Table Of ContentNityisia l4(3):385-392(2002) 385
Psammomoya (Celastraceae), a taxonomic review
G.J. Keighery
DepartmentofConservationandLand Management, WesternAustralian Wildlife Research Centre,
POBox 51,Wanneroo, WesternAustralia,6065
Abstract
Keighery,G.J.,Psammomoya(Celastraceae),ataxonomicreview. Niiytsia 14(3):385-392(2002).
Thesouth-westernAustraliangenusPsammomoyaDiels& Loes. isreviewedandshowntoconsistol
four species, two of them previously named as P. choretroides (F. Muell.) Diels & Loes. and
P. ephedroides Diels & Loes. Two new species, Psammomoya grandifloni Keighery and
P. implexa Keighery, are described. All species are illustrated and akey is provided.
Introduction
Psammomoya isthesole genusoftheCelastraceaeoccurringintemperateWestern Australiaand
is endemic to this region. The genus is closely related to Apatophyllum McGillivray (McGillivray
1971),onespeciesofwhich occurs inthearidzoneofWesternAu.stralia(Cranlield& Lander 1992).
Apatophyllum can be distinguished in having leafy stems, the leaves spirally arranged and well
developed (opposite-decussate and reduced to cataphylls in Psammomoya), bracteoles triangular
(ovate in Psammomoya), andthe floral disc erect and free(broad and fused in Psammomoya).
Onlytwospeciesa)'Psammomoyawererecognisedwhen thegenuswastreated by.lessup( 1984)
inthe“FloraofAustralia”. Thecurrentstudywaseominenccdaftersortingthecontentsotaloldertor
unnamedMacarllmria luegelexFndl.(Molluginaceae)colleetionsshowedthatsexeralolthemwere
1
Psammomoya specimens that did not easily Fit the accepted taxonomy ol the genus. Additional
collectionsofthenewtaxarecognisedherewerefoundamongthespecimensdetenninedasPsammomoya
choretroides and P. ephedroides.
Methods
All herbarium collections oi'Psammomoyaat FERTI1, MEL, SYD, andAD havebeen examined
forthis study. F’opulationsofthreeofthe fourtaxahavebeen examined in thewild.
Taxonomy
Psammomoya Diels & Loes. in L. Diels & E. Pritzel, Bot. Jahrh. Syst. 35 : 339 (1904). Type:
Psammomoyachoretroides(F. Muell.) Diels & Loes.
1
386 NuytsiaVol. 14.No, 3 (2002)
Shrubsusuallyfromacorky-barkedwoodyrootstock.Leavesopposite-decussate,reducedtodark
brown cataphylls. Inflorescence ofsolitarv tlowers or2—1-flowered fascicles in axils ofcataphylls.
Flowershennaphrodite.actlnomorphic,onashortpedicelwithpersistentscariousbracteolesatbase.
Sepals5,imbricate,broadlyovatetodebate;apexthickened,acute,brownorblack. Petals5,imbricate,
white, apex acute. Stamens 5. opposite sepals and insertedon orbelowtherim ofthe disc. Anthers
cordate,longitudinallydehiscent,introrse,yellow. DiscHat,pentagonal. Ovaiyscarcelyorpartially
immersedindisc,2-or3-locular,eachloculewith2basalanatropousovules. Fruitaloculicidalcapsule,
erectordecurved. Seeds 1-3,usually 1,erect,ellipsoidornarrowlyellipsoid,withawhite fleshyaril
atbase; seed coatribbed, crustaceous,brown orblack; endosperm copious.
Agenusoffourspecies endemic inthe south-westofWesternAustralia.
Key to Psammomoya species
mm
1. Ovary'2-locular. Pedicels 0.5-1.2 long.
2. Branchlets4-anglcdand4-sulcate, usuallyciscid; apexobtuse.
hiddenbynumerousbracts 1. P. choretroides
2. Branchlets6-ribbed,notviscid;apexpungent, exposed 2. P implexa
mm
1. Ovary'3-locular. Pedicels 1.5-5 long.
3. Branchletswithapungentapex. Flowerssmall,thepetals
mm
2.5-3.5 long 3. p. ephedroides
3. Branchletswithasoftacute apex. Flowers large, thepetals
6-7 mm long 4. p. grandiflora
1.Psammomoyachoretroides(F.Muell.)Diels&Loes.,inL.Diels&E.Pritzel,Bot.Jahbr. Syst. 35:
340,fig. 1 {\904).—LoganiachoretroidesF.MueW., VictorianNaturalist6: 1 18(1889). eastern
sourcesofthe Swan Rrver, WesternAustralia, MrsHeal(holo: MEL 100676; iso: MEL 100675).
