Abstract
Gingidia comprises nine species of perennial herbaceous plants from New Zealand and three species from Australia. Microsatellite markers were developed for Gingidia enysii sens. lat. and G. baxterae for genetic and systematic studies of the two species in New Zealand. From sequencing a total genomic DNA library (using Roche 454), we developed nine polymorphic microsatellite markers. We tested these markers on 142 individuals from 19 populations of G. enysii sens. lat. and 10 individuals from two populations of G. baxterae . All loci amplified in both species, and exhibited species‐specific alleles. In populations of G. enysii sens. lat. and G. baxterae the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.04–0.34 and from 0.31–0.80, respectively, with alleles per locus ranging from 7 to 25. Analyses of population genetic data show G. enysii sens. lat. to be naturally variable throughout its distributional range, and the suggested taxonomic novelties within G. enysii are mostly not distinct. However, populations from Banks Peninsula (Canterbury), previously referred to as Gingidium enysii var. peninsulare , are genetically discrete, and re‐examination of their morphological characters is warranted. The developed markers will be valuable for future studies of taxonomy, phylogenetics, population structure, and mating system.