Melichrus procumbens

Melichrus procumbens View in CoL

We found that most evidence supported no change to the status quo taxonomy for Melichrus procumbens . The proportions of M. sp. Torrington plants were generally large, as noted by Paterson (1958) but this variation fell within the observed range for M. procumbens and so is not consistent with Paterson’s hypothesis that M. sp. Torrington is an autopolyploid. However, the two populations of M. sp. Torrington included in the molecular analyses did cluster together, separate from nearby M. procumbens samples. This pattern is consistent with M. sp. Torrington as an autopolyploid or a seperately evolving metapopulation but a chromosomal study is required for confirmation. As the discontinuity in the genetic dataset is not accompanied by a corresponding morphological discontinuity, we recommend that M. sp. Torrington be considered a synonym of M. procumbens .

Since Paterson’s revision, a morphologically distinctive taxon similar to Melichrus procumbens was collected in Colo Gorge, New South Wales and phrase-named M. sp. Colo Gorge (I.R.Telford 8659) NE Herbarium. This OTU could not be located in the field as efforts were impeded in part by bushfires and drought in the area. As such, this is excluded from the taxonomic revision pending new collections.