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Myrtaceae anther glands: morphology, anatomy and variation in glandular contents Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-05 P. G. Ladd
Context Most tissues of Myrtaceae plants have oil glands. The anthers of many species have an oil-containing apical gland that is larger than those in other tissues of the plant. Aims Representative species in the family were examined for the diversity of gland form and their oil contents. Methods Representative anthers were sectioned for light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy study and
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Extra-stigmatic pollen germination and pistil elongation: a novel strategy towards reproductive assurance in Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustifolia Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2024-03-06 Sajid Khan, Susheel Verma
Context Reproductive success in dioecious plant species may be limited by severe pollen limitation owing to their separate sexes and pollination barriers. Aims Dodonaea viscosa subsp. angustifolia (Jacq.) (Sapindaceae) is a dioecious and wind-pollinated species that has a long flowering period. This study sought to determine the relationship between its reproductive behaviour and pollen availability
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Unusual, human-mediated prevalence of epiphytes in semi-arid New South Wales, Australia Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-26 J. L. Silcock, J. Pye, A. Tighe, P. Reid-Loynes, R. Ashby, R. J. Fairfax
Context Epiphytes are typically associated with wet forests and are seldom documented in drylands. This absence is presumed to reflect moisture limitations to their establishment and survival. Aims In response to a large body of epiphyte observations made by a pastoralist in collaboration with local Indigenous people, we investigated and documented an unusually high concentration of woody epiphytes
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Impact of Phytophthora dieback on a key heathland species Xanthorrhoea australis (Asphodelaceae) (austral grasstree) and floristic composition in the eastern Otways, Victoria Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-26 B. A. Wilson, S. P. Casey, M. J. Garkaklis, C. Learmonth, T. Wevill
Context The plant pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi causes severe declines in susceptible vegetation, including loss of plant species, vegetation structure and fauna abundance. Grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea spp.) are keystone species that provide optimal habitat for vertebrates and invertebrates and are highly susceptible to the pathogen. Although effects in the Otway Ranges have been assessed at specific
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Long-unburnt stands of snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora Sieber ex Spreng) are exceedingly rare in the Victorian Alps: implications for their conservation and management Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2024-02-20 John W. Morgan, Michael Shackleton, Zac C. Walker
The nature of Australia’s high mountains is changing. Recent, repeated landscape-scale fires have burnt much of the subalpine forests dominated by snow gum (Eucalyptus pauciflora). Long-unburnt snow gum forests are important for ecosystem services, have socio-cultural benefits, and conservation values, but they are now exceedingly rare, comprising <1% of snow gum forests in the Victorian Alps. We identify
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Fire responses of flora in a sclerophyll–rainforest vegetation complex in the Nightcap Range, North Coast, New South Wales Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2024-01-19 Andrew Benwell
Context Species fire responses were investigated in a mixed sclerophyll–rainforest ecosystem in the Nightcap Range, North Coast, New South Wales. Aims To examine rates of seedling recruitment and resprouting in functional and phytogeographic components of wet sclerophyll forest (WSRf), and adjacent open forest (OF) and rock outcrop shrubland (RO). Methods Species resprouting and seedling recruitment
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Cell wall epitope distribution in the functional compartments of galls induced by Palaeomystella oligophaga (Lepidoptera) in Macairea radula (Melastomataceae) Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2024-01-02 Patrícia Dias Santos, Gracielle Pereira Pimenta Bragança, Vinícius Coelho Kuster, Diego Ismael Rocha, Denis Coelho de Oliveira
Context The parasitic interaction between the galling insect Palaeomystella oligophaga (Lepidoptera) and the host plant tissues of Macairea radula (Melastomataceae) leads to the formation of globoid galls. These galls have storage and typical nutritive tissues (outer and inner compartments, respectively), whose functions may be related to differential cell wall component distributions and to the stage
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From mallees to mountain ash, specific leaf area is coordinated with eucalypt tree stature, resprouting, stem construction, and fruit size Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-12-14 Antoinette M. Portelli, Saras M. Windecker, Laura J. Pollock, Will C. Neal, William K. Morris, Rohan Khot, Peter A. Vesk
