Solanumplastisexum , an enigmatic new bush tomato from the Australian Monsoon Tropics exhibiting breeding system fluidity

A bush tomato that has evaded classification by solanologists for decades has been identified and is described as a new species belonging to the Australian " group" of the Ord Victoria Plain biogeographic region in the monsoon tropics of the Northern Territory. Although now recognised to be andromonoecious, Martine & McDonnell, exhibits multiple reproductive phenotypes, with solitary perfect flowers, a few staminate flowers or with cymes composed of a basal hermaphrodite and an extended rachis of several to many staminate flowers. When in fruit, the distal rachis may abcise and drop. A member of SolanumsubgenusLeptostemonum, is allied to the Symon species group. Morphometric analyses presented here reveal that differs statistically from all of its closest relatives including , F. Meull., Martine, J.Cantley & L.M.Lacey, A.R.Bean & Albr. and Martine & Frawley in both reproductive and vegetative characters. We present evidence supporting the recognition of as a distinctive entity, a description of the species, representative photographs, a map showing the distribution of members of the species group and a key to the andromonoecious species of the Northern Territory of Australia. This new species is apparently labile in its reproductive expression, lending to its epithet, and is a model for the sort of sexual fluidity that is present throughout the plant kingdom.