Lomatia is a genus of 12 species of evergreen flowering plants in the protea family Proteaceae. Within the family, they have been placed, alone, in their own subtribe, Lomatiinae according to Johnson & Briggs 1975 classification of the family and subsequently in Flora of Australia (1995). The genus has a Pacific Rim distribution, with members native to eastern Australia and southern South America, forming a part of the Antarctic flora. The species range from prostrate shrubs less than tall to small trees up to tall. Genetic analysis using microsatellite markers showed that species found close together geographically are most closely related to each other. Lomatia dentata, then L. hirsuta and L. ferruginea all diverged successively from the lineage that gave rise to Australian species. The three Tasmanian species (with L. tasmanica sister to the other two species) are sister to the mainland Australian group. L. tasmanica of the three tasmania species, happens to be one of the most endangered species. On mainland Australia, the far northern L. fraxinifolia is sister to the other five species, all of which are found in southeastern Australia. L. fraseri and L. myricoides are sister taxa, with L. ilicifolia sister to them, while L. arborescens and L. silaifolia are each other's closest relatives. Strong genomic filters may facilitate continued gene flow between species without the danger of assimilation. Species Lomatia arborescens - eastern Australia Lomatia dentata - Chile, Argentina Lomatia ferruginea - Chile, Argentina Lomatia fraseri - eastern Australia Lomatia milnerae - Queensland Lomatia hirsuta - Chile, Peru, Argentina Lomatia ilicifolia - eastern Australia Lomatia myricoides - southeastern Australia Lomatia occidentalis - (Eocene fossil records) Patagonia Lomatia patagonica - (Late Oligocene-Early Miocene (Ñirihuau Formation) fossil records) Patagonia Lomatia preferruginea - (Middle Eocene fossil records (Ventana Formation) Patagonia Lomatia polymorpha (mountain guitarplant) - Tasmania Lomatia silaifolia - eastern Australia Lomatia tasmanica (King's lomatia) - Tasmania Lomatia tinctoria (guitarplant) - Tasmania References External links Pictures of Lomatia dentata, Lomatia ferruginea and Lomatia hirsuta from Chilebosque. pantherfile.uwm.edu/hoot/www/Prot.html - Hoot/Proteaceae Proteaceae genera