scholarly journals Morphological variation in Leptorhynchos squamatus (Gnaphalieae: Asteraceae)

2002 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Flann ◽  
Pauline Y. Ladiges ◽  
Neville G. Walsh
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Leaf Size ◽  
Alpine Plants ◽  
The Other ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Low Altitude

A study of morphological variation in Leptorhynchos squamatus (Labill.) Less. across its range in south-eastern Australia was undertaken to test the hypothesis that L. squamatus includes two taxa. Phenetic pattern analyses of both field-collected and herbarium specimens on the basis of morphology confirmed two major groups. Bract, cypsela, pappus bristle and leaf characters were particularly important in separating the two groups. The taxa are separated by altitude differences with one being a low-altitude plant found in many habitats and the other being a high-altitude taxon that is a major component of alpine meadows. Lowland plants have dark bract tips, fewer and wider pappus bristles than alpine plants, papillae on the cypselas and more linear leaves. A somewhat intermediate population from the Major Mitchell Plateau in the Grampians shows some alpine and some lowland characters but is included in the lowland taxon. Seeds from five populations (two alpine, two lowland and Major Mitchell) were germinated and plants grown for 18 weeks under four controlled sets of environmental conditions. The experiment showed that leaf size and some other characters are affected by environmental conditions, but that there are underlying genetic differences between the lowland and alpine forms. Leptorhynchos squamatus subsp. alpinus Flann is described here to accommodate the highland taxon.

Patterns of morphological variation within Acacia suaveolens (Mimosaceae)

1995 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 1013 ◽  
Author(s):  
DA Morrison ◽  
AJ Rupp
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variation ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Environmental Variables ◽  
Sand Dunes ◽  
Morphological Variability ◽  
Herbarium Specimens ◽  
Morphometric Analyses ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Morphological Differences ◽  
Myall Lakes

Acacia suaveolens shows a considerable degree of morphological variability throughout its range in eastern Australia. Multivariate morphometric analyses of data from 375 herbarium specimens suggest that there are five polythetically distinct forms within this species. The morphological boundaries between these forms are somewhat arbitrary but are closely related to a number of environmental variables. Discrimination between these forms is possible only on the basis of a combination of attributes. In all cases, the distinctions between the forms are maintained in offspring plants grown under controlled environmental conditions, indicating that these morphological differences are genetically fixed. These forms are taxonomically treated as new subspecies. Apart from the typical form (subsp. suaveolens), which is widespread, the following morphological forms have been identified: a form with narrower phyllodes, restricted to the Holocene sand dunes in the Myall Lakes region (subsp. myallensis D. Morrison & A.J. Rupp); a form with wider phyllodes and longer pulvinus, and longer and thicker seeds, occurring in areas with an altitude above 300 m (subsp. montana D. Morrison & A.J. Rupp); a form with wider phyllodes, more flower heads per raceme, thicker seeds, and a small rootstock, restricted to the Grampians region (subsp. grampianensis D. Morrison & A.J. Rupp); and a form with shorter phyllodes, shorter internodes, shorter fruits, thicker seeds and a prostrate habit, occurring on windswept coastal headlands (subsp. prostrata D. Morrison & A.J. Rupp).

Morphological variation and speciation in Stylidium graminifolium (Stylidiaceae), description of S. montanum and reinstatement of S. armeria

2001 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 901 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. J. Raulings ◽  
P. Y. Ladiges
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variation ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Sandy Soils ◽  
Leaf Margin ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Pale Pink ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Floral Characters

Phenetic analyses of morphological variation within Stylidium graminifolium Sw. ex Willd. sens. lat. are presented. Plants collected from 65 localities throughout Victoria and southern New South Wales were scored for eight leaf and 11 floral characters. Flowers collected from a subset of these populations and preserved in ethanol were scored for 15 floral characters. Five forms were identified in the analyses with three species warranting taxonomic recognition. Stylidium graminifolium Sw. ex Willd. sens. str. has erect, glaucous, narrowly linear leaves up to 2.5 mm wide with regular, fine serrations along the leaf margin. This species has comparatively small, pale pink to white flowers with six prominent and two reduced throat appendages surrounding the entrance to the nectary tube. The scape is usually glandular–pubescent below the lowest flower and bears 10–50 flowers. This species is widespread in eastern Australia in well-drained sandy soils of lowlands and foothills. Stylidium montanum Raulings & Ladiges sp. nov. has suberect to spreading leaves with a fine, reddish scape bearing fewer than 30 deep pink flowers usually with six prominent and two reduced throat appendages. It differs from S. graminifolium in its habit, broader, oblanceolate leaves 3–5(–7) mm wide, pale to mid-green leaves, deep pink flowers and a glabrescent scape below the lowest flower. It occurs on peaty water-retentive soils in alpine and subalpine situations above c. 1000 m. Stylidium armeria (Labill.) Labill. is reinstated. This species is characterised by narrowly oblanceolate leaves (3)5–15 mm wide and 15–40 cm long, a glandular–hairy scape above the lowest flower and 30–110 flowers per scape. Flowers are light pink to deep magenta with eight prominent throat appendages. This species is widespread throughout south-eastern Australia and is morphologically variable throughout its distribution.

