Pultenaea weindorferi Reader, Vict. Naturalist

Renner, Matthew A. M., Barrett, Russell L., Clarke, Steve, Clugston, James A. R. & Wilson, Peter H. Weston Trevor C., 2022, Morphological and molecular evidence refute a broad circumscription for Pultenaea glabra (Fabaceae: Mirbelieae), with implications for taxonomy, biogeography, and conservation, Australian Systematic Botany 35 (3), pp. 225-277 : 273-275

8. Pultenaea weindorferi Reader, Vict. Naturalist 22(3): 51 (1905)

Type citation: ‘Collected at Wandin , in a swamp, near the road from Lilydale to Warburton , 25 miles [~ 40 km] from Melbourne, in September, 1903, by Mr. G. Weindorfer .’ Type: Wandin , in a swamp, near the road from Lilydale to Warburton, 25 miles [~ 40 km] from Melbourne, Sept. 1903, G. Weindorfer s.n. (lecto, here designated: MEL 580100 ; possible isolecto: NSW 425491 ; possible isolecto or residual syn: NSW 425490 ex herb. Reader, MEL 35428 ) .

Erect branched shrub up to 2 m tall, branchlets glabrous. Stipules linear–lanceolate, divided, plane, lobes not reflexed or divergent, divided to ~0.5 of their length, lobes keeled, keels running through lamina to base, margins irregularly denticulate. Leaves linear–lanceolate 5.9–15 (average 11.1) mm long, 0.6–1.4 (average 0.9) mm wide, navicular at apex, apex rounded to obtuse, cucullate; abaxial leaf surface mamillose, each mamilla formed by a single epidermal cell, triangular to dome-shaped; adaxial surface with columnar papillae that are tapered towards their apex; leaf lamina and petiole glabrous. Leaf anatomy with orange–red pigmented cells scattered throughout on the dorsal and ventral surfaces. Ventral epidermis orange-pigmented, 3 veins present, Inflorescences terminal, internodes contracted, terminating short lateral shoots, occasionally branching below the inflorescence; leaves among flowers reduced, stipules enlarged, broader and less divided than stipules in sterile shoot sectors. Flowers in clusters of 10 or more, pedicellate, pedicels glabrous. Calyx glabrous, except for cilia on inner margin of lobes; lobes cucullate with three veins, abaxial surface mamillose, mamillae formed by single epidermal cells, triangular to dome shaped as on the abaxial leaf surface. Bracteoles exceeding sinus between calyx lobes, coriaceous, nearly equal to calyx lobes in length. Corolla orange–yellow, with pronounced red semicircular marking at base of standard, otherwise lacking red markings, wings suffused with red towards their base; keel slightly paler than rest of the flower; greenish-cream to pale yellow particularly towards the apex; standard ovate above a basal stipe, folded not flat at flower maturity, apex with a shallow notch defined by the left and right sides of the standard; wing orientation variable, from embracing the keel to slightly laterally splayed, broadly rectangular–obovate above a long basal stipe, upper margin straight, lower margin curved, apex rounded, basal auricle a broad rounded triangle. Keel asymmetrically elliptic, upper margin linear, lower margin continuously curved, deepest at mid point, apex broadly rounded. Ovary glabrous. Pods not seen, turgid and glabrous fide Corrick (1996) ( Fig. 31 ).

Distribution and ecology

Pultenaea weindorferi is endemic to central Victoria, including the Gippsland Plain, Central Victorian Uplands, and the Northern and Southern Fall Highlands , in association with drainage lines and swamps at a scattering of localities including near Daylesford, Kinglake, and Tonimbuk .

Recognition

Pultenaea weindorferi can be recognised by its combination of flowers in a terminal head-like inflorescence thee internodes of which are contracted, the linear leaves with a cuculllate apex, and abaxial leaf surface bearing conspicuous triangular mamillae.

