Crystal clear: Dampiera prasiolitica (Goodeniaceae), a distinctive new Western Australian species with translucent sepals

Abstract

The new species described below is currently only known from a single herbarium specimen (Figure 1) collected in 2011 from south-east of Mt Walton in the Coolgardie bioregion. Only one plant growing near a gravel pit was observed, and the surrounding vegetation had been burnt a few years previously. Recent searches of this site and surrounding areas have failed to relocate this species suggesting that it might be a short-lived disturbance opportunist, proliferating following a disturbance such as fire and then declining over time like many other members of Goodeniaceae (Sage 2003). Alternatively, it could be a relatively long-lived but genuinely rare species. In either case, it may be many years before additional collections are made, particularly given the region is remote and relatively inaccessible, so we have decided to describe this species despite the limited material. While this is not optimal taxonomic practice, we believe that its distinctive translucent sepals and unique corolla indumentum put its novel status beyond doubt, and that its description will improve the chances of its rediscovery in the wild.