Thysanotus racemoides (Asparagales: Laxmanniaceae), a new species from South Australia and western Victoria

Abstract

The new species Thysanotus racemoides Sirisena, T.D.Macfarl. & Conran, from South Australia and western Victoria, is described and distinguished from the previously conspecific T. juncifolius (Salisb.) J.H.Willis & Court, by the presence of sessile subterminal umbels and relatively longer anthers and perianth segments. The revised distribution of T. juncifolius is New South Wales and eastern Victoria. Descriptions, photographic plates and a map are provided for the new species and T. juncifolius. The key in the Flora of Australia is amended to accommodate the new species.

Revision of the multi-ovulate species of Thysanotus (Asparagaceae), with three new species

“…Most occur in Western Australia, especially in the south-west. New species have been recently described (Sirisena et al 2009(Sirisena et al , 2013(Sirisena et al , 2016Macfarlane et al 2020;Wang & Silcock 2022) but more undescribed species are known. The work reported in this paper commenced with investigation of a presumed new species that came to our attention, followed by our observation of another suspected new species within the current concept of T. nudicaulis Brittan.…”

Formal transfer of Murchisonia to Thysanotus (Asparagaceae)

“…Species of Thysanotus have stamens moderately to strongly declinate, anthers with less than full-length dorsal thickenings or poorly developed thickenings and the few species that dehisce by slits show indications that the slits are secondary extensions of apical pores. Despite these distinct morphological features, phylogenetic studies of Thysanotus and Murchisonia using chloroplast (trnL and trnL-F) and nuclear (ITS2) DNA regions and morphology (Sirisena 2010;Sirisena et al, in prep. ), show that the two Murchisonia species are nested within Thysanotus, but in separate parts of the phylogenetic tree.…”

“…Murchisonia should therefore be a synonym of Thysanotus; its two species are here transferred to Thysanotus. The scientific case for this action including detailed discussion of characters is outlined in Sirisena (2010) and will be published in more detail in Sirisena et al (in prep. ).…”