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

Species limits in Carpha (Schoeneae, Cyperaceae) based on phenetic analyses

Xiufu Zhang A C , Karen L. Wilson B and Jeremy J. Bruhl A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Botany, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Systematics, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

B National Herbarium of NSW, Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, Mrs Macquaries Road, Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: xiufu_zhang@hotmail.com

Australian Systematic Botany 19(5) 437-465 https://doi.org/10.1071/SB06003
Submitted: 2 February 2006  Accepted: 6 June 2006   Published: 19 October 2006

Abstract

We review the taxonomic history of Carpha. Recent estimates of the number of species in Carpha have varied from 4 to 15. The generic limits of Carpha and some species limits within Carpha have been uncertain. This study tests the limits of species in Carpha sensu lato by phenetic analyses of morphological data and identifies 16 species. Three of them (Carpha cf. bracteosa C.B.Clarke, C. discolor ms and C. ulugurensis ms) are new; the taxonomic ranks of C. angustissima Cherm., C. capitellata (Nees) Boeck. var. bracteosa (C.B.Clarke) Kük., C. nivicola F.Muell. and C. schoenoides Banks et Sol. ex Hook.f. are clarified; C. perrieri Cherm. is synonymised with C. capitellata (Nees) Boeck.; the definitions of C. schlechteri C.B.Clarke and C. glomerata (Thunb.) Nees are amended.


Acknowledgments

This study was undertaken while the first author was the recipient of an Overseas Postgraduate Research Scholarship and a University of New England (UNE) Research Scholarship. The authors thank Associate Professor N. Prakash (UNE) and three anonymous referees for their valuable comments, Dr Jin Li (Sustainable Ecosystems, CSIRO) for help in dealing with statistical issues, Dr Lee Belbin (Australian Antarctic Data Centre) for answering some questions on PATN; Dr Dan Faith (Australian Museum) for providing some suggestions on phenetic analysis; Mr Alastair Wilson (Balmain) and Ms Nikola Streiber (Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney) for translating some German literature into English; Peter Garlick (Electron Microscope Unit, UNE) for his assistance, and the directors and staff of B, BM, BOL, CANB, EA, HO, K, MEL, MO, NSW, NU, NY, P, PRE and Z for access to collections and / or loans. The first author also acknowledges financial support from N.C.W. Beadle Fund (Botany, UNE), and Joyce W. Vickery Scientific Research Fund of Linnean Society of New South Wales.


References


Barros M (1969) Cyperaceae. In ‘Flora Patagonica’. (Ed. MN Correa) pp. 38–92. (Coleccion Cientifica Del Inta: Buenos Aires)

Belbin L (1993 a) ‘PATN pattern analysis package.’ (CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology: Canberra)

Belbin L (1993 b) ‘PATN pattern analysis package. Technical reference.’ (CSIRO Division of Wildlife and Ecology: Canberra)

Bentham G (1878) ‘Flora Australiensis: a description of the plants of the Australian territory.’ (L. Reeve and Co.: London)

Bentham G (1883) Cyperaceae. In ‘Genera Plantarum’. (Eds G Bentham, J Hooker) pp. 1037–1073. (L. Reeve and Co.: London)

Blake ST (1940) Notes on Australian Cyperaceae 3. Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland 51, 32–50. > /

  •  1. reticulate/

  •  2. not reticulate/

  • ‘Reticulate’ is the same as Kükenthal’s (1939c, 1939d) ‘tessellated’.

    • #51. Fruit < epidermis whether punctulate; Fig. 3b, d > /

    •  1. punctulate/

    •  2. not punctulate/

    • #52. Fruit < length > /

    •  mm long/

    Fruit length is measured from base to top of body excluding stalk and persistent style base.

    • #53. Fruit < maximum diameter > /

    •  mm in diameter/

    • #54. Fruit stalk < length > /

    •  mm long/