, eight species are circumscribed, of which five are new species and one is new subspecies, viz. C. albimontanense A.J. Ford & Halford, C. anemosmaragdinum A.J. Ford & Halford, C. minutum A.J. Ford & Halford, C. rhyoliticum A.J. Ford & Halford, C. sabulosum A.J. Ford & Halford and C. secundum subsp. oligotrichum A.J. Ford & Halford. Notes on habitat, distribution and conservation status are provided. A key to all 10 tropically distributed Comesperma species, including two non-white flowered species, is given.
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