Context The radiation of eucalypts into almost every Australian environment offers valuable insights to plant ecological strategies. Aims We aimed to assess the degree to which functional traits across different organs are independent or reflect coordinated strategies in southern eucalypts. Methods We applied ordinary and phylogenetic generalised least squares regressions to 164 southern Australian
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The extent and applications of metal accumulation and hyperaccumulation in Philippine plants Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-12-07 Sarah Duddigan, Marilyn O. Quimado, Edwino S. Fernando, Mark Tibbett
To examine the potential applications of hyperaccumulator plants in the Philippines, we reviewed current data on the extent of metal hyperaccumulation in native species and partitioning of metals within the plant tissue. Twenty-eight species had reported tissue concentrations above the hyperaccumulator threshold, 11 species were endemic to the Philippines. Nickel was present in higher concentrations
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Species distribution modelling and climatic niche as tools to aid in the integrative taxonomy of a South American species complex in Chromolaena (Asteraceae, Eupatorieae) Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-11-30 Anderson Luiz Christ, Marcelo Reginato, Jimi Naoki Nakajima, Mara Rejane Ritter
Context The Chromolaena congesta complex is an informal group of taxa native to grasslands from south-eastern South America with numerous identification problems, currently under study using an integrative approach. Recent studies with morphological data have aided in defining some taxa, but many questions remain to be assessed, and there is much to gain from combining morphological data with other
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Seed biology can inform conservation actions: a case study on Geijera parviflora Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-11-24 Ganesha S. Liyanage, Amy-Marie Gilpin, Catherine A. Offord, Amelia J. Martyn Yenson
Context Knowledge of seed biology is imperative for effective curation and utilisation of seeds. Aims We studied the seed biology and reproduction of Geijera parviflora, a species suitable for ecological restoration and ornamental horticulture that has largely been overlooked because of issues with unreliable germination and viability. Methods Germination in response to dormancy-breaking treatments
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Variations in functional traits and resilience of Inga vera subsp. affinis under flooding and drought conditions Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-11-25 Rosana Müller Padilha Feitosa, Louizi de Souza Magalhães Braghin, Lindamir Hernandez Pastorini, Mariza Barion Romagnolo
Context The dynamics of a plant population are influenced by both biotic and abiotic factors that interfere with the phenotype of the individual, indicating how species develop in the occupied environment. Riparian plant species are subject to environmental fluctuations, such as periodic flooding regimes and severe droughts, which may result from climate change. Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate
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Climate change or tree disease: challenges for diagnosing causes of forest die-off Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-11-06 George Matusick, Katinka X. Ruthrof, Peter Scott, Giles E. St. J. Hardy
Context Forest ecosystems experience compositional and structural changes as species’ environmental envelopes shift with climate change. Extreme climate events and pests/pathogens are driving these ecosystem changes. Determining which of the two potential drivers is causing a particular forest die-off can be challenging. In south-western Australia, widespread forest die-off in 2011 coincided with extremely
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Pre-dispersal seed-predation affects fruit crop and seed fitness in a highly fragmented savanna tree Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-08-28 S. D. Heyes, J. W. Morgan, S. J. Sinclair, Z. C. Walker, S. E. Hoebee
Context: Silver banksia (Banksia marginata) savannas of south-eastern Australia were formerly widespread but are now largely cleared and fragmented, with small populations often showing recruitment limitation. Which may, in part, be due to seed predation by yellow-tailed black cockatoos (Zanda funerea), which have been observed foraging for seed. Aims: The study aimed to investigate the impact of pre-dispersal
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Environmental variation in an increasing incidence of dead trees in lowland to subalpine eucalypt forests and woodlands 2011–2021 Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-08-18 Zimeng Liu, Jamie B. Kirkpatrick
Context: There are not many analyses of variation in patterns and potential causes of tree death in eucalypt forests covering wide environmental gradients. Aims: To determine the environmental patterns of standing and fallen dead trees in forests over 1200 m of elevation and whether tree death has increased as the climate has become warmer, drier and windier. Methods: We measured tree death in 2011
