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The article presents abstracts of papers presented at the T. F. Cheeseman Symposium and New Zealand Plant Conservation Network annual conference held at the University of Auckland in New Zealand on November 20-21, 2006. They include "Watercolours of Plants," "Chemical Systematics and Evolution of Veronica," and "Conservation and Hybridisation in the Waimakariri Basin."

This paper provides an assessment of the naturalisation status all exotic conifers present in New Zealand using existing herbarium specimens as qualifiers. A total; of 371 exotic taxa are confirmed as having been introduced for cultivation which represents 63% of world conifers that are non-native to New Zealand. In strong contrast to indigenous conifers, introduced conifers are predominantly from the Pineaceae and Cupressaceae families. Naturalised conifers are a major issue for southern hemisphere countries, this paper confirms a total of 57 exotic conifer taxa as wild in New Zealand, including 15 new taxa described as wild since the last comprehensive update. Conifers from the Rocky Mountain and Eastern Asiatic Botanical Regions are prominent among introduced taxa, but naturalised taxa frequently originate from Madrean and Circumboreal Regions. Many of the taxa previously reported as wild have expanded their New Zealand range considerably since their distributions were last described. Despite these increases, most exotic conifers in New Zealand likely occupy a relatively small proportion of the area in which they could establish. The ongoing naturalisation and spread of exotic conifers illustrate the significant environmental weed threat posed by this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current threat of myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) to New Zealand Myrtaceae, including a number of indigenous and socio-economically important species, requires that ex situ conservation is used to complement in situ populations. New Zealand's Myrtaceae have received little attention in terms of ex situ conservation. In this study, we assessed the integrated ex situ conservation strategies for selected New Zealand Myrtaceae. We particularly investigated seed banking options by assessing seed desiccation tolerance, in vitro culture, pollen cryopreservation and zygotic embryo cryopreservation of the recalcitrant Syzygium maire. A desiccation trial was conducted on six Myrtaceae species: Lophomyrtus bullata, L. obcordata, Metrosideros diffusa, M. umbellata, M. bartlettii and Syzygium maire. S. maire seeds and embryos showed extreme sensitivity to desiccation confirming its recalcitrant behaviour. The seeds of the other species were desiccation tolerant i.e. orthodox. Zygotic embryos of S. maire were successfully cryopreserved using an encapsulation-dehydration technique. Pollen cryopreservation was successful for M. excelsa following desiccation to about 5% moisture content, rapid freezing and rapid thawing. For M. bartlettii, one of the most endangered and a nationally critical Myrtaceae species in New Zealand, we tested the efficacy of hand pollination in producing viable seeds. Our assessment confirmed that one of the M. bartlettii trees at Otari is self-incompatible, and successful hand pollination using pollen obtained from different genotypes growing in the gardens at the University of Auckland resulted in seed production with c. 20% germination. Tissue culture protocols were successfully developed for selected Myrtaceae. In addition, photoautotrophic micropropagation techniques were developed for the first time for L. scoparium. This paper highlights the importance of holistic conservation strategies to ensure future access to New Zealand's unique Myrtaceae germplasm as a key component of long-term management response to the threat posed by A. psidii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The endemic bull kelp Durvillaea willana Lindauer grows on South and Stewart/Rakiura Islands, with a small North Island population on the northern Wairarapa coast. Drawing on field observations, the distribution of this species is mapped. Within its biogeographic range, there are three lengthy tracts of rocky shore where the kelp is conspicuously absent. These distributional gaps are: Wellington's south coast (despite proximity to populations on the South Island side of Cook Strait), the southern and central Wairarapa Coast, and in South Westland. Theorising that these gaps have been caused by earthquake-driven coastal uplift, this paper examines the effects on Durvillaea species of a 7.8 Mw earthquake in 2016, which raised around 100 km of seashore along the Kaikōura coast, plus the historical evidence of uplift along the Akatore Fault, south of Dunedin. This evidence suggests that the requirements for such local extinctions are that the uplift is consistently higher than the kelp's vertical range, and that it occurs along an entire rocky coastal tract flanked by barriers to recolonisation such as long beaches or deep ocean–major obstacles to a non-buoyant kelp with poor dispersive ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article offers information on the "New Zealand Journal of Botany." The article lists the composition of the 2004 and 2005 issues of the journal. A variety of topics were addressed in 2005 including biosystematics and biogeography. An online version of all issues of the journal is now available.

Senecio australisis confirmed as present in New Zealand. A full description based on New Zealand specimens is also provided.Senecio australiswas discovered in New Zealand in 1994. Prior to this date, the absence of supporting specimens had caused this species to be rejected from the New Zealand flora and treated as endemic to Norfolk Island. In this paper, the biostatus ofS. australisin New Zealand is reviewed and it is concluded that the species is most likely a recent natural, bird-assisted arrival from Norfolk Island. The most probable seed vector of theSeneciois the grey ternlet (Procelsterna cerulea albivitta), a small seabird common on Norfolk and Kermadec Islands, which periodically visits northern New Zealand waters. The conservation status ofS. australisis briefly discussed and the current status of ‘Non-Resident Native/Vagrant’ awarded to the species by the New Zealand Threatened Indigenous Vascular Plant panel is considered to be still appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyrenula (Pyrenulaceae) is a poorly studied genus of lichenized mycobiota in New Zealand. Following the sampling of lichens from over 50 vegetation plots established within the Auckland Region by the Auckland Council, we have recognised a further five species of Pyrenula: P. leucostoma (Zahlbr.) R. C. Harris, P. microcarpa Müll. Arg., P. pyrenuloides (Mont.) R. C. Harris, P. subumbilicata (C. Knight) Aptroot and P. subvariolosa (C. Knight) Aptroot