Variation within Asterolasia asteriscophora sensu lato (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and the recognition of new taxa in eastern Australia

Abstract

Asterolasia asteriscophora (F.Muell.) Druce sensu lato exhibits considerable variation in a range of floral and vegetative characters. Phenetic analysis of 14 morphological characters for 17 populations of A. asteriscophora sensu lato has elucidated three new taxa: A. asteriscophora subsp. albiflora B.J.Mole, A. rupestris B.J.Mole and A. rupestris subsp. recurva B.J.Mole, and supports the recognition of A. buckinghamii (Blakely) Blakely and A. buxifolia Benth. as distinct species. Isozyme electrophoresis and subsequent interpretation proved problematic, however allele frequency data for a limited number of enzyme systems were broadly congruent with morphometric analyses. A key and detailed t..