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Maintaining separate maternal lines increases the value and applications of seed collections Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-08-03 Marlien M. van der Merwe, Jason G. Bragg, Richard Dimon, Patrick S. Fahey, Patricia M. Hogbin, Patricia Lu-Irving, Allison A. Mertin, Maurizio Rossetto, Trevor C. Wilson, Jia-Yee Samantha Yap
Context: Given the effort and resources that go into collecting and maintaining seed collections, it is crucial that we maximise their usefulness. Conservation, restoration and research rely heavily on good quality collections in order to establish new populations, create habitat, minimise extinction and address scientific questions. Aims: Although seed viability, excellent metadata and genetic representativeness
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Extinction debt varies in two threatened Mediterranean-type woodland communities undergoing rapid urbanisation Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-07-25 William M. Fowler, Rachel J. Standish, Neal J. Enright, Joseph B. Fontaine
Context: Extinction debt, the time-delayed species loss response to fragmentation associated with habitat clearance, is a conservation concern for management of biological diversity globally. Extinction debt is well defined but difficult to measure owing to the long-term data needed to measure species loss, particularly for communities of long-lived species. Aims: We aimed to estimate extinction debt
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Integrating seed microbiome knowledge into restoration and ex situ conservation of native Australian plants Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-07-12 Allison A. Mertin, Merize Philpott, Linda L. Blackall, Kris French, Edward C. Y. Liew, Marlien M. van der Merwe
Context: Seeds harbour a diversity of microbes, which in some plants aid with germination and establishment. Seeds form a critical part in the lifecycle of plants and a role in many conservation and restoration activities. Aims: Because this is an emerging field in seed biology, we aim to highlight the key research gaps of interest to seed on the basis of restoration and ex situ conservation. Methods:
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Impact of extreme heatwaves and life-history traits on seed germination responses in Cumberland Plain Woodland native plant species Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-07-11 Philippa R. Alvarez, Daniel W. Krix, Catherine A. Offord, Brad R. Murray
Context: The Cumberland Plain Woodland (CPW) is a threatened ecological community that is expected to experience heatwaves of increasing intensity and frequency into the future. Given the central role that temperature plays in regulating seed germination, understanding the impacts of such heatwaves on key germination attributes is vital to identify potential impacts on plant community structure. Aims:
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Retention of an apparently functional plastome in an apparently mycoheterotrophic orchid, Dipodium roseum D.L.Jones & M.A.Clem. (Orchidaceae) Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-06-23 Todd G. B. McLay, Michael J. Bayly, Michael R. Whitehead, Rachael M. Fowler
Context: Giving up photosynthetic function is a bold evolutionary step for a plant, yet the evolutionary transition from autotrophy to mycoheterotrophy has occurred dozens of times. Comparing plastome sequences of mycoheterotrophs and autotrophs has identified recurring patterns of gene loss throughout a range of land plants, though more comparisons are required to see how broadly these patterns apply
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Novel and emerging seed science research from early to middle career researchers at the Australasian Seed Science Conference, 2021 Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-06-16 Susan E. Everingham, Si-Chong Chen, Wolfgang Lewandrowski, Ella Plumanns-Pouton
Seed science is a vital field of research that contributes to many areas of knowledge in fundamental ecology and evolution, as well as in applied areas of food production, and the conservation and restoration of native plants. A large amount of novel information, technologies and processes in seed science research are being produced and developed by early to middle career researchers (EMCRs) in academic
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The impact of climate change and wildfire on decadal alpine vegetation dynamics Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-06-16 Brodie Verrall, Patrick Norman, Brendan Mackey, Scout Fisher, Jack Dodd
Context: Climate-induced changes of alpine vegetation diversity, cover and composition have been recorded globally, but most insights have been gleaned from field studies over small spatiotemporal scales. Aims: We assess dynamics in climate and vegetation of Australia’s highest and most biologically diverse alpine area that surrounds Mount Kosciuszko (~455 km2), as well as recovery following the 2003
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How temperature, substrate, and stratification periods influence Ilex paraguariensis embryonic development Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-06-16 Manoela Mendes Duarte, Letícia Siqueira Walter, Mônica Moreno Gabira, Cléberson Porath, Elisa Serra Negra Vieira, Antonio Carlos Nogueira, Ivar Wendling, Dagma Kratz
