Myosotis australis

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Speciesbox | image = SP106596 Myosotis australis subsp. australis R.Br. WELT Te Papa 1697080 465630.jpg | image_caption = Flowers of Myosotis australis | status = NT | status_system = NZTCS | status_ref = <ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lange |first1=Peter J. de |last2=Rolfe |first2=Jeremy R. |last3=Barkla |first3=John W. |last4=Courtney |first4=Shannel P. |last5=Champion |first5=Paul D. |last6=Perrie |first6=Leon R. |last7=Beadel |first7=Sarah M. |last8=Ford |first8=Kerry A. |last9=Breitwieser |first9=Ilse |last10=Schönberger |first10=Ines |last11=Hindmarsh-Walls |first11=Rowan |date=May 2018 |title=Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/science-and-technical/nztcs22entire.pdf |journal=New Zealand Threat Classification Series |volume=22 |pages=1–86 |oclc=1041649797}}</ref> | genus = Myosotis | species = australis | authority = [[Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)|R.Br.]]<ref name=:5 /> | synonyms = *''Myosotis mooreana'' Lehnebach *''Myosotis australis'' var. ''conspicua'' Cheeseman *''Myosotis australis'' var. ''lytteltonensis'' Laing & A.Wall *''Myosotis lytteltonensis'' (Laing & A.Wall) de Lange }}

'''''Myosotis australis''''' is a species of [[flowering plant]] in the [[Family (taxonomy)|family]] [[Boraginaceae]], [[Native species|native]] to [[New Zealand]], [[Australia]] and [[New Guinea]]. [[Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)|Robert Brown]] described this species in 1810. Plants of this species of [[Forget-me-nots|forget-me-not]] are [[Perennial plant|perennial]] rosettes with ebracteate inflorescences and white or yellow corollas with stamens that are fully included in the corolla tube or sometimes partly protruded.

== Taxonomy and etymology == ''Myosotis australis'' [[Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)|R.Br.]]<ref name=:5>{{cite book |last=Brown |first=Robert |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/3678#/summary |title=Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen |publisher=Richard Taylor & Son |year=1810 |location=London |author-link=Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773) |language=la}}</ref> is in the plant family [[Boraginaceae]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Myosotis australis |url=https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/myosotis-australis/ |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=New Zealand Plant Conservation Network |language=en}}</ref> The species was originally described by Robert Brown in his ''[[Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen|Prodromus florae Novae-Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen]]'' 1810.<ref name=":5"/><ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Moore |first=Lucy B. |url=https://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/index.aspx |title=Boraginaceae. In 'Flora of New Zealand' |publisher=Government Printer |year=1961 |editor-last=Allan |editor-first=H.H. |volume=1 |location=Wellington, New Zealand |pages=806–833 |language=English |access-date=17 May 2023}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite Q|Q107670735}}</ref>

The [[lectotype]] was collected by [[Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)|Robert Brown]] on the "banks of Paterson River" ([[New South Wales]], Australia), is lodged at the herbarium of the [[Natural History Museum, London|Natural History Museum]] (BM 000939408),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Collection specimens - Specimens - BM000939408 - Data Portal |url=https://data.nhm.ac.uk/object/0f7f677c-9915-4aad-99da-521a16ab0a6c |access-date=2023-05-28 |website=data.nhm.ac.uk |language=en}}</ref> and was designated by [[Carlos Adolfo Lehnebach|Carlos Lehnebach]].<ref>{{Cite Q|Q106839608|doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=":2" />

''Myosotis australis'' is morphologically most similar to other ebracteate-erect species from New Zealand, especially ''[[Myosotis saxatilis]]''.<ref name=":2" /> Several morphological characters can be used to distinguish ''M. australis'' from ''M. saxatilis.'' The partially bracteate, distally non-bifurcating [[inflorescence]] in ''M. australis'' can help distinguish it from the obviously bifurcating, ebracteate inflorescence of ''M. saxatilis.''<ref name=":2" /> In addition, ''M. australis'' has long [[internodes]] (>10 mm) between fruits at fruiting, whereas ''M. saxatilis'' has short internodes (<12 mm).<ref name=":2" />

The species epithet ''australis'' is a Latin word that means south or southern, referring to its presence in Australia.<ref name=":2" />

According to the latest taxonomic treatment,''<ref name=":2" />'' the following names are all synonyms of ''M. australis'': [[Myosotis mooreana]] Lehnebach,<ref>{{Cite Q|Q21192518|doi-access=free}}</ref> ''[[Myosotis lytteltonensis|M. lytteltonensis]]'' ([[Robert Malcolm Laing|Laing]] & [[A.Wallace|A.Wall]]) [[Peter de Lange (botanist)|de Lange]]<ref>{{Cite Q|Q106497831}}</ref> (and ''M. australis'' var. ''lytteltonensis'' Laing & A.Wall;<ref>{{Cite Q|Q118751411}}</ref>), and ''M. australis'' var. ''conspicua'' [[Thomas Cheeseman|Cheeseman]].<ref>{{Cite Q|Q51396409}}</ref>

