15 new species of Stylidium from northern Australia have been published today in Nuytsia along with a key to the species found in the NT.
Among the discoveries are some apparently range-restricted species, including Short-eared Triggerplant (S. brachyotis) from Kakadu National Park (NT) and Youwanjela Triggerplant (S. youwanjela) from Prince Regent National Park (WA). Some of the other novelties are widespread across northern Australia including Brennan’s Triggerplant (S. brennanianum) and Connected Triggerplant (S. synaptum). Comparing herbarium specimens across jurisdictional boundaries has also resulted in some significant range extensions, with several new records documented for both WA and the NT.
This major body of work is the outcome of intensive research at herbaria across the country by our Triggerplant specialist Juliet Wege, which was made possible with funding from the Australian Biological Resources Study. She has examined thousands of specimens, correcting misidentifications, identifying new species and drawing on the regional expertise of her collaborators – Kym Brennan (NT), Tony Bean (Qld) and Matt and Russell Barrett (Kimberley) – as well as the technical prowess of Steve Dillon, who captured fantastic images of the minute but taxonomically informative seeds.
The key to the NT’s Triggerplants draws heavily on Kym’s collections and accompanying photos, which were pivotal to the research. It includes a stunning pictorial guide that showcases the extraordinary diversity in this unique part of Australia – this must be seen to be believed!
- Stylidium miscellany IV: novel species, recircumscriptions and range extensions for northern Australia
- Key to the Triggerplants of the Northern Territory (Stylidium: Stylidiaceae)