from the New Zealand Botanical Region. These discoveries increase the number of Pyrenula accepted for New Zealand from 10 to 15, and extend the range of two species previously regarded as endemic to Australia. The discoveries also highlight the importance of undertaking more comprehensive lichen sampling within New Zealand's ecosystems. We recommend that, for those regions where permanent vegetation plots have been established for long-term monitoring, an assessment of lichen diversity should also be included in their initial sampling phase and monitoring protocols. With these additions, as well as changes in the taxonomy of New Zealand Pyrenula, a revised key to the known species of Pyrenula in New Zealand is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomy of the glabrous-leaved plants ascribed to Pimelea prostrata and P. urvilliana (here each regarded as members of a species complex) is examined. The entities that were originally classed under the names prostrata and urvilliana are identified and the species typified and described. The Pimelea prostrata complex consists of three species: P. prostrata (with four additional new subspecies); and the new species Pimelea orthia (two subspecies) and Pimelea xenica, each from scattered locations in the northern half of the North Island. Pimelea prostrata subsp. prostrata occurs in scattered places in the southern half of the North Island and very widely in the South Island. The other infraspecific units in P. prostrata, each distributed regionally, are subspecies seismica, vulcanica, thermalis, and ventosa. Pimelea orthia subsp. orthia is an inland to near coastal plant whereas subsp. protea lives only on coastal dunes. The Pimelea urvilliana complex consists of six species: P. urvilliana subspecies urvilliana (now only in the Auckland region), with one new subspecies, nesica (on islands east of Auckland and Coromandel); the new species Pimelea carnosa (coastal sites in North and South Islands); Pimelea sporadica (four widely spread sites in the northern half of the North Island); Pimelea eremitica (from a single North Auckland location); and two species described in an earlier paper, Pimelea actea (from the Manawatu-Wanganui coast) and Pimelea telura (Three Kings Islands). Some of the subspecies of P. prostrata are relatively common as is P. urvilliana subsp. nesica and, locally, P. carnosa. None of the other taxa covered here is abundant. Pimelea urvilliana subsp. urvilliana is particularly scarce and may be extinct on the New Zealand mainland. Live populations and herbarium specimens include individuals with mixed characters indicating that some taxa cross freely with one another if the opportunity arises. Hybridisation occurs between some members of the P. prostrata complex. Hybrids are also found between some members of the P. urvilliana complex. Also, certain members of each of these two groups hybridise with one another. Overall, the crossing has generated a high degree of variability in some field populations ("hybrid swarms" and far-reaching introgression) especially among coastal plants. The complex character assortments in some of these populations are recorded, using scatter diagrams and pictographs. A key for identification of all glabrous-leaved Pimelea taxa in New Zealand includes those in the Pimelea gnidia group of species as well as the P. prostrata and P. urvilliana species complexes. Hybrids are not covered in the key, but information to assist in their identification appears in the text. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A taxonomic revision of Hebe and Leonohebe in New Zealand has involved studies of plant morphology and flavonoid chemistry. This paper is the second in a series that summarises the composition and taxonomic distribution of leaf flavonoids in the two genera. It outlines the distribution of flavonoids in species of "Apertae", "Occlusae", and "Grandiflorae" (informal infrageneric groups of Hebe). Presence/absence data are presented for 85 flavonoids from 377 samples of 42 species (as well as some samples of uncertain taxonomic placement). Flavonoid variation within and between species is illustrated using a series of ordination analyses. Most species in each of "Apertae" and "Grandiflorae" and many in "Occlusae" can be distinguished by their flavonoid profiles, generally through possession of unique combinations of compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TheCharacteres Generum Plantarumof J.R. Forster and G. Forster incorporates many of the botanical discoveries made during Captain Cook's second voyage to the Pacific (1772–1775). Copies of this book dated 1775 and 1776 are known, and since the 1970s the 1775 folio copies have been regarded as the effective publication for taxonomic purposes. From newer evidence it is concluded that the rare 1775 copies do not constitute effective publication, which occurred only with the quarto edition in 1776. The generic nameGriseliniaJ.R. Forst & G. Forst. is therefore not effectively published.GriseliniaG. Forst. is a later homonym ofGriseliniaScop. and a previously rejected proposal to conserve it should be revived. The association of the Forsters with the family name Griseliniaceae is shown to be erroneous. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Dianella haematica and D. latissima are new species described from northern New Zealand, being currently known from a number of mainland sites as well as offshore islands, including Great Barrier Island and Little Barrier Island. These two species are segregated from D. nigra and differ from that species by growth habit, leaf, and flower characters. D. haematica is distinguished from D. nigra by its very short rhizomes and densely caespitose habit, the leaves being longer, wider, and olive or dark green, the leaf sheaths usually flushed red-brown to red-maroon, the perianth patent to only slightly recurved, and the struma and style shorter. D. latissima is distinguished from D. nigra by its robust and larger growth habit, the leaves being longer, wider, harshly scabrid, and usually uniformly green, the leaf sheaths pale green to light yellow-green, and the struma oblong, Dianella haemalica is considered to be a threatened species, and using the New Zealand Threat Classification System has a conservation status of Chronically Threatened/Serious Decline. For D. latissima there is insufficient information to make a formal assessment and, therefore, we consider it to be Data Deficient, requiring further survey to determine its distribution, abundance, and threats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review summarises the ecology and biology of the North Island New Zealand endemic evergreen epiphytic shrub Pittosporum kirkii Hook.f. ex Kirk (Pittosporaceae). While mainly found as an epiphyte associated with other nest epiphytes such as Astelia spp., it also exhibits