Evolution of Acmopyle and Dacrycarpus (Podocarpaceae) foliage as inferred from macrofossils in south-eastern Australia

1991 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 449 ◽  
Author(s):  
RS Hill ◽  
RJ Carpenter
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Climatic Change ◽  
Convergent Evolution ◽  
Leaf Size ◽  
High Latitudes ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Early Oligocene ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
A New Species ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Macrofossil specimens of Dacrycarpus and Acmopyle from south-eastern Australia are investigated. The specimens previously assigned to D. praecupressinus are revised, with one placed in a different genus and new species, Podocarpus witherdenensis, and some placed in a new species, D. latrobensis. One specimen is retained as the lectotype of D. praecupressinus. Dacrycarpus eocenica is re-examined and it is concluded that this species is not Dacrycarpus, but probably belongs to an extinct podocarpaceous genus. Dacrycarpus setiger is transferred to Acmopyle, and three new Acmopyle species, A. florinii, A. glabra and A. tasmanica, are described. It is hypothesised that during the Tertiary in south-eastern Australia stomatal distribution was reduced on Dacrycarpus and Acmopyle foliage. In Dacrycarpus the bilaterally flattened foliage type (which has a greater photosynthetic area than the bifacially flattened foliage) became rare or extinct after the Early Oligocene, prior to the extinction of the genus in the region. Acmopyle has not been recorded in the region after the Early Oligocene. A trend towards reduction in leaf size at high latitudes has previously been demonstrated in angiosperms but not gymnosperms and, along with the reduction of stomatal distribution, probably represents convergent evolution in response to climatic change.

Morphological variation ofSolanum elaeagnifoliumin south-eastern Australia

Weed Research ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (5) ◽  
pp. 344-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
X C Zhu ◽  
H W Wu ◽  
R Stanton ◽  
G E Burrows ◽  
D Lemerle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Morphological Variation ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Attempts to measure the influence of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) on the field mortality of the bush fly Musca vetustissima Walker (Diptera: Muscidae) in south-eastern Australia

1983 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. M. H. Wallace ◽  
M Tyndale-Biscoe
Keyword(s):  
Total Mortality ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Predatory Mites ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
The Other ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Multiple Species ◽  
South Eastern Australia

AbstractThe immature stages of Musca vetustissima Wlk. in dung pads in south-eastern Australia suffered a high mortality through the actions of a complex array of dung organisms, including dung beetles (scarabaeids), predatory beetles (hydrophilids and histerids) and predatory mites (Macrocheles glaber (Müll.)). At times of high dung beetle numbers, it was possible to demonstrate a relationship between fly mortality and dung beetle numbers. Single-species dung beetle populations appeared to be as effective as multiple-species populations in reducing fly numbers, except that some benefit was derived from a combination of day- and night-flying species. When dung beetle numbers were low, their influence could not be measured because of the high mortalities already caused by the other dung fauna. It is suggested that in those circumstances any mortality caused by the dung beetles may simply have become substituted for an existing mortality caused by other fauna without adding to the total mortality.

Muellerina flexialabastra (Loranthaceae): a new species of mistletoe from south-eastern Australia

2004 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 441 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul O. Downey ◽  
Carol A. Wilson
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Dna Analysis ◽  
Nuclear Dna ◽  
Leaf Size ◽  
Species Status ◽  
Morphological Attributes ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
A New Species ◽  
South Eastern Australia

A new species of mistletoe, Muellerina flexialabastra Downey & C.A. Wilson (Loranthaceae), from south-eastern Australia is described. The description of this new species is based on morphological and nuclear DNA sequence differences between it and the other four species of the genus: Muellerina celastroides, M.�eucalyptoides, M.�bidwillii and M.�myrtifolia. Several morphological attributes that separate this new species from its relatives: (i) the shape of the corolla, (ii) the direction flowers open in relation to the floral triad axis, (iii)�the shape of the flower umbel, (iv) leaf size, (v) location of epicortical runners and (vi) the host species. In addition, nuclear DNA analysis revealed 11 unique nucleotide base changes in this new species supporting its species status.

