HETEROBLASTY IN CARMICHAELIA, CHORDOSPARTIUM, CORALLOSPARTIUM, AND NOTOSPARTIUM (FABACEAE, GALEGEAE) FROM NEW-ZEALAND

Habit-heteroblasty is described for Chordospartium, Corallospartium, N orospartium, and most species of Carmichaelia. Transition from the juv enile to the adult occurs in the first year after seed germination and is marked by an abrupt change in stem habit and morphology and in lea finess. Carmichaelia astonii, C. monroi, C. nana, and C. williamsii pa ss from the juvenile to the adult without change. Leaf-heteroblasty oc curs in Chordospartium, Corallospartium, and Notospartium, whereas the leaves of Carmichaelia are usually of similar shape on juvenile and a dult plants. The orientation of the juvenile stems can be correlated w ith ecological preferences. The patterns of heteroblastic development described are not well correlated with the generic boundaries of the C armichaelia complex.