rupestral and terrestrial lifestyles. Pittosporum kirkii is distinguished from other members of New Zealand Pittosporum by distinctive thick, fleshy, coriaceous leaves, which may assist survival in water-stressed habitats. Water availability is speculated to be the most limiting factor across all of the habitats that P. kirkii occupies and when under water stress, the species utilises a desiccation postponement strategy. Pittosporum kirkii has a restricted distribution with strong habitat preferences restricting it to upper lowland and lower montane mainly old-growth forest ecosystems of the upper North Island. The highest probabilities of P. kirkii occurrence lie within mean annual temperature between 7.8°C and 15.6°C, mean annual rainfall between 1172 and 4432 mm, mean minimum solar radiation in the coldest month between 4.8 and 6.6 MJ/m2/day, and vapour pressure deficits between 0.15 and 0.39 kPa. Pittosporum kirkii is currently listed as at risk–declining and qualified as data-poor and partial decline because of a lack of autecological information. Palatability to introduced brushtail possums and forest clearance have been suggested as the main agents of decline. Due to significant morphological differences between mainland New Zealand and Great Barrier Island/Aotea populations, further study is warranted to determine distinctness. Including P. kirkii in restoration plans and conservation monitoring is recommended in areas where it naturally occurs as this species is recognised as an indicator of overall forest health. Further detailed research on P. kirkii would be invaluable to fill the current gap in knowledge on its ongoing threats, sexual expression, pollination and seed dispersal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Stolonivector (Lophocoleaceae) has been found from two separate sites in southern New Zealand. Stolonivector echioides has been assigned to this genus because it is has all the features of Stolonivector, namely the presence of stolons, a lack of secondary pigmentation, both lateral- and ventral-intercalary branching types, leafy branches that often become flagelliform, highly variable leaf apices on female shoots that are usually bifid towards the base of the stem becoming more shallowly bifid, retuse or entire towards the apex of the stem, and underleaves with apices that vary in the degree of division along the same stem ranging from undivided to deeply bifid. The most distinctive character that distinguishes this species from others in the genus is the spinose surface of leaves and perianths. This new addition brings the total number of New Zealand Stolonivector species to six, four of which are endemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last 15 years, New Zealand led research on wastewater treatment high rate algal ponds (HRAP) has focused on ways to optimise pond performance, particularly with respect to nutrient removal and resource recovery (microalgal biomass production). The primary motivation for most of this research has been the need to cost-effectively improve wastewater treatment, particularly in small towns and rural communities, where wastewater treatment would otherwise be unaffordable. The ability to recover resources (water and nutrients) helps enable a circular bio-economy, through the reuse of these recovered resources in future products. New Zealand HRAP research has focused on 10 broad categories, including improving pond performance (nutrient removal and biomass yield), environmental impacts of HRAPs, pond design and operation, microalgal and zooplankton community composition and control, algal-based products, enhancing phosphorus removal, biomass harvesting and emerging contaminants. Research has been carried out at a range of scales, including mesocosm, pilot-scale and full-scale. Simple modification to how HRAPs are operated, such as culture depth, operating ponds in series, biomass recycling and night-time CO2 addition, have been shown to improve pond performance, particularly nutrient removal, biomass productivity, species dominance maintenance or zooplankton graze control. However, despite our improved understandings over the last 15 years, there are still a number of priorities for increasing HRAP performance, including effective CO2 addition at full-scale, improving phosphorus removal and reducing potential environmental impacts of HRAPs. Uptake of HRAP technology by local government bodies and industries is low and the reasons for this are not fully clear. Cost-effective and sustainable harvesting of the microalgal/bacterial biomass, to ensure effluent discharge meets total nutrient and total suspended solids load limits, is one barrier that must be overcome to allow greater uptake of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new combinations are made in Piper for taxa previously treated as Macropiper and overlooked in recent literature merging these genera. The new combinations are Piper excelsum subsp. delangei (R.O.Gardner) de Lange for Macropiper excelsum subsp. peltatum f. delangei R.O.Gardner, Piper excelsum subsp. peltatum (R.O.Gardner) de Lange for Macropiper excelsum subsp. peltatum R.O.Gardner and Piper excelsum subsp. psittacorum (Endl.) de Lange for Macropiper excelsum subsp. psittacorum (Endl.) Sykes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Ocellularia (Graphidaceae) is a genus of crustose lichens comprising c.200 species, four known from Australia and New Zealand. Based on recent collections from northern North Island, we describe a fifth species Ocellularia jacinda-arderniae, which is a member of the O. bicuspidata complex. This complex is characterised by peculiar, appendiculate ascospores and a psoromic acid chemistry. Two further undescribed species of this complex, one from North Island and one from South Island, are discussed but left undescribed pending further study. Based on our findings, we provide a revised assessment of New Zealand Ocellularia. Of the four species included in the most recent Flora of New Zealand Lichens from 2007, three do not belong in that genus and the identification of the fourth is incorrect; instead, the following four taxa are recognised: O. jacinda-arderniae, O. aff. dolichotata, O. aff. bicuspidata (a) (South Island; OTA 58820) and O. aff. bicuspidata (b) (North Island; UNITEC 10818). This leads to the somewhat unusual situation that a presumably known genus biota in New Zealand is entirely replaced by names of a new species and three provisional identifications. The following new combination is introduced: Schizotrema concentricum (Stirt.) Lücking comb. nov. In addition, the name Thelotrema manosporum (C. Knight.) Hellb. is given as the correct name for the New Zealand taxon previously identified as T. monosporum Nyl., and the name T. monosporoides Nyl. [syn.: O. monosporoides (Nyl.) Hale] is established as a taxonomic synonym of T. manosporum, leaving