A revision of Lissanthe (Styphelioideae: Ericaceae)

Abstract

A revision of the styphelioid genus Lissanthe recognises seven species and two subspecies: L. brevistyla A.R.Bean, L. sapida R.Br., L. strigosa (Sm.) R.Br. subsp. strigosa, L. strigosa subsp. subulata (R.Br.) J.M.Powell. New combinations are made for two species transferred from Leucopogon: Lissanthe rubicunda (F.Muell.) J.M.Powell, D.M.Crayn & E.A.Br. and Lissanthe pluriloculata (F.Muell.) J.M.Powell, D.M.Crayn & E.A.Br. Two new species from Western Australia, Lissanthe powelliae D.M.Crayn & E.A.Br. and L. scabra D.M.Crayn & E.A.Br. are described, and Lissanthe sapida is lectotypified. Keys, illustrations and distribution maps are provided for all taxa. Lissanthe as defined here is a strongly supported clade based on analyses of sequence data from two chloroplast loci, the atpB–rbcL intergenic spacer and the matK gene. Potential morphological synapomorphies for Lissanthe include flowers pedicellate above the bracteoles, styles hairy at least at the base, and leaves with an abaxial surface that is grooved longitudinally.