Research into the systematics of Prostanthera recently revealed close evolutionary relationship among P. phylicifolia sens. str., the critically endangered P. gilesii, and a population of uncertain identity from the Central Tablelands of New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Previous analyses were unable to establish whether genetic boundaries separated these taxa. This study assessed species boundaries among these three taxa by using a combination of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) sampled at the population-scale and multivariate analysis of morphological characters. Ordination, model-based clustering, F-statistics, neighbour-network analysis, phylogenetic analysis, and ancestry coefficient estimates all provided support for discrete genetic differences among the three taxa. Morphological phenetic analysis recovered congruent morphological clusters and identified a suite of corresponding diagnostic characters. This congruence of molecular and morphological evidence supports the presence of three independently evolving lineages, two of which correspond with the previously described P. gilesii and P. phylicifolia sens. str. The third taxon, represented by a single population from the Central Tablelands of NSW, is here described as P. volucris R.P.O’Donnell. A detailed description, diagnostic line drawings and photographs are provided. We evaluate P. volucris as satisfying criteria to be considered Critically Endangered.

Fabaceae is a monophyletic family comprising more than 22 000 species worldwide. In Mexico, it is the second-most species rich family, inhabiting multiple ecosystems with a high diversity of life forms. Our aims were to (1) identify areas of endemism (AEs) by using endemicity analysis at different cell sizes (1°, 0.5° and 0.25°) for 488 Mexican legumes, (2) describe the climatic and topographic heterogeneity of AE, (3) determine whether there is a positive relationship between AEs and climatic and topographic heterogeneity and (4) examine the conservation status of legumes that defined the AEs. We found six general AEs, supported by 63 species, with endemicity index values ranging from 2.05 to 6.86. These general areas had zones where biogeographical provinces intersected and exhibited a higher environmental heterogeneity. Areas detected at 1° showed a positive relationship between endemicity index and environmental heterogeneity. Legume species currently lack legal protection in Mexico, 69% of the endemic species do not have an evaluation category according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature, and eight species are in some risk category. Future conservation efforts should focus on protecting endemism areas from accomplishing representative natural protected areas.

This study of Northern Territory charophytes documents 22 species in 3 of the genera in tribe Chareae, family Characeae, including 15 previously described species (Chara benthamii, C. erythrogyna, C. globularis, C. karolii, C. lucida, C. porteri, C. protocharoides, C. setosa, C. submollusca, C. wightii, C. zeylanica, Lamprothamnium capitatum, L. compactum, L. stipitatum, Lychnothamnus barbatus) of which 2 are new for the Australian flora (C. erythrogyna and C. wightii), as well as 5 varieties raised to species rank (C. aridicola, C. arnhemensis, C. bancroftii, C. behriana, C. duriuscula), and 2 newly described species (C. lamprothamniformis, C. schultae). Three previously reported species in the tribe (C. braunii, C. corallina, C. fibrosa) are not recorded from the Northern Territory in this study, as previous records were based on erroneous identifications or localities. Although Northern Territory specimens of Lychnothamnus barbatus have not been seen, it has been included in this treatment, because it occurs in south-eastern Queensland, the Gulf of Carpentaria, Papua New Guinea and Timor-Leste. A key, illustrations and descriptions of all the species are provided.