two New Zealand species of Thelotrema with large, brown ascospores, namely T. manosporum and T. saxatile C. Knight. The situation of the genus Ocellularia highlights the need for detailed taxonomic revision of understudied lichen groups in New Zealand, especially as these and related genera in the Graphidaceae are excellent indicators of forest health and can be used for monitoring purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pilosella officinarum is a serious adventive weed in New Zealand. It has also proven to be highly invasive in other countries. The areas infested are typically extensive rangelands for which expensive control measures would be hard to justify economically. However, it has been known for many years that species of this genus are particularly sensitive to the concentration of boron in the soil. The application of boron fertilisers is now a common practice to control P. officinarum infestations in the extensively grazed tussock grasslands in Central Otago. The farmers seek to exploit the differences in boron tolerance between P. officinarum and the exotic pasture species which farmers would like to establish in its place. However, there are large tracts of infested land for which the aim is the restoration of the native vegetation for water harvesting, aesthetic or conservation reasons. This study examines the effect of boron application (as ulexite) on the native species of the tussock grasslands flora. At the application rates recommended for P. officinarum control none of the native species was adversely affected by the added ulexite. Doubling the recommended application rates affected some but not all of the native species. The results suggest that the use of boron in this manner is unlikely to have any adverse effect on conservation values in tussock grassland, whether grazed or retired. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A small pond in Hinewai Reserve, Banks Peninsula, Canterbury has revealed a phytoplankton bloom consisting of an unusually minute desmid which has consequently been difficult to observe. It is described, assigned to the genus Cosmarium and compared with superficially similar species. It has unique features which justify assigning it to a new species Cosmarium wilsonii David B. Williamson & C.F. Carter. It is named after the Reserve kaitiaki (manager) Dr H. D. Wilson. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review the biology and ecology of the endemic New Zealand genus Alseuosmia A. Cunn. The taxonomy of the genus has a complicated history with considerable debate about both its relationship to other genera and the number of species recognised within it. Alseuosmia is now considered to belong to the small Southern Hemisphere family Alseuosmiaceae. Five species are currently accepted within Alseuosmia (A. macrophylla A. Cunn, A. turneri R. O. Gardner, A. pusilla Colenso, A. quercifolia A. Cunn and A. banksii A. Cunn). However, A. banksii is extremely morphologically variable and some forms that do not fit in to the existing taxonomy may warrant recognition at the species level. Unusual features of the genus include rayless wood and the apparent mimicry by some Alseuosmia species of unrelated plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent treatments have recognised seven species indigenous to New Zealand in the fern genus Adiantum. Most of these species display dimorphism with respect to the presence or absence of hairs on the abaxial pinna surfaces, or the nature of the hairs themselves. Taxonomic treatment of these dimorphisms has not been consistent, with variation sometimes treated at the specific or varietal levels, or not recognised at all. Morphological variation in the pinna hair characters of all indigenous species is examined here, and the taxonomic significance of the variation reassessed to bring a consistent approach to classification in New Zealand Adiantum. It is concluded that glabrous and hairy variants should not be given taxonomic recognition, but should be considered dimorphisms within those species that are distinguished on the basis of other morphological characters. As a consequence, A. viridescens is reduced to synonymy with A. fulvum, since the two cannot be distinguished by any character other than the glabrous or hairy nature of the pinnae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific interest has grown over recent years in response to greatly increased perception of the phylogenetic diversity within the conifers as a whole. Much of this has been stimulated by perspectives of increased knowledge of depths of divisions amongst the many living member groupings, especially from DNA-molecular analyses. Interest includes increasing awareness of just how different and ancient have various of the coniferous divisions been, leading to long phylogenetic-autonomy for many components in major evolutionary developments, often with strong independencies across both Hemispheres. The mainly Southern Hemisphere podocarp members are emerging as one of the most diverse of overall arborescent gymnosperm groupings, and this diversity has been one which has spawned increasing interest in matching taxonomic status to phylogenetic perspectives emerging. Amongst these, the early phylogenetic divergences within the Sundacarpus-Prumnopitys alliance have become increasingly apparent. When combined with independent data from several other lines of evidence, a need for re-evaluation of the generic-boundaries within this group becomes necessary. A taxonomic revision is thus proposed here, separating a newly-named segregate genus, Pectinopitys, from the wider Prumnopitys s.l. alliance, as currently known. Consequent nomenclatural changes are given, and impact one of the species in New Zealand (where two genera here recognised are sympatric), plus those of the Australian region and several of those of the South American continent. Two fossil members from the Northern Hemisphere are also taken into account. On the above bases, main morphological features distinguishing Pectinopitys from Prumnopitys s.s. thus especially include, as 'key' main identity features, vegetative characters of leaf-type, spacing, insertion and arrangement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South American vine Araujia hortorum (Apocynaceae) is now considered an invasive species in many countries. In New Zealand it has been targeted for biological control. In its native range in Argentina it is frequently affected by cercosporoid fungi but little is known about the diseases they cause. These pathogens produce no, or scarce, conidia on common artificial media thus hindering certain experimental studies such as pathogenicity and host range tests. We developed a technique to obtain abundant sporulation of two cercosporoid species isolated from diseased leaves of this host. Sporulation was studied and compared on several