Aiming to develop a new stratification protocol for yerba mate seeds, we evaluated how different combinations of temperature, substrate, and period influence the embryonic development of the species, compared to fresh seeds and conventionally stratified seeds. We measured the seeds’ moisture content and performed a tetrazolium test to evaluate embryo viability and embryonic development. Seeds’ initial
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Unpacking the recruitment potential of seeds in reconstructed soils and varying rainfall patterns Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-06-05 Todd E. Erickson, John M. Dwyer, Emma L. Dalziell, Jeremy J. James, Miriam Muñoz-Rojas, David J. Merritt
Context: Seeding is common practice for ecological restoration, but establishment rates can be low. For seeds to successfully establish they must transition through early life stages of germination, emergence, and (initial) survival. Examining these demographic processes for seeds sown under a range of abiotic conditions can identify failure points and inform techniques to improve seed use. Aims: Here
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Effect of selected environmental factors on the seed germination of the invasive species Polygala myrtifolia (Polygalaceae) in Australia Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-05-26 Natalie Roberts, Katrina Moloney, Kristin Monie, Singarayer Florentine
Context: Polygala myrtifolia L. has become a significant environmental weed in Australia, where it has invaded coastal ecosystems in temperate regions and there is a high risk of extensive further spread. Knowledge of seed-germination behaviour is essential to understand the potential future impact of this species. Aims: We investigated the effects of selected environmental factors and dormancy on
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Are orthodox Australian rainforest seeds short-lived in storage? Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-05-19 Karen D. Sommerville, Zoe-Joy Newby, Amelia J. Martyn Yenson, Catherine A. Offord
Context: Fifty per cent of Australian rainforest species produce orthodox seeds, but little is known about their longevity in storage. Aims: To (1) estimate the longevity of seeds of 33 rainforest species using artificial aging; (2) assess the influence of habit, habitat range (restricted to rainforest or more broadly distributed), seed characteristics (endospermy, dry weight), and collection environment
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Identifying limitations for invasion: the effect of phosphorus availability on the growth of the non-native tree, Tipuana tipu Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-05-09 Melinda S. Trudgen, John K. Scott, Hans Lambers, Bruce L. Webber
Context: Despite being a crucial factor in plant growth and fitness, the nutritional requirements of non-native invasive plants are poorly understood and rarely considered when assessing invasion risk; yet, they are particularly relevant in many parts of the world with nutrient-poor soils. Aims: We investigated the growth response of a native South American tree species (Tipuana tipu), to soil concentrations
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The response of Nassella trichotoma (serrated tussock) seeds and seedlings to different levels of fire intensity Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-05-03 Talia Humphries, Singarayer Florentine
Context: Fire is an important disturbance regime in grassland communities, since it is responsible for stimulating the regeneration of many species and for maintaining levels of biodiversity. When invasive plants, such as Nassella trichotoma, establish and become widespread in a grassland community, these important fire events can be altered in intensity and frequency, which means that they are able
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Secondary branching in Wollemia nobilis (Araucariaceae), an unexpected occurrence Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-05-05 Roger Hnatiuk
Context: Until now, Wollemia nobilis was thought to differ from all other members of the Araucariaceae in having unbranched primary branches, except following some instances of traumatic damage to the branch apex. This paper reports on the serendipitous discovery of abundant secondary branching on seedling Wollemi pines. Aims: I document the occurrence of secondary branches from axillary meristems
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A systematic assessment of the metallome of selected plant families in the Queensland (Australia) flora by using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-05-05 Imam Purwadi, Farida Abubakari, Gillian K. Brown, Peter D. Erskine, Antony van der Ent
Context: Fewer than 10 plant species from Australia were known to hyperaccumulate metal(loid)s, despite metal-rich soils being widespread in Australia. By measuring herbarium specimens with non-destructive portable X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) instrumentation their metal(loid)s concentrations can be determined, providing information that could be used to probe the evolution, biogeography,
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Life-history characteristics and climate correlates of dioecious plant species in central southern Australia Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-04-27 J. T. Draper, S. Delean, J. G. Conran, P. Weinstein, B. S. Simpson
