Pilostyles coccoidea (Apodanthaceae), a new species from Western Australia described from morphological and molecular evidence

Abstract

Pilostyles coccoidea K.R.Thiele, a new species of holoparasitic flowering plant found on the legume genus Jacksonia R.Br. ex Sm., is described and illustrated. The new species is related to P. collina Dell and P. hamiltonii C.A.Gardner, both also from south-western Western Australia but growing on different hosts. The three species differ in morphological features of flowers and fruits. In addition, analysis of nad1, 16S and matR gene sequences confirms the distinctness of P. coccoidea from P. hamiltonii. Pilostyles coccoidea appears to be a relatively common species within its restricted range of distribution between Eneabba and the Moore River, north of Perth.