An overview of Celmisiinae (Astereae): A diverse endemic Australasian lineage

Patricio Saldivia

Biota Ltda. Av. Miguel Claro 1224, Providencia, Santiago, CHILE.
Museo Regional de Aysén, Km 3 Camino a Coyhaique Alto, Coyhaique, CHILE.

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0985-9244

Duncan Alastair Nicol

Department of Botany, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, NEW ZEALAND

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2836-0644

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.53875/capitulum.03.1.01

ABSTRACT:  Within the Australasian Astereae, the recently circumscribed Celmisiinae constitute a rich and morphologically diverse lineage centered in New Zealand but also significant in Australia and the tropical island of New Guinea. The taxonomic history of the subtribe goes back to the beginnings of the botanic exploration of New Zealand. However, it was only in the 1980s that the idea of closely related Australasian elements started to be discussed. Currently, the following genera are accepted within Celmisiinae: Celmisia, Damnamenia, Macrolearia, Pachystegia, Pleurophyllum, and Olearia pro parte. The latter, however, needs a new generic circumscription because its type, O. tomentosa, belongs to a different subtribe. The main morphological attributes defining Celmisiinae (shoot architecture, receptacle, androecium morphology, and leaf indumentum) are discussed in detail. The distribution patterns and richness are shown in the context of the most recent phylogeny of the subtribe. Finally, a brief account of habitat diversity and ecological interactions with invertebrate fauna is given.

Keywords: architecture, Asteraceae, Celmisia group, Compositae, diversity, endemism, Shawia, taxonomy.