New Lepidium (Brassicaceae) from New Zealand

A groundbreaking revision of Lepidium species in New Zealand identifies sixteen distinct species, ten of which are newly described. These include Lepidium castellanum from the Kermadec Islands and Lepidium seditiosum, the sole vascular plant endemic to the remote Bounty Islands group—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The study leverages morphological traits alongside molecular data from three DNA markers (two rDNA and one cpDNA) to segregate species, revealing a rich diversity of Lepidium in New Zealand's subantarctic islands. Notably, two North Island species, Lepidium amissum and Lepidium obtusatum, are now extinct, while others like Lepidium juvencum extend to Stewart Island. The research also clarifies taxonomic ambiguities by typifying key species, providing a comprehensive framework for understanding this genus in the region.

de Lange, P., Heenan, P., Houliston, G., Rolfe, J., & Mitchell, A. (2013). New Lepidium (Brassicaceae) from New Zealand. PhytoKeys, 24, 1–147. https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.24.4375