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

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.