Context: The proportion of dioecious species can vary considerably among climates and habitats. However, studies often involve isolated communities or large diverse areas and fail to capture how proportions vary across diverse landscapes. Aims: To identify (1) life-history associations of terrestrial dioecious plant species in central southern Australia, (2) whether proportion of dioecy varies spatially
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Sunlight and red to far-red ratio impact germination of tropical montane cloud forest species Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-04-20 Gemma L. Hoyle, Amelia V. Stevens, Lydia K. Guja, Karen D. Sommerville, Stuart Worboys, Darren M. Crayn
Context: Australia’s tropical montane cloud forests (TMCF) exhibit exceptional species richness and endemism. Determinants of regeneration via seed of these species are next to unknown, limiting our ability to quantify and project their vulnerability to climate change. The ratio of red to far-red light (R:FR) has been shown to influence seed germination of many tropical species. Aims: We investigated
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Can the galling Eriophyidae (Trombidiformes) manipulate leaf structural and histochemical profiles over environmental stressors? Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-04-17 Mariana de Sousa Costa Freitas, Bruno Garcia Ferreira, Gracielle Pereira Pimenta Bragança, Daniela Boanares, Rosy Mary dos Santos Isaias
Context: Galls are products of an intrinsic relationship between specific parasites and their host plants. Gall formation involves alterations in the developmental pattern of the host organs in which environmental conditions may also impose constraints. Aims: We hypothesised that the adaptive features of the host plants reflect the stressors of the xeric and mesic environments and influence the establishment
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Fire in the bog: responses of peatland vegetation in the Australian Alps to fire Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-04-17 Keith L. McDougall, Jennie Whinam, Fiona Coates, John W. Morgan, Neville G. Walsh, Genevieve T. Wright, Geoff S. Hope
Context: Peatlands in the Australian Alps are important ecologically and recognised in national environmental legislation. Increasing fire frequency over the past 40 years has put the community at greater risk of degradation. Aims: Using published studies of fire effects in peatlands and new data, we investigate general responses of peatlands to fire so that risk can be evaluated and appropriate management
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Recruitment of Melaleuca quinquenervia (Myrtaceae) in the fringing forests of the Myall Lakes, NSW, Australia Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-04-04 Anne Baumann, Alison Hewitt
Context: Melaleuca quinquenervia is a widespread, keystone species of eastern Australian coastal forested wetlands. Populations of M. quinquenervia in the fringes of Myall Lakes, New South Wales, Australia exhibit low numbers of juveniles, infrequent recruitment and a dominance of mature individuals, raising concerns about stand replacement from conservation managers. In contrast, M. quinquenervia
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Root foraging in the leguminous zinc hyperaccumulator Crotalaria novae-hollandiae from Queensland, Australia Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-03-30 Fuyao Chen, Philip Nti Nkrumah, Roger H. Tang, Antony van der Ent
Context: Root foraging by hyperaccumulator plants in response to patchily distributed metals has been observed in several obligate hyperaccumulators, but it is not known whether facultative hyperaccumulators respond similarly. Aims: This study investigated the root-growth behaviour in the leguminous zinc (Zn) hyperaccumulator Crotalaria novae-hollandiae compared with the non-accumulating Crotalaria
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Assessing plant translocation success: common metrics mask high levels of inbreeding in a recently established Banksia brownii (Proteaceae) population Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-03-17 Rebecca Dillon, David Coates, Rachel Standish, Leonie Monks, Michelle Waycott
Context: As threatening processes continue to impact rare plant populations, the use of translocations is becoming increasingly frequent. The ultimate success of translocation, attaining long-term persistence, is determined by species’ ability to reproduce, recruit, and maintain levels of genetic diversity that permits the capacity to adapt to environmental change. Aims: This study aimed to assess
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Dynamics of cell wall components and histochemical profile of a rust fungi gall (Basidiomycota: Pucciniales) on Byrsonima variabilis A.Juss. (Malpighiaceae) Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-03-20 Reisila S. Migliorini Mendes, Elaine C. Costa, Lucas C. Oliveira, Flávia M. Gomes, Denis C. Oliveira, Rosy M. S. Isaias
Context: An obligate biotrophic parasitism with a rust fungus led to gall formation on Byrsonima variabilis. Aims: The hypothesis that the host leaf–rust fungi interaction alters the dynamics of plant cell walls and the histochemical profile toward favouring the plant cell-to-fungi cell translocation of metabolites is tested. Methods: Gall samples were sectioned and submitted to anatomical, histometric
