Dear Spiral user, We’re pleased to introduce Helix, https://helix.imperial.ac.uk/ Imperial’s new repository for research datasets. Please use Helix for all future dataset deposits. There is no change to Spiral - continue depositing as usual. For queries, contact the Research Data Management team at rdm-enquiries@imperial.ac.uk. Kind regards, the Spiral Team. The Spiral team
Two new species of Currant Bush Coprosma (Rubiaceae) from an endemic radiation on Lord Howe Island
File(s)
boaf112.pdf (3.23 MB)
Published version (online)
Author(s)
Brook, Theodore S
Hutton, Ian J
Papadopulos, Alexander ST
Elkan, Lesley
Wilson, Trevor C
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Molecular and morphological evidence provide support for the description of two new species of Coprosma (Rubiaceae) from Lord Howe Island, a remote oceanic island in the Tasman Sea. The first species, C. savolainenii sp. nov., was discovered during a plant survey, whereas the second species, C. ptotopetra sp. nov., was identified using DNA fingerprinting. Confirmation of both is currently being obtained through high-throughput sequencing. We provide detailed descriptions of each new species, alongside an updated description of C. putida, a species with similar morphology to C. ptotopetra sp. nov.. We also provide phenological, distribution, and conservation data for each species. This description goes beyond a traditional species account, as it represents a unique endemic radiation occurring in sympatry on an isolated island of global conservation significance. It may also represent a rare botanical example of the syngameon hypothesis, where hybrid speciation accelerates evolutionary radiation.
Date Issued
2025-12-28
Date Acceptance
2025-11-14
Citation
Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2025
URI
DOI
ISSN
0024-4074
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Journal / Book Title
Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society
Copyright Statement
© The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Linnean Society of London. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
License URL
Identifier
10.1093/botlinnean/boaf112
Subjects
conservation
Coprosma
Lord Howe Island
morphology
oceanic island
Rubiaceae
species description
taxonomy
Publication Status
Published online
Article Number
ARTN boaf112
Date Publish Online
2025-12-28