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Southern hemisphere botanical ecosystems
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Australian Journal of Botany

Australian Journal of Botany

Australian Journal of Botany is an international journal for publication of original research in plant science. The journal publishes in the areas of ecology and ecophysiology; invasive biology; conservation biology and biodiversity; forest biology and management; cell and molecular biology; palaeobotany and biogeography; reproductive biology and genetics; mycology and pathology; structure and development; and aquatic botany. Read more about the journalMore

Editors-in-Chief: John Morgan and Mark Ooi

Publishing Model: Hybrid. Open Access options available.

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Latest

These articles are the latest published in the journal. Australian Journal of Botany is published under a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 05 June 2025

BT24027Microhabitat traits and herbivory of Calodesma collaris (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) affect the establishment of Vriesea incurvata (Bromeliaceae) plants translocated to the Atlantic Forest of southern Brazil

Márcio Hisayuki Sasamori, Delio Endres Júnior 0000-0002-1067-4362, Silvana Vargas do Amaral, Simeão Moraes and Annette Droste 0000-0001-8866-1599
 

Herbivory affects V. incurvata survival and development differently in forest interior versus gallery forest.

Vriesea incurvata is an epiphytic tank bromeliad endemic to the Atlantic Forest in Brazil, a biodiversity hotspot with about 90% of its domain altered. We evaluate the influence of herbivory on the survival and development of micropropagated V. incurvata translocated into two micro-environments: (1) gallery forest; and (2) forest interior. Herbivory by Calodesma collaris, together with abiotic factors, exerts differential pressure on translocated populations, with a lesser negative impact in the gallery forest. Greater spacing between plants attached to the phorophyte, in trees scattered throughout the forest fragment, might minimise the impact of caterpillars on the translocated population. Image by Márcio Hisayuki Sasamori and Delio Endres Júnior.

BT24027 Abstract  | PDF (1.5 MB) - $35.00 
Published online 29 May 2025

BT24082The assembly of the vegetation near the treeline during the Late Glacial and Holocene in south-central Tasmania

G. A. Astorga 0000-0003-2923-8787, G. J. Jordan and A. Martel-Cea
 

Photographs of selected fossil bryophytes from Lake Dobson.

The study investigated the history of alpine and subalpine plants in south-central Tasmania over the past 15,000 years. By analysing fossil plant remains from Lake Dobson in Mount Field National Park researchers have uncovered evidence suggesting that the modern configuration of the vegetation near the treeline was reached c. 6000 years ago. These findings emphasise the individualistic plant responses and strategies during a time of significant environmental transformation, allowing us to understand how fast plant species can respond to such changes. Photographs by G. A. Astorga.

BT24082 Abstract  | PDF (5.4 MB) - $35.00   | BT24082Supplementary Material (411 KB)
Published online 13 May 2025

BT24083How soil fungal communities respond to invasive plant species treatments in soil from Banksia woodland, south-western Australia

Aaron J. Brace 0000-0001-9552-5800, Katinka X. Ruthrof, Joseph B. Fontaine, Ben P. Miller 0000-0002-8569-6697 and Anna J. M. Hopkins
 

Treatments and metrics used to observe herbicide effects on soil fungal communities in bare or planted pots.

Invasive species are mostly controlled by herbicides that may result in non-target effects on essential soil fungi. Diverse fungal communities were obtained from a native tree and invasive grass species for herbicide testing. Herbicides containing pelargonic acid decreased species richness and Shannon diversity and fluazifop-p-butyl herbicides increased the relative abundance of pathogenic fungi. Photograph by Aaron Brace.

BT24083 Abstract  |  BT24083 Full Text  | BT24083PDF (2.3 MB)  | BT24083Supplementary Material (922 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 01 May 2025

BT24079Plant competition reshapes nitrogen utilisation in native Vachellia nilotica (Fabaceae)

Anathi Magadlela 0000-0002-1381-2054, Zinhle Lembede, Zivanai Tsvuura 0000-0003-1852-4737, Naledi Zama, Nqobile Motsomane and María A. Pérez-Fernández
 

A diagram showing the effect of soil P and competition with a grass species on V. nilotica.

Vachellia nilotica, a nitrogen-fixing tree, can improve nutrient-poor soils in grasslands but faces challenges from nutrient deficiencies and competition with important grasses such as red oat grass/kangaroo grass. The tree grows better in phosphorus-rich soil and forms nodules for nitrogen fixation, whereas nutrient-poor soil and grass competition reduce growth and nitrogen efficiency. This study highlights how low soil phosphorus content and plant competition with grass species can reshape legume growth and nitrogen source utilisation. Photograph by Naledi Zama.

