Phylogenetic relationships of two anomalous species of Pultenaea (Fabaceae: Mirbelieae), and description of a new genus

Abstract

SummaryCrisp, M. D., Gilmore, S. R. & Weston, P. H.: Phylogenetic relationships of two anomalous species of Pultenaea (Fabaceae: Mirbelieae), and description of a new genus. – Taxon 48: 701‐714. 1999. – ISSN 0040‐0262.The phytogeny of genera related to Pultenaea was investigated using three independent data sets: morphology and nucleotide sequences of non‐coding DNA from the nucleus (ITS) and the chloroplast (trnL‐F). Elucidating the relationships of two species anomalous in Pultenaea – P. neurocalyx and P. selaginoides – was the principal question. Despite some incongruence among the data sets, P. neurocalyx is unambiguously placed with Eutaxia, but its formal taxonomic placement – either as a species of Eutaxia or as a monotypic new genus –is left undecided pending a species‐level analysis of that group. The precise phylogenetic position of P. selaginoides is not clear, due to incongruence between the ITS and trnL‐F data sets. Its most likely relationship is with Almaleea, as indicated by both morphology (weakly) and trnL‐F (strongly). To accommodate this species, a unispecific new genus, Stonesiella, is created, diagnosed by characters of the inflorescence and bracts, and the absence of all synapomorphies of the other Pultenaea‐group genera. The appropriateness of recognising monotypic genera is discussed. Monophyly of Pultenaea s.str. (excluding P. selaginoides and P. neurocalyx) is supported equivocally.