Two subspecies are recognised in the latest taxonomic treatment: [[Myosotis australis subsp. australis|''Myosotis australis'' subsp. ''australis'']] (native to [[Australia]] and [[New Zealand]]), and [[Myosotis australis subsp. saruwagedica|''M. australis'' subsp. ''saruwagedica'']] ([[Endemism|endemic]] to [[New Guinea]])''.<ref name=":2" />'' The subspecies are [[Allopatry|allopatric]], and can be distinguished from one another based on the presence of hooked hairs on the underside of the uppermost cauline leaves, length and length to width ratio of the rosette leaf blade, presence of stolons.''<ref name=":2" />''

== Phylogeny == Four individuals of ''M. australis,'' including two from Australia, one from New Guinea, and one from New Zealand, were included in a [[Phylogenetics|phylogenetic]] analyses of standard DNA sequencing markers ([[Ribosomal DNA|nuclear ribosomal DNA]] and [[chloroplast DNA]] regions).<ref name=":0">{{Cite Q|Q30707919}}</ref> These same four individuals, plus five others from New Zealand (including one each identified as ''M. mooreana'' and ''M. lytteltonensis''), were included in a subsequent phylogeny<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last1=Meudt |first1=Heidi M. |last2=Prebble |first2=Jessica M. |last3=Lehnebach |first3=Carlos A. |date=2015-05-01 |title=Native New Zealand forget-me-nots (Myosotis, Boraginaceae) comprise a Pleistocene species radiation with very low genetic divergence |url=https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-014-1166-x |journal=Plant Systematics and Evolution |language=en |volume=301 |issue=5 |pages=1455–1471 |doi=10.1007/s00606-014-1166-x |bibcode=2015PSyEv.301.1455M |s2cid=254048318 |issn=2199-6881|url-access=subscription }}</ref> (two other New Zealand individuals identified as ''M. australis'' aff. were subsequently re-identified as other species).<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":1" />

In both studies, within the southern hemisphere lineage, the ''M. australis'' individuals were not monophyletic, but in general species relationships were not well resolved.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

== Description == '''''Myosotis australis''''' plants are rosettes that are sometimes stoloniferous. The rosette leaves have [[Petiole (botany)|petioles]] that are 1–68 mm long. The rosette leaf blades are 2–73 mm long by 2–29 mm wide (length: width ratio 1.1–7.7: 1), usually narrowly oblanceolate, oblanceolate, narrowly obovate, obovate, or very broadly obovate, usually widest at or above the middle, an [[Acute leaf|acute]] or [[Glossary of leaf morphology#obtuse|obtuse]] apex. Both surfaces of the leaf are uniformly and densely covered in flexuous, patent to erect hairs oriented parallel or oblique to the midrib. On the upper surface of the leaf, these hairs are antrorse (forward-facing) whereas on the lower surface, they are a mixture of antrorse and retrorse (backward-facing)'''.''' Each rosette has 1–17 ascending to erect, sometimes lax or decumbent (rarely prostrate or dwarfed)''',''' branched or unbranched, partially bracteate [[inflorescence]]s that are not bifurcating at the top and are up to 630 mm long. The cauline leaves are similar to the rosette leaves, but become smaller. The flowers are 3–96 per inflorescence (rarely as many as 230), and each is borne on a short [[Pedicel (botany)|pedicel]], with or without a bract. The calyx is 1–5 mm long at flowering and 2–7 mm long at fruiting, lobed to one-half to nearly all of its length, and densely covered in straight, flexuous or curved hairs, as well as some hooked hairs, all of which are mostly antrorse (with some retrorse or backward-facing hairs near the base). The longer calyx hairs are patent to erect whereas the shorter calyx hairs are appressed to patent. The corolla is white or yellow and 1–10 mm in diameter, with a cylindrical tube, petals that are usually broadly obovate to very broadly obovate, or ovate to very broadly ovate, and small white or yellow scales alternating with the petals. The anthers are usually fully included or sometimes partly exserted. The four smooth, shiny, usually medium to dark brown nutlets are 1.3–2.2 mm long by 0.6–1.7 mm wide and narrowly ovoid to broadly ovoid in shape.<ref name=":2" />

The pollen of ''Myosotis australis'' is of the ''australis, uniflora, discolor'' and intermediate types.<ref name=":2" />

The chromosome number of ''M. australis'' (as ''M. lytteltonensis;'' AK 252539)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Myosotis australis lytteltonensis specimen at herbarium AK |url=https://api.aucklandmuseum.com/id/naturalsciences/object/400364 |access-date=2023-06-18 |website=Auckland Museum - Collections Online, api.aucklandmuseum.com}}</ref> is 2''n'' = 40.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lange |first1=Peter James de |last2=Murray |first2=Brian Grant |date=2002-01-01 |title=Contributions to a chromosome atlas of the New Zealand flora—37. Miscellaneous families |url=https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q114954860 |journal=New Zealand Journal of Botany |language=English |volume=40 |issue=1 |pages=1–23 |doi=10.1080/0028825X.2002.9512767|bibcode=2002NZJB...40....1D |doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":2" />

