Bursaria (Pittosporaceae): a morphometric analysis and revision

Abstract

Bursariais an endemic Australian genus of mostlyspinescent, scruffy shrubs and trees, found in all but the most arid or alpineareas. Previous classifications include many infraspecific taxa and haveproved unworkable in eastern Australia. This paper presents a revision of thegenus. On the basis of phenetic analyses of morphometric characters thefollowing taxa are now recognised: B. calcicolaL.Cayzer, Crisp & I.Telford, B. incana Lindl.,B. longisepala Domin,B. occidentalis E.M.Benn.,B. reevesii L.Cayzer, Crisp & I.Telford,B. spinosa Cav. subsp. lasiophylla (E.M.Benn.) L.Cayzer, Crisp & I.Telford, B. spinosasubsp. spinosa and B. tenuifoliaF.M.Bail. Two are described as new(B. calcicola, B. reevesii), and one is changed in rank:B. spinosa subsp. lasiophylla(formerly B. lasiophylla E.M.Benn.). None of the otherinfraspecific taxa recognised previously is supported by our analyses.