More peas please? Progress towards completion of Fabaceae for the Flora of Australia
Russell BarrettRoom 1: Cinema
Russell L. Barrett (Botanic Gardens of Sydney); James A.R. Clugston (Botanic Gardens of Sydney); Lyn G. Cook (University of Queensland); Mike D. Crisp (University of Queensland); Peter C. Jobson (Botanic Gardens of Sydney); Brendan J. Lepschi (Australian National Herbarium); Matthew A.M. Renner (Botanic Gardens of Sydney); Peter H. Weston (Botanic Gardens of Sydney).
The legume family Fabaceae is well-represented in Australia, with around 2,500 species. The former families Caesalpiniaceae and Mimosaceae were completed for the Flora of Australia more than 20 years ago, but the pea-flowered legumes have lagged behind. We here present ABRS-funded work from the last three years towards provision of a treatment for Fabaceae tribe Mirbelieae, which contains about half of Australia’s pea flora. We will summarise progress, especially towards resolution of problematic generic boundaries, and outline what is still needed to ‘complete’ the legume treatments for the Flora of Australia. This presentation will particularly highlight ongoing work in Pultenaea, where many new species are coming to light.