Flowering and fruiting between September–June in New Zealand and Australia, but throughout the year in New Guinea. The main flowering periods are: Australia: September–December; New Zealand: November–February; and New Guinea: April–August. The main fruiting periods are: Australia and New Zealand: November–March; and New Guinea: April–August.<ref name=":2" /> <gallery mode="packed" heights="170"> File:Myosotis australis 29862194.jpg|Yellow-flowered plant File:SP106613 Myosotis australis subsp. australis R.Br. WELT Te Papa 1697640 465697.jpg|Rosette leaves File:SP106660 Myosotis australis subsp. australis R.Br. WELT Te Papa 1700775 466084.jpg|White-flowered plant File:SP105823 Myosotis australis subsp. australis R.Br. WELT Te Papa 1596065 590706.jpg|Pollen grain </gallery>

== Distribution and habitat == ''Myosotis australis'' is native to New Zealand, Australia and New Guinea. It can be found from 0–2100 m ASL in New Zealand and Australia, and 1775–4350 m ASL in New Guinea. It is found on rocks, bluffs, outcrops, ledges, scree, or banks.<ref name=":2" />

In Australia, it is found in Western Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Western Australian Herbarium |first=Biodiversity and Conservation Science |title=Florabase—the Western Australian Flora |url=https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/6722 |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au |language=en}}</ref> South Australia,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Myosotis australis |url=http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/cgi-bin/speciesfacts_display.cgi?form=speciesfacts&name=Myosotis_australis |access-date=2023-06-28 |website=Electronic Flora of South Australia species Fact Sheet}}</ref> New South Wales,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Myosotis australis |url=https://apps.lucidcentral.org/plants_se_nsw/text/entities/myosotis_australis.htm |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=apps.lucidcentral.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Peter G. Wilson |date=1992 |title=Myosotis australis R.Br. |url=https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Myosotis~australis |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=PlantNET: New South Wales Flora Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney}}</ref> Australian Capital Territory, Victoria<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flora of Victoria |url=https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/flora/taxon/0bd394c7-f094-4832-8aee-1ad11c2c4eb2 |access-date=2023-06-27 |website=vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au}}</ref> and Tasmania.<ref name=":2" />

In New Zealand it is distributed throughout the South island in Western Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury, Westland, Otago, and possibly Fiordland, whereas on the North Island it is known only from the Volcanic Plateau and Southern North Island.<ref name=":2" />

In New Guinea it is found in both [[Western New Guinea]] (in Mimina and Puncak Jaya) as well as [[Papua New Guinea]], in the following districts: Highlands (Chiumbu, Eastern Highlands, Enga, Hela, Southern Highlands, Western Highlands & Jiwaka), Momase (Morobe, West Sepik), and Southern (Central, Milne Bay).<ref name=":2" />

== Conservation status == ''Myosotis'' ''australis'' was listed as Not Threatened on the most recent assessment (2017-2018) under the [[New Zealand Threat Classification System|New Zealand Threatened Classification]] system for plants.<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last1=Lange |first1=Peter J. de |last2=Rolfe |first2=Jeremy R. |last3=Barkla |first3=John W. |last4=Courtney |first4=Shannel P. |last5=Champion |first5=Paul D. |last6=Perrie |first6=Leon R. |last7=Beadel |first7=Sarah M. |last8=Ford |first8=Kerry A. |last9=Breitwieser |first9=Ilse |last10=Schönberger |first10=Ines |last11=Hindmarsh-Walls |first11=Rowan |date=May 2018 |title=Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2017 |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/science-and-technical/nztcs22entire.pdf |journal=New Zealand Threat Classification Series |volume=22 |pages=1–86 |oclc=1041649797}}</ref> Synonyms ''M. mooreana'' and ''M. lytteltonensis'' had both been previously listed as Threatened Nationally Critical with the qualifiers DP, OL and Sp, and RR, Sp, respectively.<ref name=":4" />

== Gallery == <gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="170px"> File:Myosotis_australis_13111280.jpg File:SP106660_Myosotis_australis_subsp._australis_R.Br._WELT_Te_Papa_1700775_466075.jpg File:SP103829_Myosotis_australis_subsp._australis_R.Br._WELT_Te_Papa_1468035_352169.jpg File:SP103829_Myosotis_australis_subsp._australis_R.Br._WELT_Te_Papa_1468035_506010.jpg File:SP106590_Myosotis_australis_subsp._australis_R.Br._WELT_Te_Papa_1697059_465569.jpg File:Myosotis_australis_29862194.jpg File:SP105823_Myosotis_australis_subsp._australis_R.Br._WELT_Te_Papa_1596065_590706.jpg </gallery>

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons}}

* [https://avh.ala.org.au/occurrences/search?taxa=myosotis+australis#tab_mapView ''Myosotis australis'' occurrence data from Australasian Virtual Herbarium]

[[Category:Myosotis|australis]] [[Category:Flora of Australia]] [[Category:Flora of New Zealand]] [[Category:Flora of New Guinea]] [[Category:Taxa named by Robert Brown (botanist, born 1773)]] [[Category:Plants described in 1810]]