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Telopea 8(4): 2000 
branched, axis with 1-3 flowers, of which 2 may develop fruit; spathes 10-20 mm long, 
ciliate with stiff hairs, with a rigid curved awn 6-14 mm long. Lateral branches of male 
inflorescences generally extending beyond the spathe, to 15 mm long. Male flowers: 
tepals hyaline, linear, sparsely ciliate at apex, acute, 6-7 mm long; filament column 
c. 9 mm long; anthers c. 3.5 mm long. Female flowers: pedicel 1.5-2.5 mm long; tepals 
rigid, deltoid, acute, sparsely ciliate toward apex; outer tepals (3-)5-8 mm long, with 
a slender black awn c. 4 mm long; inner tepals 5-6 mm long; style 8-10 mm long. 
Capsule depressed globular, 3-angled, 4—6 mm long, 6-8 mm diam. Seeds c. 2 mm 
diam. Chromosome number In = 12 (Bell & Pate 1993). (Fig. 6). 
The epithet is from the Latin excelsus, lofty or high, referring to the stature of the 
plants, which are mostly taller than other species of Lyginia. 
Distribution: occurs in Western Australia north of Perth, at a few sites near Cataby 
and north of Badgingarra, on sand in dry heath and Banksia woodland. 
Conservation status: vulnerable; known from only a few sites and in a region subject 
to clearing of native vegetation. CALM code P. Obligate seeder species, made more 
vulnerable since it is killed by even mild fires (Meney, Pate, Dixon, Briggs & Johnson 
1999; Pate 2000). 
Specimens examined: Western Australia: Irwin: 2.9 km N of Tootbardie Rd on Hwy 1, Briggs 8921 
& Johnson, 15 Aug 1991 6 (NSW); junction of Brand Hwy and Cooljarloo Rd, N of Cataby, Meney 
2191,22 Oct 1990 $ (progeny of this collection, raised from seed: NSW); Brand Hwy N of Cataby 
(details as for type), Briggs 9317 8 (NSW), 9318 9 (NSW, PERTH), 9320 9 (NSW, K, PERTH); 
Cataby, Bell & Pate, Oct 1992 9 (KPBG). 
Excluded and illegitimate names 
Lyginm tenax (Labill.) Steud. (as Lygynia), Nomencl. bot. ed. 1, 1; 501 (1821) = 
Leptocarpus tenax (Labill.) R. Br. 
Lyginia montevidensis Spreng. in Linn. Syst. veg. 4 (2): 26 (1827). Referred to 'species 
ignotn ... excludenda ' by Masters in Candolle Monogr. phan. 1: 303 (1878). 
Lyginia symphyonema F. Muell., Fragm. 8: 79 (1873), notn. illeg., based on an inclusive 
concept of L. barbata R. Br., L. imberbis R. Br. and Schoenodum tenax Labill. 
Acknowledgments 
John Pate (University of Western Australia), Kathy Meney, Tina Bell, and Kingsley 
ixon ( mgs Park and Botanic Garden, Perth) shared their knowledge with us most 
generous y in discussions and in the field. The information they provided helped 
greatly, especially in clarifying the classification of Lyginia. The DNA studies that 
prov i ec part of the basis for distinguishing these new families also benefited from 
p an s in tissue culture and seeds provided by Meney and Dixon. Thanks go to 
co eagues w 10 gave valuable assistance, especially Adam Marchant, Simon Gilmore 
3IU b ^ orter ( u 'h°se DNA sequencing studies were crucial to the conclusions 
reac cc), legfried Kiauss and Barbara Wiecek. Horticultural colleagues, at the Mount 
nnan otanic Garden and in Sydney, maintained relevant living collections. David 
ac ay, icola Oram and Lesley Elkan were responsible for the illustrations and Peter 
i son assisted with the Latin diagnoses. The opportunity to examine specimens on 
oan or in otier herbaria, and extensive data provided by the Western Australian 
ti anum ( RTH),contributed to the study. Grants from the Australian Research 
ounci an ustralian Biological Resources Study supported part of the project, 
omments on the manuscript from Peter Linder (University of Cape Town) and 
mem ieis o the Telopea Editorial Committee improved the paper. 