artificial culture media after different incubation periods. The best results were obtained on a medium prepared with a decoction of the leaves of the host and the addition of CaCO3, after an incubation period of eight days at 25°C for Cercospora sp. and after five days at 20°C for Pseudocercospora fumosa. It is expected the new medium may prove useful for other cercosporoid pathogens as well, at least for those affecting related hosts in the Apocynaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cationic polymers (e.g. polyacrylamide) having a high molecular weight require a much lower dose than inorganic metal salts (e.g. AlCl3, FeCl3, or Al2(SO4)3) to produce dense compact flocs with good settling characteristics. This study investigated the effect of a continuous low dosing of cationic polyacrylamide (PAM) to achieve efficient algal removal from a 1-ha High Rate Algal Pond (HRAP) treating domestic wastewater in New Zealand. Firstly, standard jar tests were conducted in laboratory conditions. A wide range of PAM dose rates (0.25–9 mg/L), mixing periods (60–250 s) and settling times (0–120 min) were tested on HRAP effluent samples to determine optimal operational parameters for the 1-ha HRAP in terms of TSS and turbidity removal. PAM addition effectively promoted flocculation of the wastewater algal biomass, removing 78% of TSS (from 135 to 30 mg/L) and 70% of turbidity (from 41 to 12 NTU) at a dose of only 4 mg/L. The jar tests determined that ∼120 s of vigorous mixing followed by 15-min of settling were sufficient to promote the formation of dense/settleable algal flocs. Continuous addition of PAM to the hectare-scale HRAP effluent at the 4 mg/L laboratory determined dose rate was found to improve TSS removal in the Algal Harvest Pond (AHP) by ∼55% (from 13% to 68%). The TSS concentration and turbidity of the AHP effluent were consistently maintained <50 mg/L and <18 NTU respectively. Furthermore, a ∼1-log E. coli removal (from 1 × 105 to 1 × 104 MPN/100 ml after settling) was also achieved in the AHP as a result of the algal floc formation and removal. Overall, this study demonstrated that addition of low levels of the chemical flocculant (e.g. cationic polyacrylamide) to the HRAP effluent can greatly improve algal solid removal (at least 50%) with a minimum chemical cost (∼$0.05 NZD/m3 of wastewater). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of fossil fern with in situ spores, Palaeosorum waipiata (Polypodiaceae), is described and figured for a microsoroid fern frond from earliest Miocene sediments in Otago, New Zealand. The fertile frond from the Foulden Maar fossil Lagerstätte is pinnatifid with deep narrow lobes with entire margins and bears circular sori without indusia in rows on either side of the lobe midrib. Monolete spores associated with the frond are differentiated from similar, widespread dispersed spores of Polypodiisporites radiatus in possessing very small proximal verrucae/granulae around the laesurae and more rounded verrucae and the description of Palaeosorum is expanded to include information about sori and spores. This is the first confident Southern Hemisphere record for a microsoroid fern macrofossil, as well as the first with in situ spores. It is probable that this fern was epiphytic on trees or lithophytic on rocks adjacent to the Miocene maar lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brown algal genus Zonaria (Dictyotales: Dictyotaceae) is widely distributed in temperate waters. Two species, Zonaria turneriana J.Agardh and Zonaria aureomarginata J.A. Phillips & W.A. Nelson have previously been recorded from mainland New Zealand, and a third species, Zonaria diesingiana, has been recorded from the Kermadec Islands. As part of an ongoing study of the order Dictyotales in New Zealand, we have identified an undescribed species of Zonaria present on Stewart Island in southern New Zealand. The new species, described here as Zonaria cryptica, is very similar in external morphology to Z. turneriana, also found on Stewart Island, but differs both genetically and anatomically from Z. turneriana and from other previously described species in the genus. We present a description of the new species based on morphological and anatomical observations, as well as on DNA sequence data from three plastid markers: psaA, psbA and rbcL. Our analysis also indicates the presence of some biogeographic structuring within Z. turneriana and Z. aureomarginata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study usesRhododendronL. collections in New Zealand to analyse the contribution of introduced species in cultivation to global ex situ conservation. Living botanical collections of Red List taxa are the fundamental resource that enable ex situ conservation, and Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation requires 75% of Red List taxa to be in ex situ collections by 2020. We comparedRhododendrontaxa (species, subspecies, botanical varieties) in New Zealand with the range of taxa in international cultivation, and determined the presence of taxa from Red List categories, geographic origins and taxonomic groups. The 566 taxa in New Zealand, including 224 Red List taxa, encompass 67% of the taxa in cultivation worldwide, ranking second internationally for number of taxa in the collections investigated. New Zealand holds wild-collected material of 230 taxa, including 70 Red List taxa, and 20 taxa for which wild material is not listed in the international collections studied. China is the geographic origin of the greatest number ofRhododendronRed List taxa held in New Zealand. Of the 77 taxonomic subsections ofRhododendron, New Zealand holds 75% or more of the taxa in cultivation for 37 subsections, and 75% or more of the Red List taxa in cultivation for 24 subsections. The greatest numbers of Red List taxa in New Zealand collections are from sectionRhododendronsubsectionMaddenia(20) and sectionPonticasubsectionNeriiflora(17). Our analysis enables us to (1) propose conservation action forRhododendronin New Zealand, (2) summarise our approach as a model for examining other introduced plant genera in New Zealand, and (3) propose our method as a component of an ex situ conservation strategy for New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asplenium richardiiis a familiar and stable name that has been used for 160 years to identify an endemic New Zealand fern that occurs in montane and subalpine areas of the North and South Islands. However, re-examination of the holotype shows that it is actually a specimen of what is currently calledA. gracillimum.It is shown that knowledge and interpretation ofA. richardiihas changed over time, and that the current concept of a montane to subalpine species is quite different to the original concept of a lowland species. This has been compounded by confusion in the identification of the type specimen. Following