Spyridium phylicoides Reissek

Overview & Synopsis

Spyridium phylicoides, S. sp. Dwarf (J.Kellermann 579) and S. sp. Red Dots (J.Kellermann 689)Spyridium phylicoides is polyphyletic and requires taxonomic revision. In both phylogenies, samples of S. phylicoides were found in two clades (Clades I and J 2, Fig. 2; Clades M 1, M 3 and Q 1, Fig. 5). There is no biogeographic pattern to these (Fig. 4) and perhaps further unidentified forms exist within S. phylicoides, in addition to the two forms already given phrase names, namely, S. sp. Dwarf (J.Kellermann 579) Kellermann and S. sp. Red Dots (J.Kellermann 689) Kellermann (Table 2). Spyridium sp. Dwarf (J.Kellermann 579) is distinguished from S. phylicoides by generally smaller leaves and low-growing, almost prostrate habit (J. Kellermann, unpubl. data). However, the distribution of samples of S. sp. Dwarf (J.Kellermann 579; Fig. 5) overlaps with that of many species found in SA (Fig. 3 f, g, i, j); therefore, it is possible that the incongruent result for this taxon (unresolved in the nrDNA phylogeny and polyphyletic in the cpDNA tree; Fig. 2, 5) may be attributed to chloroplast capture or ILS. Only one accession of S. sp. Red Dots (J.Kellermann 689) was included in this study and support for this taxon as distinct from S. phylicoides in either phylogeny is limited (Clade J 2, Fig. 2; Clade M 3, Fig. 5). We recommend further investigation into both phrase-name taxa, particularly S. sp. Dwarf (J.Kellermann 579), and a more detailed investigation into the circumscription of S. phylicoides.