Some Names Changes For New Zealand “Cyathodes R.Br.” (Ericaceae)
It would now seem that New Zealand has no Cyathodes s.s. left. In fact the genus is apparently endemic to Tasmania. Over the last decade New Zealanders have seen the reinstatement of the endemic, monotypic genus Androstoma Hook.f. for the plant treated by Allan (1961) as Cyathodes empetrifolia (Hook.f.) Hook.f., removal of Cyathodes juniperina (G.Forst.) Druce and Chatham Island endemic C. robusta Hook.f. to the new genus Leptecophylla C.M.Weiller, and the return of C. fraseri (A.Cunn.) Allan, C. fasciculata (G.Forst.) Allan and C. parviflora (Andrews) Allan to Leucopogon R.Br. Only Cyathodes pumila Hook.f. remained though many here treat it as conspecific with the Australian C. dealbata R.Br. The generic placement of recently named (2003) Leucopogon xerampelinus de Lange, Heenan et M.I.Dawson remains unchallenged.There have been criticisms of Leptecophylla and the reinstatement of Androstoma. However, Quinn et al (2005), provide unequivocal morphological and molecular evidence to support the recognition of Androstoma and Leptecophylla as separate monophyletic groups. Furthermore they resolve the status of the New Zealand endemic Leucopogon colensoi Hook.f. (also known here as Cyathodes colensoi (Hook.f.) Hook.f. and Leucopogon suaveolens Hook.f.).
In their paper they place Leucopogon colensoi within a new genus Acrothamnus C.J.Quinn, as A. colensoi (Hook.f.) C.J.Quinn. They treat the New Zealand plant as endemic and distinct from A. (Leucopogon) suaveolens (Hook.f.) C.J. Quinn of New Guinea and Borneo. Acrothamnus is a small genus of six species found mainly in Australia.
As well as accepting Androstoma, Quinn et al. (2005) recognise a further species from Australia, A. verticillata (Hook.f.) C.J.Quinn. Previously this species had been placed within Pentachondra R.Br., Trochocarpa R.Br., Styphelia Sm. and Leucopogon. Androstoma had been a New Zealand endemic, monotypic genus.
The situation for Cyathodes pumila remains unresolved, though it is not a Cyathodes (M. Heslewood pers. comm.). Whether it is the same as C. dealbata has not been decided. Similarly Leucopogon fraseri A.Cunn. and L. nanum M.I.Dawson et Heenan do not belong in Leucopogon but as yet a suitable placement for them in another genus has yet to be found (D. Crayn pers. comm.).
Reference
Quinn, C.J.; Brown, E.A.; Heslewood, M.M.; Crayn, D.M. 2005: Generic concepts in Styphelieae (Ericaceae): ther Cyathodes group. Australian Systematic Botany 18: 439-454.
Posted: 13/12/2005