Despite the recovery of paralogues and pseudogenes in a small number of taxa, PRK and RPB2 were both highly informative, producing well-resolved phylogenetic trees with many nodes well supported by bootstrap analyses. Simultaneous analyses of the combined data sets provided additional resolution and support. Two areas of incongruence between PRK and RPB2 were strongly supported by the bootstrap relating to the placement of tribes Chamaedoreeae, Iriarteeae and Reinhardtieae; the causes of this incongruence remain uncertain. The current classification within Arecoideae was strongly supported by the present data. Of the 14 tribes and 14 sub-tribes in the classification, only five sub-tribes from tribe Areceae (Basseliniinae, Linospadicinae, Oncospermatinae, Rhopalostylidinae and Verschaffeltiinae) failed to receive support. Three major higher level clades were strongly supported: (1) the RRC clade (Roystoneeae, Reinhardtieae and Cocoseae), (2) the POS clade (Podococceae, Oranieae and Sclerospermeae) and (3) the core arecoid clade (Areceae, Euterpeae, Geonomateae, Leopoldinieae, Manicarieae and Pelagodoxeae). However, new data sources are required to elucidate ambiguities that remain in phylogenetic relationships among and within the major groups of Arecoideae, as well as within the Areceae, the largest tribe in the palm family.

No abstract

The diets of terapontid assemblages in 22 catchments across Australia's wet-dry tropics were investigated in relation to the direct use of terrestrial-riparian inputs, as well as the role of ontogeny and morphology in mediating consumption of allocthonous material. The diet of several species was restricted almost entirely to instream trophic resources throughout their life history. In contrast, ontogenetic diet shifts towards increasing consumption of terrestrial prey types were a prominent feature of the dietary ecology of some terapontids, with collective allocthonous dietary items making a significant contribution (up to 42%) to diet in larger size classes of several species. For those species consuming terrestrial-riparian material in their diet, terrestrial invertebrates were the most common prey item; however, terrestrial vegetation, principally riparian fruits, and terrestrial vertebrates were also important dietary inclusions in the larger size classes of particular species. A large mouth gape was the morphological feature most strongly associated with consumption of terrestrial food resources within the Terapontidae. Results indicate that the direct consumption of terrestrially derived food sources in northern Australian aquatic systems may be more important than previously asserted, and that additional research is required to better clarify the role of terrestrial subsidies to these ecosystems.

No abstract

Variation in cyclone tolerance in New World Arecaceae correlates with biogeography, and is not confounded with phylogeny. These results suggest natural selection of cyclone tolerance in cyclone-prone areas.

The Bankoualé Palm, Livistona carinensis is the only known species of Livistona occurring in Africa and is currently classified as vulnerable (IUCN 2004). This extreme outlier species of the genus is restricted to Yemen, Somalia and Djibouti, where all populations are in rapid decline. In Djibouti the palm is confined to three valley systems within the upland plateau of the Goda Massif. This study used microsatellite markers to investigate the genetic diversity and relationships within the species. At the species level L. carinensis contained very low genetic diversity. Most variation was due to the variation between the samples from Yemen and Somalia compared with those in Djibouti. The Djibouti populations were almost monomorphic across the nine loci tested. Interestingly, and despite the small sample sizes, the individuals from botanic gardens collections of the Yemen and Somalia populations were more genetically diverse than the Djibouti populations. This study indicates that the populations in Yemen and Somalia are highly significant for the conservation of the species genetic diversity. Given the lack of genetic diversity both within and among L. carinensis populations in Djibouti, plants could be cultivated for in-situ population enhancement from any seed that is available from within Djibouti with no significant genetic impacts of provenance mismatch. Clearly the populations from Djibouti, Somalia and Yemen are different genetic provenances raising some issues for the conservation and recovery of L. carinensis.

Australian Palms offers an updated and thorough systematic and taxonomic treatment of the Australian palm flora, covering 60 species in 21 genera. Of these, 54 species occur in continental Australia and six species on the off-shore territories of Lord Howe Island, Norfolk Island and Christmas Island. Incorporating recent advances in biogeographic and phylogenetic research, Australian Palms provides a comprehensive introduction to the palm family Arecaceae, with reviews of botanical history, biogeography, phylogeny, ecology and conservation. Thorough descriptions of genera and species include notes on ecology and typification, and keys and distribution maps assist with field recognition. Colour photographs of habit, leaf, flowers, fruit and unique diagnostic characters also feature for each species. This work is the culmination of over 20 years of research into Australian palms, including extensive field-work and examination of herbarium specimens in Australia, South-East Asia, Europe and the USA.

Between 1778 and 1903, three successive generations of the Wendland family were Court Gardeners at the Royal Gardens of Herrenhausen, Hanover, Germany. In addition to their horticultural responsibilities, they published several important taxonomic accounts, some involving Australian plants. Johann Christoph Wendland (1755–1828) (J.C.Wendl.) established the endemic Australian genera Angianthus J.C.Wendl. (Asteraceae), Hakea Schrad. & J.C.Wendl. (Proteaceae) and Waitzia J.C.Wendl. (Asteraceae), and provided novel work on Melaleuca L. (Myrtaceae) and Acacia Mill. (as Mimosa L; Fabaceae); Heinrich Ludolph Wendland (1792–1869) (H. L.Wendl.) provided novel and revisionary work on Acacia and Leptospermum J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. (Myrtaceae); and Hermann Wendland (1825–1903) (H. Wendl.) specialised in the palms (Arecaceae) and wrote Palmae Australasicae with Oscar Drude, the foundational work on Australian palms. A search of all the databases and other references accessible to us has resulted in the identification of ~148 names of Australian plants in which the author citation includes any of the three Wendlands. Of these, ~30 are the currently accepted names. Lectotypes are here proposed for the names Acacia amoena H.L.Wendl., A. crassiuscula H.L.Wendl., A. dolabriformis H.L.Wendl., A. emarginata H.L.Wendl., A. homomalla H.L.Wendl., Aster tomentosus J.C.Wendl., Leptospermum buxifolium H.L.Wendl., L. emarginatum H.L.Wendl. ex Link, L. glomeratum H.L.Wendl., Melaleuca linearis Schrad. & J.C.Wendl., M. thea Schrad. & J.C.Wendl., Passiflora glabra J.C.Wendl., Protea nectarina J.C.Wendl., P. pulchella Schrad. & J.C.Wendl., Pultenaea daphnoides J.C.Wendl., P. linophylla Schrad. & J.C.Wendl., P. retorta J.C.Wendl. and Tristania subverticillata H.L.Wendl. Figures are provided of all the proposed lectotypes housed in GOET.