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Asymbiotic germination of Prasophyllum (Orchidaceae) requires low mineral concentration Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-03-13 Marc Freestone, Celeste Linde, Nigel Swarts, Noushka Reiter
Context: Asymbiotic germination is used for propagation of orchids and to assess seed viability. However, asymbiotic germination media remain undeveloped for Prasophyllum (Orchidaceae), a genus with 39 threatened species in southern Australia. Aims: To develop asymbiotic germination and replate media for Prasophyllum, and determine whether survival of asymbiotically grown seedlings under nursery conditions
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Seed dormancy alleviation by warm stratification progressively widens the germination window in Mediterranean climate Rutaceae Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-03-08 Michael Just, Adam T. Cross, Wolfgang Lewandrowski, Shane R. Turner, David J. Merritt, Kingsley Dixon
Context: In ecosystems where rainfall is episodic or highly seasonal, plant recruitment from a soil-stored seed bank occurs during periods of elevated soil moisture conducive to germination and seedling establishment. The release of seed dormancy in response to environmental conditions has significant consequences for the temperature window over which germination occurs, and as such the timing of germination
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Functional traits in Myrteae species: the role of habitat heterogeneity and genus in humid and seasonal tropical environments Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-02-22 Paulo Sérgio Neves dos Santos, Davi Rodrigo Rossatto, Marla Ibrahim Uehbe de Oliveira, Ana Paula Lima do Couto-Santos, Ligia Silveira Funch
Context: Morphological traits allow for plant persistence in various environments differing in edaphic and climatic aspects, and their values are normally the result of the diversity of genera and species occurring in a certain region. Myrteae, a widespread tribe of Myrtaceae, is found in varied environmental conditions ranging from dry to wet environments; thus, it is a potential study group for understanding
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Improving weed management by targeting the seed ecology of blackberry (Rubus anglocandicans) in a biodiversity hotspot Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-02-20 Caroline Delaisse, Paul B. Yeoh, Raphael K. Didham, Wolfgang Lewandrowski, John K. Scott, Bruce L. Webber
Context: Germination is a vulnerable life stage for plants, therefore understanding the dynamics of seed ecology is essential to guiding management recommendations for highly invasive weeds. Aim: We addressed the knowledge gap for how seeds contribute to the invasion process for European blackberry (Rubus anglocandicans), a threatening weed across the riparian ecosystems of south-western Australia
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Factors influencing the germination, establishment and distribution of Micromyrtus minutiflora (Myrtaceae), in western Sydney, New South Wales Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2023-02-15 Tanya Bangel, Alison Hewitt, E. Charles Morris, Anthony M. Haigh
Context: Little is known of the ecology of Micromyrtus minutiflora, a threatened plant species endemic to the Cumberland subregion, New South Wales, Australia. Aims: To fill ecological knowledge gaps of M. minutiflora, including habitat preferences, population size and structure, survivorship; and responses to fire and disturbance to inform appropriate management practices. Methods: Surveys of distribution
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The ecology, evolution, and management of mast reproduction in Australian plants Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-12-20 Boyd R. Wright, Donald C. Franklin, Roderick J. Fensham
Australia is home to a diverse assemblage of plant species that display marked population-level variation in inter-annual flower or seed output (i.e. masting). These include a semelparous bamboo with an estimated inter-crop period of 40–50 years, numerous iteroparous masting gymnosperms, angiosperms that include landscape-dominant eucalypts, arid-zone wattles and spinifex (Triodia spp.) grasses, and
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Frameworks for identifying priority plants and ecosystems most impacted by major fires Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-12-09 Tony D. Auld, David A. Keith, Rachael V. Gallagher, Mark Tozer, Mark K. J. Ooi, Tom Le Breton, Stuart Allen, Colin Yates, Stephen van Leeuwen, Richard J. Williams, Berin D. E. Mackenzie
Globally, many species and ecosystems are experiencing landscape-scale wildfires (‘megafires’) and these events are predicted to increase in frequency and severity as the climate warms. Consequently, the capability to rapidly assess the likely impacts of such large fires and identify potential risks they pose to the persistence of species and ecosystems is vital for effective conservation management
