Nuytsia 8: 3 (1998) - FloraBase

Paul G. Wilson, Helipterum: Part 1
species is similar to that of R. manglesii in section Rhodanthe, as was noted by Mueller in his description
of H. margarethae, but in floral characters the sections are very distinct.
Rhodanthe margarethae (F. Muell.) Paul G. Wilson, comb. nov.
Helipterum margarethae F. Muell., Fragm. 11:48(1878); F. Muell., Syst. Census Austral. Pl. 80(1882)
'Margaritae’; F. Muell., Sec. Syst. Census Austral. Pl. 136(1889) 'Margaritae’; Domin, Biblioth. Bot.
89:667(1929); Argyrocome margarethae (F. Muell.) Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 1:309(1891) 'Margaritae’.
Type citation:'Ad amnem Jones’s Creek et flumen George's River prope Nickol-Bay; J. Forrest’. Lectotype
(here chosen): Jone’s Creek and George River south of Roebourne, 1878, J. Forrest (MEL 110234).
Distribution. Pilbara region (Fortescue Botanical District) of Western Australia.
I have not found a syntype that was collected by J. Forrest near Nickol Bay, however, there is a
specimen (MEL 110235) labelled by Mueller 'Helipterum Margarethae, Nickol River, A. Forrest’ which
is possibly the collection referred to by him since Alexander Forrest was with John Forrest on the
expedition to the Nickol Bay area in 1878. This A. Forrest collection is of Rhodanthe frenchii. Mueller
describes the leaves as 'amplexantibus’ and the involucral bracts as 'candida’, that is, pure white, terms
that apply to R. margarethae as lectotypified by the 'Jone’s creek and George River’ specimen, but not
to the Nickol River collection.
The epithet 'margarethae’ honours Margaret Forrest (1845-1929), wife of John Forrest the explorer
and statesman. Mueller evidently considered a preferred latinization of her name to be 'margaritae’ for
he used this variant in 1882 and 1889 as did Otto Kuntze in 1891.
Rhodanthe frenchii (F. Muell.) Paul G. Wilson, comb. nov.
Helipterum frenchii F. Muell., S. Sci. Rec. 3:34(1883). Type citation: 'Near Menilayalya in the vicinity
of Shark-Bay; J. Forrest’ (holo: MEL 50293 'Head of Menilyalya R., 1882, J. Forrest’).
[Helipterum margarethae F. Muell., Fragm. 11:48(1878) pro parte as to the Nickol River collection, not
as to lectotype]
Distribution. Northern Carnarvon and north-west Ashburton Botanical districts of Western Australia.
10. Rhodanthe sect. Anisolepis (Steetz) Paul G. Wilson, comb. et stat. nov.
Anisolepis Steetz in Lehm., Pl.Preiss. 1:446(1845). Type: Anisolepis pyrethrum Steetz
Annual erect herb, glabrous or sparsely and minutely puberulous. Stem simple or branched above,
towards the base thickened and aerenchymatous. Leaves cauline, simple, entire, alternate or the lower
opposite, if submerged filiform, otherwise oblong and somewhat fleshy, c. 5 mm long, towards the
apex becoming ovate and with scarious margins. Capitula homogamous, solitary and terminal to stem
and branches. Involucre at first turbinate, becoming hemispherical with age, often subtended by the
uppermost leaves; bracts 2-seriate, all radiant and with claws: claw erect, narrow-deltoid, c. 1 mm
long, margin scarious, stereome prominent, narrow-oblong, thick and raised, sparsely glandular, limb
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