Duperreya Gaudich. (Convolvulaceae) revisited 
R.W.Johnson 
Summary 
Johnson, R.W. (2009). Duperreya Gaudich. (Convolvulaceae) revisited. Austrobaileya 8(1): 47- 
54. The history of the genus Duperreya Gaudich. and its reinstatement in Australia is discussed. 
Three species are recognised and a key is provided for their identification. Duperreya halfordii 
R.W.Johnson is described as new. Descriptions and distribution maps are provided for all species 
as well as information on their distribution, habitat and phenology. Key identification characters are 
illustrated. 
Key Words: Convolvulaceae, Australian flora, Duperreya , Duperreya halfordii, Porana 
R.W.Johnson, c/- Queensland Herbarium, Department of Environment & Resource Management 
(DERM), Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong, Queensland 4066, Australia 
Introduction 
The genus Duperreya was described by 
Gaudichaud (1829) based on a specimen he 
collected from Shark Bay in Western Australia. 
Both Choisy (1837, 1845) and Endlicher 
(1839) maintained Duperreya as a monotypic 
genus closely related to Porana Burm.f. 
Mueller (1867) concluded that Duperreya 
was a synonym of Porana and transferred 
D. sericea Gaudich. to the larger and more 
widespread genus. However, Mueller (1860) 
had previously described Ipomoea modesta 
F.Muell. based on an Oldfield specimen 
collected beside the Murchison River in 
Western Australia. This name was illegitimate 
due to an earlier I. modesta described by 
Choisy (1854). Mueller also realised this taxon 
was the same as Porana sericea and noted 
this in his list of synonymy. Bentham (1869), 
Peter (1891) and Hallier (1893) accepted the 
transfer of Duperreya to Porana though Peter 
recognised its difference by including the 
genus in the monospecific section Duperreya. 
Schneider (1916) in a study of the genus 
Porana concluded Duperreya was sufficiently 
distinct from Porana to be maintained as 
a separate genus. Until recently Australian 
authors have followed Mueller’s treatment of 
Duperreya. 
Staples (1987) revised the Australian 
species of Porana and described a new species 
P. commixta Staples. More recently, Staples 
Accepted for publication 30 June 2009 
(2006) published a comprehensive revision of 
the Asiatic Poraneae in which he reinstated 
the genus Duperreya comprising two species, 
D. sericea and D. commixta (Staples) Staples. 
In preparing treatments of the Australian 
Convolvulaceae for the Flora of Australia , 
David Halford and I found that specimens 
of Duperreya commixta from Queensland 
and New South Wales did not fit within the 
species concepts proposed by Staples (1987, 
2006). Staples (2006) did note that specimens 
of D. commixta from the Cobar area in New 
South Wales had wider sepals than those 
from Queensland and Western Australia 
but in other respects they were typical of 
that species. Further studies and the critical 
examination of specimens have now indicated 
that the eastern Australian populations are 
distinct from those of D. commixta in inland 
Western Australia. 
Materials and methods 
This revision is based on specimen holdings 
in BRI, CANB, MEF, NSW and PERTH. 
Taxonomy 
Duperreya Gaudich., in Freycinet, Voyage 
Autour du Monde... sur les Corvettes de S. 
M. I’Uranie et laPhysicienne. Botanique t. 63 
(1828); 452 (1829). Type: D. sericea Gaudich. 
Perennials with climbing stems, woody at 
the base; indumentum sericeous, comprising 
appressed bifid hairs. Feaves shortly petiolate; 
blade linear to linear ovate, entire, with a 