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Relationships between soils and plant community composition and structure in a Neotropical savanna mosaic Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-12-07 Eddie Lenza, Ana Clara Abadia, Arthur Veríssimo, Hellen Kezia Almada, Lorrayne Aparecida Gonçalves, Daielle Carrijo
Context: How woody flora richness and composition in different vegetation communities in a Neotropical savanna are explained by chemical and physical soil properties? Objective: Determinate the relationships between the topsoil properties, richness, and composition of woody flora in the following six vegetation communities of the Brazilian Cerrado: four non-waterlogged, one seasonally waterlogged and
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From canopy to single flowers: a downscale approach to flowering of the invasive species Acacia longifolia Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-12-01 Sara Vicente, Manuela Giovanetti, Helena Trindade, Cristina Máguas
Context: Acacia longifolia is a native legume of south-eastern Australia and Tasmania and is invasive in many parts of the world. A key feature to its success is the production of a high quantity of flowers every season, resulting in a massive seedbank that remains dormant in the soil for decades. Many studies have been performed on this species’ reproductive biology, but none has focused on flowering
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Soil nutritional status in KwaZulu-Natal drives symbiotic interactions and plant performance in Lessertia frutescens Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-11-18 N. G. Ngcobo, A. O. Aremu, M. A. Pérez-Fernández, A. Magadlela
Context: Cancer bush (Lessertia frutescens L.) is a multipurpose medicinal legume endemic to southern Africa, reported to grow in a variety of soils, from very poor to fertile ones. However, there is limited knowledge on how L. frutescens is able to thrive in diverse soils and, particularly, nothing has been reported on the benefits from the microbe symbiosis, plant growth and acclimation to low nutrient
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Post-fire resprouting ability in young plants of Astronium fraxinifolium Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-10-26 Marilaine Cristina Marques Leite, Alice Souza Leal, Maycon Anderson Araujo, Aline Redondo Martins
Fire is an important ecological factor that influences the composition of the Cerrado vegetation in Brazil. In environments where fire is recurrent, tree species with seedlings/saplings that accumulate underground reserves and/or present distinctive underground structures (tuberous roots and root crowns) are more likely to reach maturity. Astronium fraxinifolium Schott is a tree species native to the
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Synthetic seed propagation of the therapeutic-honey plants Leptospermum polygalifolium and L. scoparium (Myrtaceae) Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-10-10 Ian D. Darby, Aaron Wiegand, Shahla Hosseini Bai, Helen M. Wallace, Stephen J. Trueman
Context: Increasing demand for therapeutic honey has driven establishment of Leptospermum nectar plantations. Methods for propagation involving synthetic seeds (artificially encapsulated miniature cuttings) may speed production of Leptospermum polygalifolium Salisb. and L. scoparium J.R.Forst. & G.Forst. Aims: The study aimed to determine how nutrient strength of the encapsulation solution and the
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Multiple lines of evidence infer centurial-scale habitat change and resilience in a threatened plant species at Mount Dangar, Hunter Valley, New South Wales Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-09-28 Stephen A. J. Bell, Phil Lamrock, Heather A. Haines, Chris Turney
Context: Populations of the threatened plant Acacia dangarensis at Mount Dangar (Hunter Valley, New South Wales) may best be managed by recognising centurial, rather than decadal, change in habitat. Aim: Multiple data sources have been used to explore the hypothesis that above-ground presence of A. dangarensis is driven by centurial-scale cycles in climate (wet–dry phases) and fire. Methods: Current-day
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Characterising the woody vegetation in contrasting habitat types in the lower Fitzroy River, Western Australia Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-09-14 Fiona L. Freestone, Caroline A. Canham, Samantha A. Setterfield, Michael M. Douglas, Leah S. Beesley, Robyn C. Loomes
Context: Riverine systems consist of distinct habitats along a landscape gradient and characterising the composition and structure of vegetation in these habitats can support environmental water-management decisions. However, in many regions, including northern Australia, there is a paucity of hydro-ecological data. Aims: We aimed to characterise the species composition and the structure of riparian
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Light drives vegetative phenology of Cattleya intermedia (Orchidaceae): a key factor for the establishment of plants translocated into a fragment of subtropical Atlantic Forest Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-09-13 Delio Endres Júnior, Márcio H. Sasamori, Andressa Müller, Jairo L. Schmitt, Annette Droste