Influence of earthworms, Aporrectodea spp. (Lumbricidae), on lime burial in pasture soils in south-eastern Australia

Soil Research ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 831 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. H. Baker ◽  
P. J. Carter ◽  
V. J. Barrett
Keyword(s):  
Soil Ph ◽  
Mediterranean Climate ◽  
Soil Acidity ◽  
Agricultural Soils ◽  
The Other ◽  
Aporrectodea Caliginosa ◽  
Soil Layers ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
South Eastern Australia

The relative abilities of 3 exotic lumbricid earthworms, the endogeic Aporrectodea caliginosa and A. trapezoides and the anecic A. longa, to bury surface-applied lime and help ameliorate soil acidity were measured in cages in 7 pasture soils in south-eastern Australia. All 3 species buried lime, mostly within the top 5 cm of the soil profile, but A. longa buried it deeper than A. caliginosa and A. trapezoides. A. longa significantly increased soil pH at 15–20 cm depth at some sites within 5 months (winter–spring, the earthworm ‘season’ in the Mediterranean climate of south-eastern Australia). Lime burial varied markedly between sites. These site differences were explained, at least in part, by variations in rainfall. Lime burial increased with earthworm density. A minimum density of 214 A. longa/m 2 was needed to significantly enhance lime burial within one season. Higher densities were required for the other two species. However, per unit of biomass, A. caliginosa and A. trapezoides were generally more able to bury lime in the upper soil layers (2 . 5–10 cm depth) than A. longa. Agricultural soils in south-eastern Australia are dominated by shallow burrowing species such as A. caliginosa and A. trapezoides. Deeper burrowers such as A. longa are rare. Introduction of A. longa to soils in high-rainfall regions of south-eastern Australia, where it does not presently occur, should enhance lime burial and help reduce soil acidity.

Effects of environmental conditions on the production of hypocotyl hairs in seedlings of Melaleuca ericifolia (swamp paperbark)

2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (7) ◽  
pp. 564 ◽  
Author(s):  
Randall W. Robinson ◽  
Paul I. Boon ◽  
Nina Sawtell ◽  
Elizabeth A. James ◽  
Robert Cross
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Coastal Wetlands ◽  
Root Hairs ◽  
Harsh Environments ◽  
Low Salinity ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Small Wetland ◽  
South Eastern Australia

The production of hypocotyl hairs in the early stages of seedling development can strongly influence the success with which plants recruit sexually in harsh environments. Although wetlands are one type of environment in which seedlings might be expected to develop hypocotyl hairs, there have been few studies of these structures in the woody aquatic plants. We investigated the production of hypocotyl hairs in Melaleuca ericifolia Sm., a small wetland tree widely distributed across swampy coastal areas of south-eastern Australia, in relation to water availability, salinity, temperature and light regime. Hypocotyl hairs were ~20 mm long × 30 μm wide; in contrast, root hairs were generally less than 5 mm long and 15 μm wide. Hypocotyl hairs were produced only under a narrow range of environmental conditions—low salinity, low water availability, moderate temperature, and darkness—and seedlings that failed to produce hypocotyl hairs did not survive. Since the conditions under which hypocotyl hairs were produced were at least as, and possibly even more, restricted than those required for successful germination of seeds, it is likely that the successful sexual recruitment of M. ericifolia would be rare and episodic under conditions existing in most coastal wetlands in south-eastern Australia.

Strawberry Waiting-bed Plants: A Valid Alternative to Increase Early and Total Yields in Subtropical Regions

HortScience ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 459e-459
Author(s):  
Daniel S. Kirschbaum ◽  
Javier Honorato ◽  
Daniel J. Cantliffe
Keyword(s):  
High Altitude ◽  
High Latitude ◽  
Fruit Production ◽  
The Other ◽  
South American ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Early Winter ◽  
Late Fall ◽  
Low Altitude ◽  
Marketable Fruit

Strawberry (Fragaria xananassa Duch.) production in subtropical areas is characterized by a low late-fall and early winter fruit yield, a time when the value of the crop is the highest of the season. Under this context, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of waiting-bed plants for late fall and early winter production in order to increase early and total fruit yields in the Argentine sub-tropic. Plants of the cultivar `Chandler' produced in a waiting-bed (WB), at high-latitude (HL), high-altitude (HA), or low-altitude (LA) were compared at two locations in Tucuman, NW Argentina: Famailla (1995, experiment 1; 1996, experiment 2) and Lules (1995, experiment 3). Total production from WB plants was 41% higher than from HA plants in experiment 1. Total production from WB plants was 83 % and 53 % greater than from HL plants and LA plants, respectively, in experiment 2. Early season fruit production was greater in WB (241%) than HL plants in experiment 2. In experiment 3, early fruit production from WB plants was greater than HL, HA, and LA, by 573, 177, and 158%, respectively. The number of marketable fruit from WB plants was larger than in the other treatments (139-231%). WB percentages of marketable fruit were above 90%. The results suggest that WB plants could be considered as an alternative to HL, HA, and LA plants to improve strawberry production and yield distribution in South American subtropical regions.

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