correct identification of the holotype, strict implementation of the Code would mean that the nameA. richardiishould be used for what is currently calledA. gracillimum, and that the plant currently calledA. richardiiwould require a new name. In addition, 10 different hybrids involving these two species would require new combinations. The changes would affect the floras of both New Zealand and Australia whereA. gracillimumoccurs. However, the Code now encourages taxonomists to avoid name changes for purely nomenclatural reasons by conserving names. It is therefore proposed to conserve the nameA. richardiiHook.f. with a conserved type, thus avoiding what would be very confusing changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IsolepisR.Br. (Cyperaceae) is a genus of aquatic, wetland, or ephemeral sedges that comprises 76 species, mostly in the southern hemisphere, especially Africa and Australasia.Isolepis crassiusculaHook.f.,Isolepis lenticularisR.Br. andIsolepis producta(C.B. Clarke) K.L.Wilson are among the Australasian members of a morphologically well-defined subgenusFluitantes. Specimens belonging to this subgenus, collected from Mount Tongariro, New Zealand, showed ambiguous yet somewhat intermediate morphology compared with these three species. We sequenced directly, or cloned and sequenced, nuclear DNA (nrITS) and chloroplast DNA (rbcL,rps16andtrnL) regions of these collections and samples of the three aforementioned species of subgenusFluitantes. Ribotypes and chloroplast haplotypes were compared to resolve if the Tongariro collection was of hybrid origin and, if so, to address which of the three species may have been involved in the hybridisation event. The Tongariro plants had the species-specific ribotypes ofI. crassiusculaandI. lenticularisand the chloroplast haplotype ofI. lenticularis, strongly suggesting hybrid origin between them. No data support the inclusion ofI. productaas a parent. The morphologically uniform population from which the Tongariro plants were collected is likely to be derived from a single hybridisation event, although this hypothesis merits further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf surfaces provide a habitat for a wide range of organisms including bacteria, fungi, algae and bryophytes. Because the leaves of subtropical and tropical rainforest trees are mainly evergreen, these allow a longer time for foliicolous organisms to colonise and complete their life cycles, and evidence of these organisms can sometimes be found on fossil leaves. Here we describe a highly diverse group of epiphyllous fungi assigned to at least 10 genera and 15 morphotypes that have been isolated from late Eocene (c. 35 Ma) leaves preserved as carbonaceous compressions associated with the in situ Pikopiko Fossil Forest, western Southland. The fungi are described and illustrated, a new genus and species is established:Dennisiellinites pikopikoensisgen. et sp. nov; and the epiphyllous genera recorded from Australian Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic fossil leaves are listed for comparison. The Pikopiko fungi were found most commonly on the upper surface of angiosperm leaves and their abundance in the palaeo-rainforest suggests that climatic conditions in southern South Island during the late Eocene at a palaeolatitude of c. 54°S were subtropical, ever-wet and humid. This is the first time that a diverse range of epiphyllous fungal genera have been described from fossil leaf cuticle in New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Carex applanata, is described from the Old Woman, Old Man, Umbrella, Garvie, Pisa and The Remarkables Mountains in southern Central Otago and northern Southland. This low-growing sedge is distinctive in the congested spikes on culms shorter than the leaves, female flowers above male, and flattened habit. It occupies a habitat type rare in the region, but within suitable sites the population can number in the hundreds of plants. Carex applanata is considered to have a conservation status of 'At Risk/ Naturally Uncommon'--qualified RR ('Range Restricted') and DP ('Data Poor') using the New Zealand Threat Classification System because the species is naturally confined in its habitat preferences, but as a newly described alpine species it is poorly known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allan Cunningham's Florae Insularum Novae Zelandiae Precursor, published serially from 1837 to 1839, is an important source of taxonomic names in New Zealand botany. It is pointed out that the printed text contains a large number of errors, which can be corrected using an autograph manuscript that is still extant. In particular, the spelling of the name of the fern genus Loxsoma nom. et orth. cons. as Loxoma is discussed. It is shown that this is an orthographic error, soon corrected by its author, who is not Cunningham, as generally supposed, but W.J. Hooker, as actually stated in the published text. The manuscript confirms the attributions Loxsoma R.Br. ex Hook. and L. cunninghamii R.Br. ex Hook. A number of typographic errors are also discussed, the only significant one having resulted in the mistaken attribution of the family Griseliniaceae to Cunningham. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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An important tenet of biogeography and comparative ecology is that disjunct assemblages in similar physical environments are functionally more similar to each other than to assemblages from other environments. Temperate rainforests in South America, New Zealand and Australia share certain physiognomic similarities, but we are not aware of any statistical evidence that these disjunct plant assemblages share a distinctive suite of functional traits, or trait combinations. We compiled height, leaf, wood and reproductive traits from the 25 commonest arborescent species at Chilean and New Zealand sites matched for summer rainfall, summer maximum temperatures, and winter minimum temperatures. We then used multivariate tests of trait convergence. Tropical and subtropical assemblages served as out-groups. PERMANOVA showed convergence of trait centroids at the two temperate sites, where trees on average had denser wood and smaller leaves than trees at the (sub)tropical sites. Principal components analyses carried out separately on each assemblage showed that the Chilean and New Zealand assemblages were also the most similar pair in terms of trait relationships, although New Zealand also shared strong similarities with subtropical Argentina. The main axis of variation in both temperate assemblages ranged from small, short-lived understorey trees with soft leaves, to emergents with sclerophyllous leaves and fairly dense wood. However, the New Zealand assemblage was much richer in small trees with soft leaves than its Chilean counterpart; possible historical influences on