Despite Orchidaceae is a key component of the epiphytic flora of tropical and subtropical forests, phenological studies of this group are rare, mainly due to technical difficulties in observing epiphytes, the reduced abundance of wild specimens, and to the evergreen characteristic of these plants. We monitored shoot and root production of translocated young plants of the epiphytic orchid Cattleya intermedia
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The effect of inter-fire interval and fire severity on seedling germination and resprouting in Allocasuarina verticillata Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-09-02 Karleah K. Berris, Ruby M. H. Jones, Xiangning Kok, Adrian K. J. McCafferty, Johannes K. Skirrow, Trish Mooney
Context: Regeneration from seed and resprouting are life-history strategies used by plants in fire-prone landscapes; however, for some species there is a limited understanding of how different factors influence post-fire response within populations. Aims: We studied the effect of inter-fire interval and degree of tree burn on post-fire seedling germination and basal resprouting in Allocasuarina verticillata
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Understanding seed dormancy and germination aids conservation of rainforest species from tropical montane cloud forest: a case study confirming morphophysiological dormancy in the genus Tasmannia Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-09-01 Ganesha S. Liyanage, Catherine A. Offord, Darren M. Crayn, Lydia K. Guja, Stuart Worboys, Karen D. Sommerville
Context: Seed dormancy is one issue hindering implementation of conservation actions for rainforest species. Aims: We studied dormancy and germination in Tasmannia sp. Mt Bellenden Ker and Tasmannia membranea, two tropical montane rainforest species threatened by climate change, to develop a better understanding of dormancy in the species and the genus. Methods: Dormancy was classified for T. sp. Mt
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Vale Beth Gott, AM, MSc (Melb), PhD (Lond.) Plant Physiologist, Ethnobotanist, Teacher (25 July 1922 to 8 July 2022) Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-08-29 Neil D. Hallam, Richard J. Williams
Dr Beth Gott, a legendary Australian botanist, passed away recently aged 99. Her contribution to botanical research and teaching was exceptional, at Universities in Australia, the UK, the USA and Hong Kong. Her pioneering studies in the use of native plants by Australian aboriginal peoples are classics of the ethnobotanical literature.
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Historical persistence and isolation by distance of Mirbelia viminalis (Fabaceae) across the Hamersley Range of the Pilbara bioregion Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-08-26 Melissa A. Millar, Rachel M. Binks, Sarah-Louise Tapper, Bronwyn M. Macdonald, Shelley L. McArthur, Margaret Hankinson, David J. Coates, Stephen van Leeuwen, Margaret Byrne
Context: Empirical studies of intraspecific genetic diversity and population structure can inform the evolutionary and demographic history of individual species and of landscapes at the bioregional level. Aims: We aimed to assess intraspecific genetic variation at macroevolutionary and microevolutionary temporal scales for Mirbelia viminalis, a key species present on the Hamersley Range in the ancient
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Lack of fire rather than pollinator absence may drive population decline in the critically endangered Banksia conferta (Proteaceae) Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-08-16 Stephen A. J. Bell, Nigel Hunter, Andrew Steed
Context and aim: Stands of the critically endangered Banksia conferta in north-eastern New South Wales show low recruitment and were examined to elucidate whether pollinator absence or fire history best explained this. Methods: Motion-detection cameras were deployed at three sites to identify potential pollinators, and age structure within stands and past follicle production were assessed through tree
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Evaluating conservation strategies for the endangered daisy Schoenia filifolia subsp. subulifolia (Asteraceae): fitness consequences of genetic rescue and hybridisation with a widespread subspecies Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-07-27 Leonie Monks, David Coates, Shelley McArthur, Rachel J. Standish
Context: To establish translocated populations of threatened plants with the genetic resources to adapt to changing environmental conditions, the source of propagation material is an important consideration. Aim: We investigated the fitness consequences of genetic rescue and admixture for the threatened annual daisy Schoenia filifolia subsp. subulifolia, and the common S. filifolia subsp. filifolia
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How important is fire-induced disturbance in the maintenance of a threatened perennial forb, Solanum papaverifolium? Aust. J. Bot. (IF 1.1) Pub Date : 2022-07-26 Omofomwan Kingsley Osazuwa, John Matthew Dwyer, Roderick John Fensham
Context: Many grassland forb populations have greatly diminished because their habitat coincides with prime agricultural land and remnants lack appropriate disturbance regimes. Aim: The aim of the current study is to examine the survivorship, vegetative recruitment, biomass and sexual reproduction of S. papaverifolium in response to burning in one of a few natural surviving populations in Queensland