Phylogenetic relationships of two anomalous species of Pultenaea (Fabaceae: Mirbelieae), and description of a new genus

The phylogeny of genera related to Pultenaea was investigated using three i ndependent data sets: morphology and nucleotide sequences of non-coding DNA from the nucleus (ITS) and the chloroplast (trnL-F). Elucidating the relat ionships of two species anomalous in Pultenaea - P. neurocalyx and P. selag inoides - was the principal question. Despite some incongruence among the d ata sets, P. neurocalyx is unambiguously placed with Eutaxia, but its forma l taxonomic placement - either as a species of Eutaxia or as a monotypic ne w genus is left undecided pending a species-level analysis of that group. T he precise phylogenetic position of P. selaginoides is not clear, due to in congruence between the ITS and trnL-F data sets. Its most likely relationsh ip is with Almaleea, as indicated by both morphology (weakly) and trnL-F (s trongly). To accommodate this species, a unispecific new genus, Stonesiella , is created, diagnosed by characters of the inflorescence and bracts, and the absence of all synapomorphies of the other Pultenaea-group genera. The appropriateness of recognising monotypic genera is discussed. Monophyly of Pultenaea s.str. (excluding P. selaginoides and P, neurocalyx) is supported equivocally.