Chemical diversity of kānuka: Inter- and intraspecific variation of foliage terpenes and flavanones of Kunzea (Myrtaceae) in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Kunzea (Myrtaceae) trees and shrubs, generally called kānuka, grow across most of Aotearoa/New Zealand (NZ). With the exception of K. sinclairii, an offshore island endemic, kānuka had been treated as an Australasian species K.

Genetic structuring of the coastal herb Arthropodium cirratum (Asparagaceae) is shaped by low gene flow, hybridization and prehistoric translocation.

We examined the genetic structuring of rengarenga (Arthropodium cirratum; Asparagaceae), an endemic New Zealand coastal herb, using nuclear microsatellite markers. This species was brought into cultivation by Māori within the last 700-800 years for its edible roots and was transplanted beyond its natural distribution as part of its cultivation. We found very high levels of genetic structuring in the natural populations (FST = 0.

and (Ranunculaceae), new combinations for a New Zealand endemic species and its South American relative.

A rational taxonomic circumscription of genera in tribe Anemoneae (Ranunculaceae) is briefly discussed. It is concluded that, in view of the morphological diversity of the group and recent molecular phylogenetic findings, a moderately narrow approach to the re-circumscription of genera earlier included in sensu lato is preferable, in particular, with the recognition of the lineage with the base chromosome number = 7 (Anemone subgen. Anemonidium) as two genera, sensu stricto and in an expanded circumscription (including , , , and ).

Isolation and characterization of microsatellite loci from (Asparagaceae).

Premise Of The Study: Microsatellite markers were developed for (Asparagaceae) to study population genetic structure and translocation of this species. These markers were tested for cross-amplification in two other species.

Methods And Results: Sixteen microsatellite markers were developed from a genomic library and tested in three populations of .

Systematics of Kirk (Poaceae, Agrostidinae) - an endemic, threatened New Zealand grass genus.

A new species of the New Zealand endemic grass , is described. The new species is segregated from and compared with and . occurs mostly in lightly shaded areas of seasonally dry alluvial forest.

Evidence of a Strong Domestication Bottleneck in the Recently Cultivated New Zealand Endemic Root Crop, Arthropodium cirratum (Asparagaceae).

We use chloroplast DNA sequencing to examine aspects of the pre-European Māori cultivation of an endemic New Zealand root crop, Arthropodium cirratum (rengarenga). Researching the early stages of domestication is not possible for the majority of crops, because their cultivation began many thousands of years ago and/or they have been substantially altered by modern breeding methods. We found high levels of genetic variation and structuring characterised the natural distribution of A.

A revision of the New Zealand Kunzeaericoides (Myrtaceae) complex.

A revision of the New Zealand Kunzeaericoides complex is presented. This paper is the final of a series that has explored the systematics of the New Zealand Kunzea complex using cytological and molecular variation, as well as experimental hybridisations between postulated segregates. As a result of those studies ten species, all endemic to New Zealand, are recognised; seven of these are new.

Species tree phylogeny and character evolution in the genus Centipeda (Asteraceae): evidence from DNA sequences from coding and non-coding loci from the plastid and nuclear genomes.

A species tree phylogeny of the Australian/New Zealand genus Centipeda (Asteraceae) is estimated based on nucleotide sequence data. We analysed sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ETS, ITS) and three plasmid loci (ndhF, psbA-trnH, and trnL-F) using the multi-species coalescent module in BEAST. A total of 129 individuals from all 10 recognised species of Centipeda were sampled throughout the species distribution ranges, including two subspecies.

Parallel polyploid speciation: distinct sympatric gene-pools of recurrently derived allo-octoploid Asplenium ferns.

Although polyploidy is widespread, its significance to the generation of biodiversity remains unclear. Many polyploids have been derived recurrently. For a particular polyploid, gene-flow between the products of independent origin is typical where they come into contact.

Chemotaxonomy of Pseudowintera: sesquiterpene dialdehyde variants are species markers.

Two sesquiterpene dialdehydes, the 1beta-E-coumaroyl-5alpha-hydroxypolygodial plus the known 1beta-E-cinnamoyl-5alpha-hydroxypolygodial, were isolated from the recently described species Pseudowintera insperata. This discovery is a further example of the rare sesquiterpene dialdehyde coumarate/cinnamate combination being found exclusively in the family Winteraceae. Another sesquiterpene dialdehyde, isopaxidal, with the rare rearranged drimane skeleton, was isolated from Pseudowintera axillaris.