A new cryptically dioecious species of bush tomato (Solanum) from the Northern Territory, Australia

David E Symon,Christopher Martine,Elizabeth C Evans

doi:10.3897/phytokeys.30.6003

Abstract

A new species of dioecious Solanum from the Australian “Dioicum Complex” of Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum is described. Solanum cowiei Martine sp. nov., is allied with other members of this problematic lineage, but differs in its slender leaves, limited armature and diminutive habit. The species was first segregated by botanists at the Northern Territory Herbarium as Solanum sp. Litchfield (I.D. Cowie 1428); and specimens representing this species have also been referred to by Symon as Solanum sp. Fitzmaurice River. Collections suggest that this is an endemic of the sub-arid tropical zone of the Northern Territory. SEM images support initial assumptions that the new species is cryptically dioecious via production of inaperturate pollen grains in morphologically hermaphrodite flowers.

Highlights

More than three decades ago the late David Symon published the first comprehensive monograph of Solanum in Australia (1980), a collection of species descriptions for 125 native and exotic solanums including fourteen species newly described by the author. Symon (1980) included a set of 18 native Australian “spiny solanums” of Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum within his interpretation of Solanum section Melongena, allying them with the cultivated eggplant (Solanum melongena)
Solanum cowiei is named for Dr Ian Cowie, Chief Botanist at the Northern Territory Herbarium (DNA) and one of the first to recognize the distinct nature of the taxon
Solanum cowiei has been known for some time as a local morphotype, having been described by Cowie as Solanum sp

Summary

Introduction

More than three decades ago the late David Symon published the first comprehensive monograph of Solanum in Australia (1980), a collection of species descriptions for 125 native and exotic solanums including fourteen species newly described by the author. Symon (1980) included a set of 18 native Australian “spiny solanums” of Solanum subgenus Leptostemonum within his interpretation of Solanum section Melongena, allying them with the cultivated eggplant (Solanum melongena). New field collections from Litchfield National Park by CTM and colleagues were used for molecular work (Martine et al 2011) inferring that Solanum sp.

Results

Conclusion