Phylogenomics of Australian Chamelaucieae (Myrtaceae)

One of the bird-pollinated mountain bells (Darwinia oxylepis) endemic to the Stirling Range. 

The latest phylogenomic tree of a prominent and diverse tribe of Australian Myrtaceae has clarified the evolutionary relationships within this group. With about 800 species, the tribe comprises well-known components of the Australian flora and is also important horticulturally – including featherflowers (Verticordia), waxflowers (Chamelaucium), and Darwinia, to name a few.

This project was associated with the Genomics for Australian Plants initiative which funded the sequencing costs of the project. Several samples were also obtained from the global Plant and Fungal Trees of Life Project led by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Calytrix harvestiana with stamens and petals that change colour from yellow–orange to deep red–pink with age.

Our study improved our understanding of the tribe’s deeper phylogenetic relationships and resulted in an additional subtribe (bringing the total to 12). Diversification analyses indicated the tribe also suffered a decline in speciation rates during the Eocene–Oligocene boundary extinction event (c. 34 Ma), a trend similar to that observed across the wider flora.

Our study provides a robust phylogenomic framework for future studies on the tribe, where additional focus on specific subtribes would assist in resolving the taxonomy of many undescribed species in this plant group.

Full Article: 

https://www.publish.csiro.au/sb/SB24014

Nge et al. (2025)