Illustrations. Diels & Pritzel (1904: fig. 41A-H); Morley & Toelken (1983: fig. 132D-F); Jessup
(1984: fig. 42G,H); McGillivray(1971: 404, fig. 3).
Rigidsrectshrub,to45 cmtall,with2-5 erectbranchesfromacorkyrootstock. Branchletserect,
many, 4-angled and4-su!cate, usuallyviscid alongthe angles; apex short, obtuse, black, coveredby
mm
cataphylls. Cataphylls 1-3 long, darkbrownorblack, thepairsofcataphylls separatedby 7—1
mm
intemodes on main branches below branchlets. Flowers single or in fascicles of2—4, often
a2.p0p-e2a.r4inmgmseslsoinlge.,tShteapmeednisceilns0e.r5t—e1d.b2emlmowlmoangr.giSnepoafldsisdce;baftiel,am0e.n9t—01..46-m0.m7mlomng.loPnegt;aalnstohveartce.-d0.e5bamtem,
long.ZJ/xcfleshy. 1.5—2.0mmdiam. ’an'halfimmersedindisc,2-locular.Stylec.0.2mmIona;stigma
obscurely2-lobed. Capsule2-lobed,broadestabovemiddle.2-val\ed, 5-9mm long. 5-8mm wide,
1- or2-seeded. Seedsnarrowly ellipsoid. 3.8-A.3 mm long; aril 3-4mm long. (Figure 1A-C)
Selectedspecimens examined(57 examined). WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Boorabbin. T.E.H. Aplin
1936 (PERTH); Dowering, CA. Gardner667 (PERTH); Lake King,A.S. George329 (PERTH); 13
miles [21 km] EofLakeGrace,27Sep. 1975,J.IV. Green4445 (PERTH);Quairading, G.J. Keigheiy
2260 (PERTH); MtGlasse, BremerRange, K.R. Newbey5593 (PERTH).
Dist!ibution. EndemictoWesternAustralia,fromGalenasouth-easttotheBremerRangeand south
to LakeKing. (Figure2A)
G.L.Keigherv’,Psammomoya,ataxonomicreview 387
Figure I.A-C.Psammomoyachorelroides. A-wholeplant(scalehar=20mm),B-llowcringbranch,C-apexofbranchlet.
D F, Psammomoyaimplexa.D noweringbranch(scalebar=25mm),E-apexorbranchlet,F-tlower. Drawnfrom./IF.
Green4445 (A-C)andC.A. Gardner 12031 (D-F).
Habitat. Known from various vegetation types including Eucalyptus salmonophloia woodland,
Allocasuarinaspp.shrubland,heathwithemergentmalicesorlowheath.Soilswherethisspeciesgrows
includegreysand,yellowsandy clay, lateritic sandorbrownclayey sand.
Floweringtime. AugusttoOctober.
Conservation.status. Widespread andwell conserved.
Notes. Psammomoyachoretroides is closelyrelated to P. implexa. See notes underthe latterspecies.
388 NuytsiaVol. 14,No. 3(2002)
2.PsammomoyaimplexaKeighery,sp. nov.
Frutex usque ad 1 m altus, ramis principalibus intricate ramosis, 6-costatis, non viscidis; apex
mm
atrobrunneusvel niger,pungens, 5-7 longus.
Typus: nearWilroy,WesternAustralia,29August]945,C.A.Gan/ner7547{holo:PERTH 02791501;
iso: PERTH 02792532, 02793415, 02793423, 02793431).
Shrubto 1 mtall,intricatelybranched;mainbranches6-ribbed,notviscid.Branchlets6-ribbed,not
viscid;apexpungent,5-7mmlong,darkbrownorblack. Cataphyllsc. 1 mmlong,darkbrownorblack,
the pairs ofcataphylls separated by 17-22 mm intemodes on main branches. Flowers single or in
fasciclesof2-4,oftenappearingsessilebutonapedicel0.5-1.1 mm long. Sepalsbroadlytriangular,
0.6-0.9mm. Pe/aTvovate-deltate, 1.8-2.2mmlong, insertedbelowmarginofdisc; lllament
mm mm mm
lessthan 0.6 long;antherc. 0.5 long.Disc fleshy, 1.5-2.0 diam. Ovaryhalfimmersedin
mm
disc, 2-locular.Stylec. 0.2 long; stigmaobscurely2-lobed. Capsulen.v. (Figure ID-F)
Otherspecimensexamined. WESTERNAUSTRALIA: 36.8kmNofWubin,25Aug. 1998,R.Davis
6480 (PERTH);nearWilroy, 29 Aug. 1945, C.A. Gardner7547 (PERTH); Ninghamto Whitew'ells,
C.A. Gardner 12031 (PERTH);0.4 kmS ofMorris Rdon McWhirterRd. c. 35 kmNofMorawa,27
July 1996,B..J.Lepschi2738& T.R. 7,o//v(PERTH); 1 kmWofLittlesBore,GabyonStation, 15Aug.
