Data from: Phylogeography and classification of Dusty Miller (Spyridium parvifolium; Rhamnaceae): a morphologically variable shrub from south-east Australia

Spyridium parvifolium is a widespread and morphologically variable shrub
from south-eastern Australia. Several varieties have been recognised and
there is disagreement on the accepted taxonomy between Australian states.
This study investigated the phylogeography of the species and assessed
genetic distinctiveness of its morphological variants. Nuclear ribosomal
DNA and complete chloroplast genomes from seventy-three samples of S.
parvifolium and seven samples from closely related species were sequenced
and analysed using both Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood phylogenetic
methods. The results showed incongruence in the placement of several
associated taxa (S. cinereum, S. obcordatum and S. daltonii), plausibly
due to long-branch attraction, introgression or incomplete lineage
sorting. Spyridium parvifolium was resolved as paraphyletic in both
phylogenies, with accessions from west of the Murray Darling Depression
divergent from those east of the Depression. We found evidence of
isolation within S. parvifolium on the inland side of the Great Dividing
Range, and recent gene-flow across Bass Strait. The variants of S.
parvifolium were not supported as genetically distinct and, with the
prevalence of several variants at single sites and morphological
intergrades between variants, we conclude that the taxon is a single,
morphologically variable species and that no infraspecific classification
is warranted.