Eucalyptus was not the problem: A response to “The genus problem – Eucalyptus as a model system for minimising taxonomic disruption” by Nicolle & al.

Cook, Lyn G., Crisp, Michael D., Albrecht, David E., Andrew, Rose L., Bayly, Michael J., Bean, Anthony R., Biffin, Ed, Bruhl, Jeremy J., Brown, Gillian K., Cantrill, David J., Conran, John G., Crayn, Darren M., Cuff, Nicholas, Jobson, Peter C., Ladiges, Pauline Y., McLay, Todd G.B., Murphy, Daniel J., Nge, Francis J., Rutherford, Susan, Telford, Ian R.H., Thiele, Kevin R., Udovicic, Frank, Waycott, Michelle, Wilson, Peter G., and Thornhill, Andrew H. (2025) Eucalyptus was not the problem: A response to “The genus problem – Eucalyptus as a model system for minimising taxonomic disruption” by Nicolle & al. Taxon, 74 (3). pp. 507-514.

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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.

Item ID: 88044
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1996-8175
Keywords: Blakella, generic delimitation, hybridisation, monophyly, reproductive isolation, taxonomic disruption
Copyright Information: © 2025 The Author(s). TAXON published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Association for Plant Taxonomy. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Date Deposited: 19 Mar 2026 04:40
FoR Codes: 31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310308 Terrestrial ecology @ 100%
SEO Codes: 18 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT > 1806 Terrestrial systems and management > 180606 Terrestrial biodiversity @ 100%
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