this difference include conditions favouring radiation of small trees during the late Neogene in New Zealand, competition fromChusqueabamboos in Chile and the historical absence of browsing mammals from New Zealand. Environmental filtering has produced similar values of individual traits in Chile and New Zealand, but only partial convergence of functional trait combinations. As far as we know, this is the first study to statistically test whether disjunct tree assemblages on climatically matched sites are more functionally similar to each other than to assemblages from other environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological disturbances triggered by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are of fundamental importance in structuring the temperate forests of southwestern South America and New Zealand. We review studies of the ecological effects of these tectonic phenomena and how they have been central to progress in the modern development of forest ecology in both regions. Studies of tectonic influences on the dynamics of southern temperate rainforests of Chile and New Zealand published in the 1970s and early 1980s contributed prominently to the shift away from the equilibrium paradigms dominant globally in the 1960s and towards modern non-equilibrium frameworks of forest dynamics. Empirical studies of tectonic ecology in these temperate forests in combination with critical evaluations of earlier successional theory have significantly advanced understanding of the roles of coarse-scale disturbance in the dynamics of forests in southwestern South America and New Zealand. Recognition that cohort forest structures triggered by exogenous disturbances such as wind storms and tectonic events are the norm rather than all-aged structures has been of fundamental importance to understanding the dynamics of these forests. The non-equilibrium patch dynamics framework for interpreting forest structure and dynamics bolstered by tectonic ecology studies in southern South America and New Zealand was of key importance in refining older views of these forests as being out of equilibrium with contemporary climate, revising understanding of the effects of introduced browsing animals on forest structure, and guiding the development of appropriate forest management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The original journal publications of four Cheeseman species have been overlooked by later botanists because the descriptions were repeated 2-4 years later as "n. sp." and "n. comb." in the 2nd edition (1925) of his Manual of New Zealand Flora. The implications of these later erroneous citations are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lectotypes are designated for 23 basionyms relevant to New Zealand representatives of the fern family Hymenophyllaceae: Hymenophyllum alpinum Colenso, H. antarcticum C.Presl, H. cristulatum Rosenst., H. frankliniae Colenso, H. imbricatum Colenso, H. lyallii Hook.f., H. megalocarpum Colenso, H. oligocarpum Colenso, H. polychilum Colenso, H. pusillum Colenso, H. pygmaeum Colenso, H. rufescens Kirk, H. scabrum var. hirtum Colenso, H. spathulatum Colenso, H. truncatum Colenso, H. zeelandicum Bosch, Leptocionium sororium C.Presl, Sphaerocionium glanduliferum C.Presl, Trichomanes aureum Bosch, T. leptophyllum A.Cunn., T. multifidum G.Forst., T. polyodon Colenso, and T. venustula Colenso. Original material has also been identified for H. pyriforme Bosch but no lectotype designated. No type material has been found for Hymenophyllum aucklandicum Bosch. This article is a contribution towards clarifying the taxonomic and nomenclatural status of New Zealand plants for the plant names database (Ngā Tipu Aotearoa) and the electronic Flora of New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ramalina leiodeaandR. luciaeare reported from mainland New Zealand for the first time. A revised key to theRamalinaof the New Zealand Botanical Region is offered to accommodateR. leiodea, the recently confirmed Kermadec Islands records ofR. microspora, and the reinstatedR. ovalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In northern New Zealand,Beilschmiedia tawahas shown recruitment failure in some sites. TheBeilschmiediagenus has been shown to contain allelopathic compounds in its leaves and bark. In addition, the distribution of the main seed disperser for tawa, the kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae), has declined in recent years. In this study I assessed whetherB. tawaleaf leachate can affect recruitment ofB. tawa, particularly in disturbed sites. I also tested whether simulated endozoochory (removal of mesocarp) had an effect on germination. Results show that under laboratory conditions, leachate can have either a negative or a positive effect, depending on the concentration. At high concentrations (1:1), higher than normally experienced in the field, radicles were shorter than in the less concentrated treatment. At lower concentrations (1:50) there was a 50% higher germination index compared with the control and high concentration (1:1) treatments. Using soils from sites with different levels of anthropogenic disturbance did not have an effect on germination or hypocotyl length. Removal of the mesocarp positively affected germination (1.5-fold). Based on the results of this study, inhibition of germination and growth ofB. tawais unlikely to be caused by phytotoxicity of their own leachate under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirteen lectotypes are chosen for basionyms relevant to New Zealand representatives of the fern family Gleicheniaceae:Gleichenia alpinaR.Br.,Gleichenia ciliataColenso,Gleichenia cunninghamiiHook.,G. cunninghamiivar.montanumDobbie,Gleichenia dicarpaR.Br.,Gleichenia flabellataR.Br.,Gleichenia hecistophyllaA.Cunn.,Gleichenia hermanniiR.Br.,Gleichenia microphyllaR.Br.,Gleichenia patensColenso,Gleichenia punctulataColenso,Gleichenia semivestitaLabill. andGleichenia teneraR.Br. Four basionyms remain un-typified; three of these are varietal names for which the original materials have not been located, while the fourth,Gleichenia circinnataSw., requires further examination. This article is a contribution towards clarifying the taxonomic and nomenclatural status of New Zealand plants for the plant names database (Ngā Tipu Aotearoa) and the electronic Flora of New Zealand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rare wild hybrids occur between five of the six genera in the New Zealand endemicRaouliaalliance. Some of these intergeneric hybrids are partially male and female fertile despite the remarkable phenotypic divergence of the parental species. In this preliminary study, meiotic behaviour was investigated in microsporocytes of two wild hybrids,Anaphalioides bellidioides×Ewartiothamnus sinclairiiandLeucogenes grandiceps×Raoulia eximia, to obtain insights into the cytological