BT24079 Abstract  | PDF (1.2 MB) - $35.00   | BT24079Supplementary Material (494 KB)
Published online 29 April 2025

BT24059Ox-eye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare Lam.) invasion has only a small effect on the diversity of a subalpine grassland

Keith L. McDougall 0000-0002-8288-6444, Jackie Miles and Genevieve T. Wright
 

Leucanthemum vulgare (ox-eye daisy) invasion of subalpine grassland in Kosciuszko National Park, New South Wales.

Leucanthemum vulgare (ox-eye daisy) has become highly invasive in subalpine communities in Kosciuszko National Park, Australia. We conducted experiments to assess the effects of its addition and removal on grassland diversity, finding that it can cause a reduction in diversity following disturbance and that herbicide effects are temporary. Despite the effects we identified, the grassland vegetation appears to be generally resilient to ox-eye daisy invasion. Photograph by Keith McDougall.

BT24059 Abstract  |  BT24059 Full Text  | BT24059PDF (2.1 MB)  | BT24059Supplementary Material (1000 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 11 March 2025

BT24020Implications of varroa mite establishment for Australian plants and their persistence

Tom Le Breton 0000-0001-9353-0067, Amy-Marie Gilpin, Chantelle Doyle and Mark K.J. Ooi 0000-0002-3046-0417
 

Distribution of European honeybee (yellow) and varroa mite (red) in Australia, and potential for viral spread.

Varroa mite, a parasite associated with the collapse of European honeybee populations globally, has recently become established in Australia and will inevitably spread across the country. If feral honeybee populations drastically decline across Australia there may be serious consequences for native plant species in terms of their reproductive ecology and conservation. We highlight potential consequences of the spread of varroa mite, and knowledge gaps and research opportunities to prevent avoidable negative impacts on Australian flora. Illustration by Juan Camilo.

BT24020 Abstract  |  BT24020 Full Text  | BT24020PDF (663 KB)  | BT24020Supplementary Material (229 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 06 March 2025

BT24060An assessment of the accuracy of satellite-derived woody and grass foliage cover estimates for Australia

Randall J. Donohue 0000-0002-9901-9136 and Luigi J. Renzullo
 

A 22-year history of total, woody and grass foliage cover for a Eucalyptus mallee woodland site in western Victoria.

Reasonably accurate predictions of the spatial patterns and temporal dynamics of green foliage cover can be made from satellite imagery. We have produced fortnightly, Australia-wide woody and grass foliage cover layers for the past 24 years and have assessed their accuracy across a range of vegetation types and productivity gradients. Data are publicly available. Image by Randall Donohue.

BT24060 Abstract  |  BT24060 Full Text  | BT24060PDF (14.8 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 21 February 2025

BT24064Habitat for the endangered ephemeral Monotaxis macrophylla (Euphorbiaceae) in New South Wales: how do predictions compare with the evidence?

Stephen A. J. Bell 0000-0001-9315-724X
 

Flowering shoot of Monotaxis macrophylla

The endangered short-lived, ephemeral herb Monotaxis macrophylla is detectable only after fire or ground disturbance and has been attributed to 262 Plant Community Types in NSW for regulatory purposes. A review of evidence for occurrence has concluded that only 15 PCTs might be expected to support the species, substantially altering survey and assessment requirements. Photograph by Stephen Bell.

BT24064 Abstract  |  BT24064 Full Text  | BT24064PDF (1.3 MB)  | BT24064Supplementary Material (1 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 06 February 2025

BT24065Assessing the storage potential of seed collections to inform the management of wild species seed banks

S. Balasupramaniyam, D. J. Merritt, F. R. Hay and E. L. Dalziell 0000-0003-4463-9984
 

Sharalene Balasupramaniyam in the seed bank at Kings Park (Western Australia).

Seed banks play an important role in ex situ plant conservation. However, managing wild species seed banks is complex, with seeds ageing and dying at different rates. After germinating seeds of banked seed collections to determine viability, we rapidly aged collections with high viability to differentiate the longevity to guide curation activities including future retesting schedules. This method could be used by wild seed banks to make more informed decisions about historical and ageing seed collections. Photograph by Laura Skates.

BT24065 Abstract  |  BT24065 Full Text  | BT24065PDF (1.1 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 30 January 2025

BT23088Tasmania’s giant eucalypts: discovery, documentation, macroecology and conservation status of the world’s largest angiosperms

Brett Mifsud 0009-0002-6259-0395, Lynda D. Prior 0000-0002-5511-2320, Grant J. Williamson, Jan Corigliano, Carl Hansen, Robert Van Pelt, Steven Pearce, Thomas Greenwood and David M. J. S. Bowman 0000-0001-8075-124X
 

A photograph of a giant old eucalypt tree in wet eucalypt forest habitat in Tasmania.

