A conspectus of Merremia Dennst. ex Endl. (Convolvulaceae) 
in Australia with the addition of two species 
R.W.Johnson 
Summary 
Johnson, R.W. (2009). A conspectus of Merremia Dennst. ex Endl. (Convolvulaceae) in Australia 
with the addition of two species. Austrobaileya 8(1): 55-63. A conspectus and key to the species 
of Merremia growing in Australia is provided. A new species from Western Australia, Merremia 
kimberleyensis R.W.Johnson, is described. A combination, Merremia incisa (R.Br.) Hallier f., which 
until recently had been overlooked, is shown to be the correct name for a well-known taxon from 
northern Australia. Descriptions and distribution maps have been provided for both these species. 
Key Words: Convolvulaceae, Merremia , Merremia kimberleyensis , Merremia incisa , Australian 
flora, new species, identification key 
R.W.Johnson, c/- Queensland Herbarium, Department of Environment & Resource Management, 
Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha Road, Toowong, Queensland 4066, Australia 
Introduction 
Merremia Dennst. ex Endl. is a pantropical 
genus of more than 100 species (Staples in 
press). In preparing an account of Merremia 
for the Flora of Australia some changes to, 
and clarification of, the current taxonomy 
have resulted. This paper is a precursor 
to the account in that publication. Until 
recently, eleven species of Merremia have 
been formally recognised as occurring 
in Australia with a further two species 
recognised but undescribed. Ten of these also 
occur in Malesia (Ooststroom 1953). Six were 
regarded as native while the only described 
endemic species was thought to be Merremia 
davenportii (F.Muell.) Hallier f. 
The status of two additional species, 
which have been recognised for many years 
as distinct, is clarified below. 
Materials and methods 
This paper is based on specimens mainly held 
at the Queensland Herbarium (BRI) and other 
herbaria as cited. Naturalised species are 
indicated *. 
Key to Australian species of Merremia 
1 Leaves palmately lobed to palmately compound with up to 7 lobes or leaflets.2 
1. Leaves simple, entire, toothed, pinnately lobed or hastate, neither palmately 
lobed nor compound.8 
2 Leaves palmately lobed to near the base but not palmately compound; 
leaflets 3-7.3 
2. Leaves palmately compound with 3-5 leaflets.4 
3 Plant hairy; leaf lobes coarsely dentate to irregularly pinnately lobed; 
corolla white with a rose to purple throat, 3-4.5 cm long.3. M. dissecta 
3. Plant glabrous; leaf lobes entire; corolla yellow, 5-6 cm long.12. M. tuberosa 
Accepted for publication 5 October 2009 
