Diversity in New Zealand Gnaphalieae

Ilse Breitwieser

Allan Herbarium – Landcare Research, P.O. Box 69040, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6797-1088

Josephine M. Ward

School of Biological Sciences, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.53875/capitulum.01.2.02

ABSTRACT: New Zealand indigenous Gnaphalieae are examined for endemism, ecological and morphological diversity, hybridism and taxonomic difficulty. The Raoulia alliance, an almost endemic clade, is shown to be remarkably diverse in morphology but with some interconnections within this diversity. Similarities between Leucogenes and Leontopodium, Anaphalioides and Anaphalis, Raoulia and Mniodes, and Ewartiothamnus and Ewartia are hypothesized to be due to the independent acquisition of remarkably similar morphological adaptations.

Keywords: convergent evolution, endemism, hybridism, morphology, Raoulia alliance