<i>Eucalyptus</i> was not the problem: A response to “The genus problem – <i>Eucalyptus</i> as a model system for minimising taxonomic disruption” by Nicolle & al.
Abstract In a recent perspective paper in Taxon, Nicolle and coauthors advocate a broad circumscription of the Australian genus Eucalyptus (Myrtaceae), based on six “rules” for delimiting plant genera. The current consensus, established through the Australian Plant Census (APC), is a three‐genus classification system ( Angophora , Corymbia , Eucalyptus ) that has been widely accepted for almost 20 years. We argue that their application of the “rules” to eucalypts is questionable as it sometimes uses misleading or misinterpreted evidence, and misrepresents the current status of eucalypt taxonomy.
Authors
- Ed Biffin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6582-716X)
- Gillian K. Brown (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7940-5435)
- A. R. Bean (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4116-2810)
- John G. Conran (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2268-2703)
- David Edward Albrecht (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7181-9481)
- Peter G. Wilson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8581-318X)
- Nicholas Cuff
- Lyn G. Cook (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3172-4920)
- Michelle Waycott (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0822-0564)
- Daniel J. Murphy (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8358-363X)
- David J. Cantrill (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1185-4015)
- Peter C. Jobson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6420-6305)
- Ian Telford (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3570-0053)
- Frank Udovicic (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1697-8444)
- Michael D. Crisp (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8255-6349)
- Andrew H. Thornhill (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0325-5725)
- Susan Rutherford (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9723-0790)
- Francis Jason Nge (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0361-8709)
- Jeremy J. Bruhl (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9112-4436)
- Rose L. Andrew (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0099-8336)
- Michael J. Bayly (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6836-5493)
- Darren M. Crayn (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6614-4216)
- Kevin R. Thiele (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6658-6636)
- Todd G. B. McLay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6405-8007)
- Pauline Y. Ladiges
Institutions
- Australian National University (AU)
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (AU)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- The University of Melbourne (AU)
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AU)
- Centre for Australian National Biodiversity Research (AU)
- State Herbarium of South Australia (AU)
- Department of Land Resource Management (AU)
- Royal Botanic Garden Sydney (AU)
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (AU)
- Wenzhou-Kean University (CN)
- Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria
- The University of Adelaide (AU)
- James Cook University (AU)
- University of New England (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Taxon
- Published
- 2025-05-23
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/tax.13357
- Citations
- 3
- Primary Topic
- Plant Diversity and Evolution
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 9.08