Evaluation of the Cullen Medik. genus for use as perennial pastures in low-rainfall Mediterranean climates of southern Australia

Development of new perennial pastures suited to the low-rainfall wheatbelt in southern Australia is a priority for forage plant breeders. Australian native species of Cullen may have potential for this use, but our understanding is limited on which species is best suited and the variability among populations within species. The results of this thesis, based on an ecogeographic analysis and a field experiment, indicate that C. australasicum has the best immediate prospect for development. However, the thesis also identifies several other Cullen species that have traits making them worthy of further collection and evaluation.