A taxonomic revision of Mazus lour. (Scrophulariaceae) in Australasia

Abstract

Mazus is shown to consist of three species in the Australia-New Zealand region. Mazus pumilio R. Br. of past concepts is shown to consist of two species, M. pumilio S.str. being confined to southeastern Australia and a new species, M. novaezeelandiae, to lowland New Zealand; morphological floral differences may reflect different breeding systems, with the former thought to be self-incompatible and the latter self-compatible. Mazus radicans (Hook. f.) Cheeseman is confined to New Zealand and extends to higher altitudes than M. novaezeelandiae. Its flowers may be small and cleistogamous or "bud-autogamous" as well as large and chasmogamous. Distinctions from M. pumilus (Burm. f.) Steenis, a weedy southeast Asian annual extending to a few locations in New Guinea, are given in the key to species.