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Dendrobium bigibbum (sect. Phalaenanthe) in Australia — analysis of diagnostic characters, review of taxa and a new classification

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Summary

Dendrobium bigibbum Lindl. has a long confused history, with taxa variously described as separate species, subspecies, varieties and forms. This paper records morphological variation in 160 representative plants in north Queensland and Torres Strait. The distribution range is delineated. ITS-DNA results did not show significant differences between populations. The evidence supports a single species D. bigibbum Lindl. with three intergrading varieties: vars bigibbum, superbum and compactum. Some types have uncertain provenance, particularly D. phalaenopsis, which is reduced to synonymy under D. bigibbum var. superbum. A combination of characters can be used to identify varieties. A new combination of D. bigibbum var. compactum reduces D. phalaenopsis var. compactum to synonymy.

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Acknowledgements

Sheryl Lawson, Michael Bayly and Neville Walsh provided discussion and review of drafts. Trevor and Cathy Ford, Bruce Gray, and Ron Savage assisted with plant specimens. Erin Batty performed the DNA analyses. David Adams prepared the figures. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, the Natural History Museum, London, and Ernst Vitek (Natural History Museum, Vienna) supplied photographs of type specimens. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service provided permits for study.

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  1. School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia

    Peter B. Adams

  2. National Herbarium of Victoria, Birdwood Avenue, South Yarra, Victoria, 3141, Australia

    Peter B. Adams

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  1. Peter B. Adams
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Correspondence to Peter B. Adams.

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Adams, P.B. Dendrobium bigibbum (sect. Phalaenanthe) in Australia — analysis of diagnostic characters, review of taxa and a new classification. Kew Bull 70, 16 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-015-9565-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12225-015-9565-x

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