phenomena responsible for the reduced pollen fertility of the hybrids. In theA. bellidioides×E. sinclairiihybrid, up to five chromosomal bodies were non-aligned along the metaphase plate in metaphase I, and laggard chromosomes and chromosomal bridges were observed in anaphase I. Micronuclei were observed in telophases I and II in 20% and 24% of microsporocytes, respectively. These abnormalities were observed at a low frequency in theL. grandiceps×R. eximiahybrid, which showed more highly regular meiosis. The difference in meiotic regularity shown by the two hybrids is in stark contrast to the comparative phenotypic divergence of the parental species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review the biology and ecology ofMetrosideros excelsa(Myrtaceae), an endemic angiosperm evergreen tree.Metrosideros excelsabelongs to a conspicuous and widely distributed Pacific Basin genus, with centres of diversity in both New Zealand and New Caledonia.Metrosideros excelsais an iconic tree species that forms a significant component of northern New Zealand's exposed coastal headland and cliff vegetation. Where conditions are more favourable,M. excelsaforms tall coastal forest, ranging from simple young high-density stands to diverse mature forest. Inland,M. excelsastands are confined to the margins of lakes and rivers on the Central Volcanic Plateau, where some may originate from early Māori plantings.Metrosideros excelsais reliant on stochastic disturbance events (e.g. landslides, volcanic eruptions) to create open sites necessary for regeneration. Mass flowering (December–January), followed by abundant production of wind-dispersed seed maximises chance colonisation of such sites. Since human settlement in New Zealand, the distribution ofM. excelsaforest has declined by c. 90% and the southern limit of the species has retreated north. Natural regeneration on the mainland is limited by the infrequency of large-scale disturbances and increased anthropogenic and herbivore pressures. Consequently,M. excelsaforest has become rare and localised on the mainland; monitoring and active management are fundamental to the species' long-term conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cosmopolitan plant genusPlantagocontains species with a wide range of chromosome numbers in its New Zealand endemic representatives. These species are diploid, tetraploid, octoploid, decaploid, dodecaploid and 16-ploid. Using genomic in situ hybridization, we have shown that some of these polyploids contain at least three different genomes, confirming their allopolyploid status. Fluorescence in situ hybridization with 5S and 45S rDNA probes showed a wide variety of species-specific patterns of distribution in the polyploid species, suggesting that polyploidy has been accompanied by genomic reorganization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nature, value and relative importance of different lines of evidence for deciding the circumscription and rank of genera are examined and discussed. First, I argue that the circumscriptions of genera (and higher taxa) should always be monophyletic, preferably with strong support from independent evidence. Second, the rank of genus is decided on more subjective grounds, but several criteria are helpful: phylogeny should be recoverable from the classification hierarchy, genera should be distinctive, ranks should not be redundant and familiar names should be retained if other criteria are met. I then apply these criteria to an evaluation of the circumscription and rank of 59 New Zealand endemic genera of seed plants accepted in two recent checklists. Fifteen genera (25.4%) were rejected and 16 (27.1%) are considered equivocal. However, my lower estimate almost certainly underestimates endemism at genus rank because the circumscriptions of several genera not evaluated here, such asPachycladon, could change in the future to become endemic. One new combination is made:Sonchus novae-zelandiae(Hook.f.) Garn.-Jones, although work in progress by others is likely to lead to several more. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new indigenous species is recorded for the New Zealand flora,Centrolepis glabra, found in lakes and kettlehole tarns of the inner montane basins of the South Island.Centrolepis glabrahas previously been known only from Australia. A description ofC. glabrabased on New Zealand material and notes on habitat and distribution are provided. The name,C. minima, has been consistently misapplied to specimens referable toC. glabra, obscuring its presence in New Zealand.Centrolepis minimaKirk is determined as conspecific withC. pallida(Hook.f.) Cheeseman. The nameC. pallida, first published asGaimardia pallidaHook.f. (1853), has priority overC. minimaKirk (1891). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strains of the chlorophyte genusDunaliellawere isolated from Dominion Salt NZ Ltd evaporation ponds at Lake Grassmere/Kapara Te Hau, New Zealand. Five halo-tolerant groups were characterised using morphology, molecular phylogenetic analysis and physiological response to varying culture conditions. Species identification based on morphological characteristics of cell size, shape and flagella to cell length ratio was supported by molecular internal transcribed spacer one and two regions (ITS-1, ITS-2) and 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene sequences. Investigations into salinity and photostress response were performed using pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) fluorometry, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) quantification of pigment profiles with an emphasis on carotenoid production are presented. Cryo-preservation storage was successfully applied to all strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirteen rhizobial strains isolated from New ZealandCarmichaeliaspp.,Clianthus puniceus,Montigena novae-zelandiae(Montigena) andSophoraspp. and the AustralianSwainsona galegifoliain the current or previous studies were tested for their ability to nodulateMontigena. Only rhizobial strains isolated fromCarmichaeliaspp., and those fromClianthus puniceusthat produced functional nodules on their original host, and strains fromMontigenaproduced functional nodules onMontigena. Strains that produced functional nodules onSophoraspp. orSwainsona galegifoliadid not nodulateMontigena. Strains that nodulatedMontigena, identified here or previously asMesorhizobiumspp., had variable 16S ribosomal RNA,recAandglnIIbut specificnifH,nodAandnodCgenes. Results indicate thatMontigenashares rhizobia with its closely relatedCarmichaeliaandClianthusbut notSophoraspp. orSwainsona galegifoliaand that the ability of different rhizobial strains to produce functional nodules onMontigena,CarmichaeliaandClianthus puniceusis likely to be dependent on specific symbiosis genes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]