1993,S. Van Vreeswyk3766 (PERTH); Wilroy,J.Z. Weber 5140 (AD, PERTH).
Distribution. EndemictoWesternAustralia,recordedfromWilroyandGabyonStationsouth-eastto
nearWubinandnearNingham Station. (Figure2B)
Habitat. This speciesisrecorded as occurringon stonyridges.
Floweringtime. AugusttoOctober.
Conservation status. Conservation Codes for Western Australian Flora: Priority Three. Probably
presentin WilroyNatureReserveand in unallocated Crown land.
Etymology. TheepithetisfromtheGreekw'ordtorintricatelybranched,referringtothemuchbranched
habitofthe species.
Notes. ApoorlyknownspeciespreviouslyhousedatPERTHasPsammomoyapetraeaKeigheryms.
Collectionsofthisspecies infruitareneeded.
Psammomoyaimplexaw'aspreviouslyconfusedwithP.choretroides.However,thetwospeciesare
disjunctindistributionandthereareconstantdiflercncesinhabitat,morphologyandhabitatpreference.
Psammomoyachoretroidesisasmallcompacterectshrubw'hiehhas4-angled,usuallyviscid,stemsand
erectbranchletsvvithanobtuseapexcoveredbycataphylls.Psammomoyaimplexaisalargespreading
much-bianchedshtaib,whichhasrigidnon-viscid6-ribbed stemsandnumerousspreadingbranchlets
endingin alongblackpungentpoint.
3.PsammomoyaephedroidesDiels&Loes.inL.Diels&E.Pritzel,Bot.Jahbr.Syst. 35 :340(1904).
Type, .^toward King George Sound, Western Australia, 1892, collector unknown, (holo: B n.v.,
?destroyed; iso: MEL 100678).
G.J. Keigher>',Psummomoya,ataxonomicreview 389
Figure2. Distribution maps. A-Psummomoyachorctroidcs'. B-P. ephedroides andP. implexa A;C P. grundiflora.
390 NuytsiaVol. 14,No.3 (2002)
Illustrations. Diels& Pritzel (1904: fig. 41J-L);Jessup (1984: fig. 42H,J).
m
Much-branched tangled spreading shrub, to 1.5 x 1.5 m; main stems spreading to erect, with
mm
numerous short side branchlets. Branchlets rigid, 15-35 long, 4-angled and 4-sulcate; apex
pungent,2-5mmlong,black. Cafaphyllslinear,0.5-0.7mmlong,darkbrownorblack. F/ovver^mostly
mm mm
solitaiy;pedicel 1.5-2.0 long. Sepalsbroadlyovate,0.8-1.0 long.Petalsovate-oblong,2.7-
mm mm mm
3.5 long. Stamensinsertedonmarginol'disc;filamentr. 1.5 long;antherc. 0.7 long.D/.vc
mm mm
thin, 1.0-1.5 diam.Ovaryscarcelyimmersed,3-locular. Style1.3-1.5 long;stigmaobscurely
mm
3-lobed. Capsule without persistent corolla, 3-valved, ellipsoid, 5-6 long. Seeds narrowly
mm mm
ellipsoid,3.5-4.5 long,c. 2.5 wide,nearlyhalfimmersed inthearil. (Figure3A.B)
Otherspecimensexamined. WESTERN AUSTRALIA: Murgoo Station,A.M. Ashby3298B (AD,
PERTH); Toolonga,A.A. Burbidge33 (PERTH);N ofMurchison RiverBridge, C.A. Gardner2539
(PERTH); Murchison River, C.A. Gardner 13199 (PERTH); Murchison River, Aug. 1931, C.A.
Gardner& W.E.Blackalls.n. (PERTH);Galena,Gittens 1579(PERTH);35kmNofMurchisonRiver
Bridge,R.V. Smith 66/307 (PERTH, MEL).
Distribution.EndemictoWesternAustralia,extendingfromToolongaStationeasttoMurgooStation.
(Figure2B)
Habitat.Psammomoyaephedroidesoccursinheathsandshrublandsondeepyellowmrredsandyloams.
Floweringtime. Julyto September.
Conservationstatus. Notconsidered to be at risk. Psammomoya ephedroides is present in Kalbarri
National Park and ToolongaNature Reserve. Itis also known from several stations and is probably
presentonunallocatedCrown landbetweentheseareas.
Notes. PreciouslyconfusedwithP. grandiflora(seenotesunderthatspecies).
ThetypecollectioncouldnothavebeenmadeclosetoKingGeorgeSound orthe StirlingRange
assuggestedtentativelybyDielsandLoesener(/«Diels&Pritzel 1904),asthisspeciesisknownonly
fromnorthofGeraldton.
