New Lepidium (Brassicaceae) from New Zealand

Download or read book New Lepidium (Brassicaceae) from New Zealand written by Peter James De Lange and published by PenSoft Publishers LTD. This book was released on 2013 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The vascular flora of New Zealand contains an estimated 2400 species of indigenous plant, of which a staggering 83% are endemic. Nevertheless, despite the 244 years of botanical exploration there are still many flowering plants left to formally describe from New Zealand. In this issue of PhytoKeys the diversity of the endemic Cook’s Scurvy grass (Lepidium oleraceum) is subjected to a modern taxonomic treatment, recognising in the process ten new endemic species, and accepting six others described by past workers. This issue includes detailed descriptions for all 16 Lepidium species and discusses their ecology, ethnobotany and conservation status. A dichotomous key to the naturalised and indigenous Lepidium of the New Zealand archipelago is also provided.