A reappraisal of the generic concepts of Epacris, Rupicola and Budawangia (Ericaceae, Epacridoideae, Epacrideae) based on phylogenetic analysis of morphological and molecular data

Abstract

The genus Epacris Cav. (Ericaceae, Epacridoideae, Epacrideae) contains 46 species in south-eastern Australia and two species in New Zealand. Two small genera, Rupicola Maiden & Betche (four spp.) and Budawangia I.Telford (monotypic), both having restricted distributions in the mountains of central eastern New South Wales, have been generally regarded as closely related to but distinct from Epacris. We tested the monophyly and relationships of these three genera using parsimony and Bayesian analysis of morphological and plastid atpB–rbcL DNA sequence datasets. Separate and combined analyses all place Budawangia and Rupicola within Epacris with moderate to strong support. We conclude that there are insufficient grounds for maintaining Rupicola and Budawangia as distinct from Epacris. The required nomenclatural changes are made herein.