4. PsammomoyagrandifloraKeigheiy,sp. nov.
Frutex erectus. Ramuli non spinescentes, apicibus acutis. Cataphylla circa 2 mm longa.
Pedicelli 3—5 mmlongi. Petalaovato-oblongaadtriangulares,6—7mmlonga.Filamenta2.5-3.5 mm
longa. Capsulaincorollapersistent! circumdata, 3 valvata, 6-8mmlonga.
Typus: MtGibson, 29°36’ S, 117°11’ E, WesternAustralia,3 October \9iA,B.H. SmithASA{holo:
PERTH 02791498; iso: MEL, CANB, AD, HO, MO).
Illustration. Jessup (1984: fig. 421).
SpreadingqxqcXshrubto80cmhighand 1 mw'ide;brancheserectorspreading,moreorlessterete.
Branchletserect,4-anglcdand4-sulcate;apexveryshort,soft,acute,coveredbycataphylls.Cataphylls
G.L.Keigher)',Psammomoya,ataxonomicreview 391
ligurc3. AM.J\sainfiiomo\(tephedroichs. A How'eringbranch(scalebar=5mm).B -apcxolbranchlct. C-l:. I'sLWunomoya
yrumliflora. C llowcringbranch(scalebar 30mm),I)-apexolbranchlet,E bracts. DrawnIrom.(..)/..I.v/7M'.'2986(A.B)
and IromB.H. Smith2085(C'-E).
linear-lanceolate, c. 2 mm long,darkbrownorblack,thepairsofcataphyllsseparated by 17-24mm
mm
intemodesonthemainbranches. Flowersmostlysolitary;pedicel3-5 long. Sepalsbroadlyovate,
1.5-2.0 mm long. Petals ovate-oblong to triangular, 6-7 mm long, white. Stamens inserted below
marginsofdisc;niamcnt2.5-3.5mmlong;antherc. 0.7mm long.Discthin.2.5-3.2mmdiam.Ovaiy
scarcelyimmersedindisc,3-celled. Stylec. 2 mm long;stigmaobscurely 3-lobed. Capsuleenclosed
mm
byapersistenteorolla.3-valvcd(orrarely2-valvedbyabortion),ellipsoid,6-8 long, 1-3-seeded.
Seeds ellipsoid, v. 3 mm long, black, hairimmersed in the aril. (I'igure3C-li)
Otherspecimensexamined. WESTERNAUSTRALIA:betweenDalgarangaand Mtbanner,27°44
S, 1 17°t3’ E, J.S. Beard 7184 (PERTH); East Yuna Reserve, A.C. Burns 1 (PERTH); East Yuna
392 XuytsiaVoi. 14.No. 3 (2002)
Reserve,/!.C. Burns3(PERTH);EastYunaReserve,H.C. Burns22(PERTH);MtGibson,Nov. 1968,
C.A. Gardners.n. (PERTH);No.2RabbitProofFenee,30°13’ S, 1 17°12’ E,B.H. Smith2085(PERTH).
Distribution. EndemietoWesternAustralia,knownonlyfromseatteredloealitiesfromEastYunaeast
to Mt Farmerand south-easttothe Mt Gibson area. (Figure 2C)
Habitat. On MtGibsonPsammomoyagrandifioraoeeurs in.illocasiiarinaJGrevilleaand Melaleuca
thieketonredloamoverjasperlite.AtEastYunatherecordedhabitatis“rocky”, andnearMt Fanner
thespeciesoccurs in sandplain with bowgadaand spinifex.
Floweringtime. Augustto October.
Conservation status. Not considered to be at risk. Psammomoyagrandifiora, while poorly known,
occurs in naturereservesatEastYunaand MtGibson. There isconsiderable uncleared landbetween
thesetwo locationsthatcould includeadditional populations.
Etymology. The specificname denotes the large flowers ofthisspecies.
Notes. Psammomoya grandifiora is related to P. ephedroides and was pre\iously included in this
species,butdiffersinha\ingnon-pungentbranchlets,largercataphylls,longerpedicels,largerflowers
andthe capsuleenclosed by apersistentcorolla.
Discussion
Thegenushasdiversifiedonthenorthernand north-eastern marginsofthe South West Botanical
Province ot Western Australia. The lourspecies tall intotwogroups ofclosely related species, one
comprised ot Psammomoya choretroides and P. implexa, and the other of P. ephedroides and
P. grandifiora. In both cases, these groups have one species occurring on deep sandy soils and the
second onrocky outcrops.
Acknowledgements
AgrantfromtheAustralianBiologicalResourcesStudyenabledtheauthortochecktypecollections
heldintheNational Herbariumot Victoria,Melbourne.Accesstothecollectionswasprovidedbythe
curatorand staffofMEL.
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