Variation

A form with long soft hairs on the calyx and leaves, and a tuft of hairs on the summit of the ovary that occurs in Kinglake National Park was noted by de Kok and West (2002). Specimens in broad agreement with this description included in our study also had broader leaves (0.8–2.0 mm wide). These forms may represent hybrids with other cooccurring Pultenaea , such as P. humilis Benth. ex Hook.f. , variation within P. weindorferi , as suggested by de Kok and West (2002), or an undescribed taxon, and further work on their status should be undertaken.

Notes

Multiple specimens derived from Weindorfer’s September 1903 gathering(s) exist. Variously, these are associated with three different identifiers, some specimens are associated with the number 1966, others with 2252; the remaining specimens have no unique identifier. Reader’s citation of original material refers to Weindorfer’s gathering(s) ( Reader 1905), which is therefore citation of the included specimens (Art. 9.6). The association of different specimens with different numbers may suggest that Weindorfer made more than one gathering, but we do not think this is the case. Rather, we suspect that the numbers are Weindorfer’s own distribution numbers, recording the specimens he has sent to other people. Part of the evidence for this interpretation is that the numbers associated with Weindorfer’s specimens are not consecutive, and, further, different numbers are applied to what appear to be the same gathering. In support of this interpretation is the fact that the material in NSW, which was sent to Maiden in 1903, bears the number 1966. This material is accompanied by a note from Weindorfer that the specimen was ‘found by me at said locality’ and that Maiden believed the plants were likely new, and would describe them as such if so. One of the specimens in MEL bears the number 2252 in Weindorfer’s hand, along with a specimen label also written by Weindorfer, which has the species name ‘ Pultenaea weindorferi F.M.Reader species nova’, suggesting that Weindorfer distributed this specimen closer to the publication date of 1905, and after he had sent material to Maiden in Sydney. Reader (1905) makes no mention of collection numbers. We infer that all the specimens gathered by Weindorfer near Wandin in September 1903 comprise a single gathering, which have different histories of distribution from Weindorfer’s personal herbarium. We designate the large specimen in MEL as lectotype, the other specimens are therefore isolectotypes.

Conservation status

Pultenaea weindorferi is listed as Endangered on the Victorian Government’s current Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 list. As noted in the introduction, the state of Victoria did not accept the synonymisation of P. weindorferi with P. glabra , a position supported by this study.

Specimens examined

VICTORIA. Wandin , G. Weindorfer s.n., Oct. 1904, ( NSW 37200 ); Wandin , Oct. 1905, G. Weindorfer 5847/15, ( NSW 37203 ); Wandin (~ 43 km E of Melbourne), 11 Oct. 1907, P. R. H. St John s.n., ( NSW 424887 ); eastern Highlands, Tynong North, Button grass walking track near the intersection of Camp Road and the Gembrook–Tonimbuk road, 29 Nov. 2007, J. A. Jeanes 1803, G . Lay & D. Wilson, ( NSW 831384 ); eastern Highlands, Kinglake National Park , ~ 1 km NW of Mt Everard, at end of track that leaves W side of Mt Everard to Mt Beggary track ~ 1.5 km S of Mt Beggary, 28 Dec. 1996, M. G. Corrick 11489, ( NSW 624283 ); Midlands, Lerderderg State Park ( N central part of park), O’Briens Rd , 24 Oct. 1999, V. Stajsic s.n., ( NSW 675907 ) .

Figures

Fig. 31. Pultenaea weindorferi line drawing. (a) Flowering branch detail, (b) habit, (c) stipule, (d) flower, profile view, (e) standard petal, ventral view, (f) wing, profile view, (g) keel, profile view, (h) flower, perianth removed, lateral view, (i) ovary detail, (j) leaf abaxial surface, (k) leaf adaxial surface, (l) leaf detail, adaxial surface, (m) leaf detail, abaxial surface. a, b, d–i from NSW424887, c, j–m from NSW 37200, all from dried material.