Many more small-flowered myrtles
- Kevin Thiele
- Mar 31, 2019
- 1 min read
The so-called 'small-flowered myrtles' of Western Australia are one of the least-documented groups of Australian plants. Several hundred un-named species are known but have not yet been formally described and named, partly because even the genera in this group have not yet been fully resolved. Many species are currently placed in the genus Baeckea, but few of those will remain there.
In a paper published last week in the Western Australian Herbarium's science journal Nuytsia, taxonomist Barbara Rye describes no fewer than 25 new species and five new subspecies in the genus Scholtzia, one of the largest of the small-flowered myrtle genera.
Most of these are conservation-listed in Western Australia, as many small-flowered myrtles have small ranges and are rare.
Barbara Rye is one of Australia's most prolific taxonomists, having described or reclassified over 300 new species and other taxa during a long career at the Western Australian Herbarium. She is amongst the world's most-published botanical taxonomists.
It's incredible to think that hundreds of unnamed species are still waiting to be formally described, and the work of taxonomists like Barbara Rye is absolutely vital for conservation efforts. Understanding and naming these plants is the first step toward protecting their unique biodiversity. For anyone inspired to cultivate a piece of this botanical beauty at home, you can always find a wide selection of plants, soil, and gardening tools at how to contact home depot if you need help finding the right supplies for your garden. A thriving garden can be a small but meaningful way to connect with nature's diversity.