A few years ago, the Board of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium published an authoritative account of the South Australia’s floral emblem, Sturt’s desert pea (Swainsona formosa), one of Australia’s most striking and recognisable flowers.  Written by the late David Symon (former Hon. Research Associate of the State Herbarium) and then Botanic Gardens staff member Manfred Jusaitis, the book gives an insight into the botany of the plant, its discovery and naming, and discusses its biology, propagation and cultivation.  The volume also features chapters on the Sturt pea as a State flower, and its use in decorative and commercial art and literature.  It contains a wealth if knowledge about this plant and is profusely illustrated with many colour illustrations and photographs.

Symon, D. & Jusaitis, M. (2007). Sturt pea: a most splendid plant. (Board of the Botanic Gardens & State Herbarium: Adelaide). 151 pp.

While this is not a new release, it still is the only in-depth account of South Australia’s floral emblem.  It was published in three editions, softcover ($39.95), hardcover ($50) and leather bound ($150), and all three editions are still in stock and available for purchase.  The book makes a great present for friends and family, too.

Volunteers and staff members of the State Herbarium of South Australia are eligible for a discount on this publication.  Please speak to Jürgen Kellermann for more information.  For a list of all books published by the State Herbarium, please go to flora.sa.gov.au/publications.

Cylindropuntia spinosior, buds

For many years, State Herbarium Hon. Associate and former staff member Bob Chinnock has undertaken research on opuntioid cacti in Australia (prickly pears and relatives). The first part of his revision of the feral opuntioid cacti in Australia, containing the cylindrical-stemmed genera Austrocylindropuntia, Cylindropuntia and Corynopuntia, will be published soon.

Opuntioid cacti are some of the worst weeds in Australia. This book will be an essential reference tool for land owners and managers, staff of government agencies, conservation groups, people involved in bushcare, and anyone concerned with identifying and eradicating weedy cacti. It will also be a valuable addition to libraries of ecologists and botanists, and people interested in cacti and succulents.

Please go to know.ourplants.org/cacti for more information and to register your interest, so we can notify you by email once the book is published.

Roebuckiella oncocarpa

When Phillip Short published his revision of Brachyscome at the end of 2015, he also described a new genus of daisy, Roebuckia. Unfortunately he discovered soon afterwards that the name had already been used for a genus of fossil fern, described by Steve McLoughlin in 1996.

In contrast to living seed plants, where there are catalogues of plant names available (IPNI, and for Australia APNI), there is no unified index of fossil plant names, and it is very difficult to search for them.

According to the International Code of Nomenclature for Algae, Fungi and Plants (which also covers fossils), Phil Short has created a homonym, i.e. a new generic name that is the same as an already existing one. Homonyms are illegitimate names, according to the Code, and cannot be used. To rectify this, the author has now published a paper, renaming his genus as Roebuckiella and providing new combinations for the 9 species and 5 varieties under the new genus name.

P.S. Short
Roebuckiella P.S.Short, nom. nov., a replacement name for Roebuckia P.S.Short (2014), with new combinations (183kb PDF)

To access content of all volumes of the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens since Vol. 1 (1976), please visit the journal’s web-site at flora.sa.gov.au/jabg (the Journal is also available through JSTOR).

Goodenia valdentata

Yesterday, 24 Dec. 2014, the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens published the last paper for year. Peter Lang from the State Herbarium of South Australia describes a new species of Goodenia, restricted to a small area in the arid centre of the State.

Goodenia valdentata (Goodeniaceae), a new rare species endemic to Davenport Range, South Australia (2.5mb PDF)

Nine collections are known of this species, the first from 1968, but they were for a long time mistaken for Goodenia saccata or G. chambersii. The new species belongs to Goodenia subsect. Goodenia and is related to G. grandiflora and similar taxa. This increases the number of species of the genus in South Australia to 46.

To access content of all volumes of the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens since 1976, please visit the journal’s web-site at flora.sa.gov.au/jabg.