Most of Australia’s sclerophyllous Rutaceae belong to a clade informally known as the ‘Eriostemon group’ (including 16 genera, ~209 species). We investigated generic relationships in this group using analyses of complete plastome sequence data for 60 species and analyses of a supermatrix including sequences of four plastome spacer regions for 22 additional species. Maximum likelihood, Bayesian inference, and shortcut coalescent phylogenetic analyses produced congruent phylogenies that were highly supported, except for a series of short unsupported branches in the backbone of the Eriostemon group. We found high support for four major clades branching from this polytomy and discuss evolutionary inferences of generic relationships in each lineage. In an effort to resolve the polytomy, we analysed gene tree topologies in tree space, phylogenetic informativeness with likelihood mapping, and conducted topology tests to assess support for all possible topological resolutions of the polytomy. These approaches did not clarify the polytomy, which may be caused by insufficient data, features of plastome evolution, or rapid radiation. Results from analyses of the combined supermatrix dataset suggest that Philotheca section Philotheca is paraphyletic with regards to Drummondita and Geleznowia. In all phylogenies, Philotheca sections Corynonema and Cyanochlamys were not placed with other members of Philotheca.

Recognition that the critically endangered mallee Eucalyptus sp. Cattai (Gregson s.n. 28 Aug 1954) is a distinct species has been complicated by close morphological similarity between it and other members of E. subgenus Symphyomyrtus section Latoangulatae series Annulares. Recent genomic evidence has demonstrated that it is distinct from other species. In this study, we provide E. sp. Cattai with the new species name, E. cryptica T.C.Wilson, S.Rutherf. & S.M.Douglas, and use genomic scans of adults and seedlings to assist in its description and support its conservation by identifying hybrids. Accompanying the description of E. cryptica are images, diagnostic illustrations and an updated part of the Eucalyptus key for the Flora of New South Wales.