Generic concepts in Ericaceae: Styphelioideae - the Monotoca group

Abstract

A morphological dataset for Monotoca R.Br. and its putative allies was subjected to parsimony analysis, augmented by a sequence dataset (the matK gene and the atpB–rbcL intergenic spacer) for selected species. Monotoca was found to be paraphyletic: three species currently assigned to Monotoca, together with two as yet undescribed species, all from south-western Western Australia, are placed in a clade sister to Oligarrhena, tribe Oligarrheneae, whereas the remaining species are robustly grouped as Monotoca sensu stricto within tribe Styphelieae. The former group is described as a new genus, Dielsiodoxa Albr., which is endemic in Western Australia. Cyathodes dealbata from Tasmania is placed sister to Monotoca sensu stricto in both analyses, and shows no close relationship with any species of Cyathodes sensu lato or its segregates. A new monotypic genus, Montitega C.M.Weiller, is erected for this taxon.