There’s gold in them thar hills! Morphology and molecules delimit species in Xerochrysum (Asteraceae; Gnaphalieae) and reveal many new taxa Author Collins, Timothy L. Author Schmidt-Lebuhn, Alexander N. Author Andrew, Rose L. Author Telford, Ian R. H. Author Bruhl, Jeremy J. text Australian Systematic Botany 2022 2022-06-09 35 2 120 185 http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/sb21014 journal article 10.1071/SB21014 1446-5701 10903939 Xerochrysum neoanglicum J.J.Bruhl & I.Telford , sp. nov. Type : AUSTRALIA : New South Wales : Northern Tablelands : 400 m N of Glencoe along New England Highway, E side of road, 8 Nov. 2002 , L.M. Copeland 3468, J.J. Bruhl & I.R. Telford , (holo: NSW !; iso: BRI !, CANB !, K!, MEL !, NE 80118 !, PERTH !, US !). Xerochrysum bracteatum subsp. barringtonense MS, G.J. Harden , New South Wales Fl. Online (see http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/ floraonline.htm, accessed 21 May 2018 ). Xerochrysum sp. Glencoe (M.Gray 4401) NE Herbarium, CHAH, Austral. Pl. Census (2020) [accessed 20 February 2020 ]. [ Xerochrysum bracteatum auct . non (Vent.) Tzvelev: N.N. Tzvelev, Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 27: 151 (1990), p.p., populations with a solitary inflorescence, annually arising from a perennial crown and restricted to the New England Tablelands Bioregion and Barrington Tops, New South Wales only]. Diagnosis Distinguished from other species, with which it has been confused in the past, by the perennial life form ( v. annual or biennial in X. bracteatum ), solitary inflorescence ( v. paniculate in X. bracteatum , X. copelandii , and X. murapan ), presence of septate trichomes on leaf abaxial surface ( v. absent in X. bracteatum ), leaves 2–12 mm wide ( 5–25 mm wide in X. bracteatum and 10–25 mm wide in X. murapan , and 5–10 mm wide in X. copelandii ), and foliaceous bracts subtending capitula 10–20 mm long ( 8–10 mm long in X. bracteatum and 8–10 mm long or sometimes absent in X. copelandii ). Erect, taprooted, perennial herb annually reshooting from a crown, up to ~ 50 cm tall. Stems and branches becoming reddish with age, cobwebby, hirsute to woolly with septate trichomes, and with glands; internode length 15–30 mm . Basal leaf rosette usually present at flowering. Basal leaves oblong to obovate, 30–100 mm long and 10–20 mm wide, base amplexicaul, margin cobwebby to villous with septate trichomes, apex mucronate and apiculate; abaxial indumentum with glands, midvein indumentum cobwebby or villous with septate trichomes, and with glands; adaxial indumentum hirsute to villous with septate trichomes, and with glands. Cauline leaves lanceolate, 25–100 mm long and 2–12 mm wide, base attenuate, margin cobwebby or villous with septate trichomes, and hispid, apex mucronate; abaxial indumentum hirsute with septate trichomes, and with glands, midvein indumentum cobwebby with septate trichomes, and with glands; adaxial indumentum hispid to pilose with septate trichomes, and with glands. Foliaceous bracts subtending capitula 10–20 mm long, margin woolly or cobwebby. Capitula 35–60 mm wide, terminal, solitary (never branched). Outer phyllaries broad-ovate to ovate, brown or straw-coloured, basal margin fimbriate and hispid (extending to the apex), abaxial surface smooth, apex apiculate. Medial phyllaries oblong to narrow ovate, abaxially yellow, apex apiculate. Stylar appendages clavate to ovate. Cypsela oblong, ~ 2.2 mm long and ~ 1 mm wide, cross-section squarish to circular; pericarp