A comprehensive survey of Tasmania’s wet eucalypt forests was conducted to find, measure and document the health and environmental characteristics of the state’s tallest and most massive trees. Results confirmed Eucalyptus regnans to be one of the world’s tallest flowering plant species, and significantly, the most massive angiosperm known to science. Photograph by Brett Mifsud.

BT23088 Abstract  |  BT23088 Full Text  | BT23088PDF (10.4 MB)  | BT23088Corrigendum (140 KB)  | BT23088Supplementary Material (1.8 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 24 January 2025

BT24023Spatially variable recruitment response to fire severity in golden-top wattle (Acacia mariae, family: Fabaceae), a thicket-forming shrub of semi-arid forests

Boyd R. Wright 0000-0002-6322-4904, Damien D. Andrew 0000-0001-8675-066X, Michael Hewins, Claire Hewitt and Roderick J. Fensham
 

Post-fire regenerating branchlet of Acacia mariae (golden-top wattle) showing leaves and inflorescences.

Our study in the semi-arid Pilliga forest found that high-intensity fires enhance seedling recruitment in the obligate-seeding shrub Acacia mariae. However, site-specific variations suggest that other factors like post-fire precipitation and seed predation also affect post-fire recovery. These insights are crucial for refining fire management strategies and enhancing our understanding of species resilience to changing fire regimes.. Photograph by D. D. Andrew.

BT24023 Abstract  |  BT24023 Full Text  | BT24023PDF (1.6 MB)  | BT24023Supplementary Material (453 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 09 January 2025

BT24042Half a century of change in floristics and structure in an urban grassy woodland: implications for conservation management

Jamie B. Kirkpatrick 0000-0003-2763-2692, Ian Jenkinson and Kerry L. Bridle 0000-0002-4601-0891
 

A photograph showing distribution of the studied plots in urban reserve on the Queens Domain.

Does native vegetation in urban parks change over time? Yes and no is the answer we found after analysing data collected over a 50-year period. Whereas some sites are stable, management interventions such as weeding, burning, mowing and mechanical removal are useful tools to maintain healthy patches of native vegetation in urban areas. Map created by Ian Jenkinson.

BT24042 Abstract  |  BT24042 Full Text  | BT24042PDF (4.5 MB)  | BT24042Supplementary Material (1000 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 09 January 2025

BT24047Origins of the rare Australian daisy Erigeron conyzoides and its implications for biological control research and conservation management

Stephanie H. Chen 0000-0001-8844-6864, Alicia Grealy, Michelle A. Rafter, Ben Gooden and Alexander N. Schmidt-Lebuhn
 

A photograph of Erigeron conyzoides in Victoria, Australia.

Understanding the origins of plant species is critical for accurate risk assessment in weed biological control project as well as conservation management. Our study investigated the rare daisy Erigeron conyzoides, by using genetic data and traditional taxonomy. We discovered that the species is not a distinct endemic species native to Australia, as previously thought, but a disjunct population of the northern hemisphere species E. acer. Photograph by Alexander Schmidt-Lebuhn, © CSIRO.

BT24047 Abstract  |  BT24047 Full Text  | BT24047PDF (1.9 MB)  | BT24047Supplementary Material (2.9 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 03 January 2025

BT24037Long-term surveillance of Phytophthora cinnamomi reveals no evidence of increased detections and new insights for monitoring and management

T. J. Mason 0000-0002-4797-5644, K. L. McDougall, P. Craven, C. C. Simpson, G. C. Popovic and D. A. Keith
 

Probability of Phytophthora cinnamomi presence over time in southern Sydney conservation reserves

Phytophthora cinnamomi is a soil pathogen that can cause dieback and death in susceptible plant species. P. cinnamomi is widespread in southern Sydney conservation reserves of NSW but our study did not find evidence of increasing detections over time. We recommend that monitoring programs prioritise an increased sampling effort over a longer time series to support reliable trend analysis. Photograph by Tanya Mason.

BT24037 Abstract  |  BT24037 Full Text  | BT24037PDF (927 KB)   Open Access Article

Just Accepted

These articles have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. They are still in production and have not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

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Rare Plants

The conservation, management and recovery of rare and threatened species is complex and requires an understanding of many aspects of a species biology. It is also important to understand key threats to population and species persistence. This Collection of papers from the Australian Journal of Botany highlight three important research areas for plant conservation and recovery – genetics, ecology and ex-situ conservation.

Last Updated: 17 Nov 2016

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