straw- or brass-coloured, idioblasts absent. Pappus deciduous, ~ 8 mm long, apical cells often tinted red. Distribution Xerochrysum neoanglicum is widespread through the New England Tablelands Bioregion ( NETB ) from the eastern edge of the Granite Belt near Wallangarra, Queensland, south through the higher eastern edge of the NETB to Werrikimbe National Park, New South Wales, and in the New South Wales North Coast Bioregion at Barrington Tops National Park ( Fig. 37 ). Phenology Recorded flowering November–February ( Fig. 38 ). 150°0 ̍ 0 ̎ E 150°0 ̍ 0 ̎ E Fig. 37. Distribution of Xerochrysum neoanglicum . Fig. 38. Isotype of Xerochrysum neoanglicum (L.M. Copeland 3468, J.J. Bruhl & I.R. Telford , NE 80118). Habitat Xerochrysum neoanglicum grows in frost hollows, gullies and on swamp margins at 850–1350-m altitude. The vegetation is usually herbfield or Eucalyptus pauciflora grassy woodland, soils are mostly clay loam on basalt, occasionally on humic silt on granite (Granite Belt and Boonoo Boonoo). Other taxa recorded at sites include Eucalyptus acaciiformis , Poa sieberiana and Carex sp. Majors Point ( L.M. Copeland 1812 ). Conservation status Invasive grass species and their management on road reserves, land clearing and improved pastures, small population sizes and potential in-breeding depression, and issues associated with anthropogenic climate change, in particular extreme drought, present threats to X. neoanglicum . Unregulated seed collection and over-grazing could also threaten populations by depleting seedbanks, trampling habitat, and introducing invasive species and pathogens. We recommend a status of ‘ Vulnerable ’ under the ( IUCN 2019 ), as it fulfils the criteria for VU D1. Notes This species has horticultural potential with large inflorescences borne on single-stems and a naturally compact habit. Native plant nurseries and societies on the Northern Tablelands have been growing and selling this species for several years; however, plants can be difficult to maintain because they appear to be drought sensitive (T. L. Collins, pers. obs., 2016 and 2021; J. Nevin, pers. comm., 2020). The unpublished name X. bracteatum subsp. barringtonense Paul G.Wilson MS has been applied to this species. Etymology The specific epithet recognises the New England Tablelands from where this species is mostly found. Selected specimens examined QUEENSLAND: Darling Downs : Mount Norman , Wallangarra , 3 Oct. 1998 , D. Hockings s.n. ( BRI-AQ 663705 !) ; Racecourse Creek Swamp, 25 km E of Mount Norman picnic area, 24 Dec. 1999 , F.D. Hockings 1003 ( BRI !) . NEW SOUTH WALES: Northern Tablelands : Boonoo Boonoo , Resurrection Creek , at Mount Lindesay Road crossing, 8 Nov. 2010 , I.R. Telford 13334 & T. Vollbon ( BRI !, CANB !, K!, MEL !, MO!, NE !, NSW !, NY !, US !) ; E of Glencoe , Costello Road , 8 Dec. 2018 , T.L. Collins 1146 ( CANB !, NE !, NSW ) ; 5.4 km N of Llangothlin along road to Ben Lomond , 12 Nov.2005 , L.M. Copeland 4006 ( CANB , NE !, NSW , US ) ; Little Llangothlin Nature Reserve , Billy Bung Lagoon , 20 Nov. 2005 , I.R. Telford 12914 ( CANB !, CHR !, MEL !, NE !, NSW !, US !) ; NE of Ebor along Waterfall Way , 17 Dec. 2016 , J.J. Bruhl 3511 & I.R. Telford ( NE !) ; Werrikimbe National Park , SW side of Racecourse Swamp , 13 Feb. 2003 , L.M. Copeland 3561, J. Hodgon & I.R. Telford ( CANB !, MEL !, NE !, NSW !, PERTH !) ; alongside Edwards Swamp Trail , north of Barrington River , 23 Feb. 2005 , J.R. Hosking 2586 ( CANB , MEL , NE !, NSW ) .