Reassessing taxonomic relationships in the Berkheya clade (Asteraceae, Arctotideae–Gorteriinae): the utility of achene morphology

Phytotaxa ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 246 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Ntombifikile Phaliso ◽  
Robert James McKenzie ◽  
Noluthando C Netnou-Nkoana ◽  
Per Ola Karis ◽  
Nigel P Barker

The genus Berkheya is paraphyletic with the related genera Cullumia, Cuspidia, Didelta and Heterorhachis embedded within a broader clade termed the ‘Berkheya clade’. As a contribution towards reassessment of species relationships and delimitation of species groupings within the clade, the utility of external achene morphology for supporting natural species groups within the clade was evaluated. Achenes from 67 species and 10 infraspecific taxa were examined, including representatives of each genus currently recognised in the Berkheya clade. Achene pubescence and pappus characteristics (e.g., scale shape and number of scales within a series) were indicated to be particularly variable and thus less reliable for assessment of species relationships. Of the currently recognised genera, only segregation of Cullumia was supported by achene and pappus characteristics. Species groupings implicit in Roessler’s infrageneric classification of eight series within Berkheya were to a large extent supported. However, in particular, series Speciosae was indicated to be a disparate species grouping and the distinction of series Angustae and Cruciatae is not supported by achene and pappus morphology. Achene and pappus characteristics suggest several novel species groupings (e.g. an affinity between Berkheya cuneata, B. ferox and B. spinosa). Although the taxonomic sampling in published molecular phylogenetic analyses is limited, achene and pappus morphology partially supports clades resolved in prevailing phylogenetic reconstructions for the clade. More complete sampling in future molecular phylogenetic analyses is required to test novel species affinities suggested in the present study and to explore the evolution of the achene and pappus in the Berkheya clade.

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Bayly ◽  
Marco F. Duretto ◽  
Gareth D. Holmes ◽  
Paul I. Forster ◽  
David J. Cantrill ◽  
...  

As currently circumscribed, Boronia (Rutaceae) is a large Australian genus of 148 species distributed in all states and mainland territories, and Boronella is confined to New Caledonia and contains ~four species. We present molecular phylogenetic analyses of these genera, based on chloroplast (trnL–trnF) and nuclear (ITS, ETS) DNA sequences, to assess their relationships and infrageneric classification. Analyses strongly support the monophyly of a Boronia+Boronella clade and that Boronella is nested within Boronia. They also support the monophyly of Boronella and Boronia sections Algidae, Valvatae and Cyanothamnus, and ser. Pedunculatae (sect. Boronia), but resolve sect. Boronia and ser. Boronia as polyphyletic. On the basis of these results, we propose a new classification wherein Boronella is transferred to Boronia and recognised at the rank of section, and a new name and two new combinations in Boronia are provided for the following three species: Boronia hartleyi Duretto & Bayly, Boronia pancheri (Baill.) Duretto & Bayly and Boronia parvifolia (Baker f.) Duretto & Bayly. A revised circumscription is presented for Boronia sect. Boronia, and Pedunculatae is elevated from a series to a section. The relationships and classification of some taxa require further clarification, either because of limited taxon sampling, or because some nodes in phylogenetic analyses are poorly resolved or supported.


Author(s):  
Timothy L Collins ◽  
Jeremy J Bruhl ◽  
Alexander N Schmidt-Lebuhn ◽  
Ian R H Telford ◽  
Rose L Andrew

Abstract Golden everlasting paper daisies (Xerochrysum, Gnaphalieae, Asteraceae) were some of the earliest Australian native plants to be cultivated in Europe. Reputedly a favourite of Napoléon Bonaparte and Empress Joséphine, X. bracteatum is thought to have been introduced to the island of St Helena in the South Atlantic during Napoléon’s exile there. Colourful cultivars were developed in the 1850s, and there is a widely held view that these were produced by crossing Xerochrysum with African or Asian Helichrysum spp. Recent molecular phylogenetic analyses and subtribal classification of Gnaphalieae cast doubt on this idea. Using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data, we looked for evidence of gene flow between modern cultivars, naturalized paper daisies from St Helena and four Xerochrysum spp. recorded in Europe in the 1800s. There was strong support for gene flow between cultivars and X. macranthum. Paper daisies from St Helena were genotypically congruent with X. bracteatum and showed no indications of ancestry from other species or from the cultivars, consistent with the continuous occurrence of naturalized paper daisies introduced by Joséphine and Napoléon. We also present new evidence for the origin of colourful Xerochrysum cultivars and hybridization of congeners in Europe from Australian collections.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 319 (1) ◽  
pp. 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
XUDONG LIU ◽  
HUAN ZHU ◽  
BENWEN LIU ◽  
GUOXIANG LIU ◽  
ZHENGYU HU

The genus Nephrocytium Nägeli is a common member of phytoplankton communities that has a distinctive morphology. Its taxonomic position is traditionally considered to be within the family Oocystaceae (Trebouxiophyceae). However, research on its ultrastructure is rare, and the phylogenetic position has not yet been determined. In this study, two strains of Nephrocytium, N. agardhianum Nägeli and N. limneticum (G.M.Smith) G.M.Smith, were identified and successfully cultured in the laboratory. Morphological inspection by light and electron microscopy and molecular phylogenetic analyses were performed to explore the taxonomic position. Ultrastructure implied a likely irregular network of dense and fine ribs on the surface of the daughter cell wall that resembled that of the genus Chromochloris Kol & Chodat (Chromochloridaceae). Phylogenetic analyses revealed that Nephrocytium formed an independent lineage in the order Sphaeropleales (Chlorophyceae) with high support values and a close phylogenetic relationship with Chromochloris. Based on combined morphological, ultrastructural and phylogenetic data, we propose a re-classification of Nephrocytium into Sphaeropleales, sharing a close relationship with Chromochloris.


Taxon ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-123
Author(s):  
Daniel A. Zhigila ◽  
G. Anthony Verboom ◽  
A. Muthama Muasya

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (11) ◽  
pp. 7626-7629 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Sugita ◽  
Ken Kikuchi ◽  
Koichi Makimura ◽  
Kensaku Urata ◽  
Takashi Someya ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Yeasts from caves have rarely been examined. We examined yeasts collected from bat guano samples from 20 bat-inhabited limestone and volcanic caves located in 11 prefectures in Japan. Of ∼700 yeast-like colonies, nine Trichosporon species were recovered from 15 caves. Two of these were known species, and the remaining seven are potentially novel species, based on molecular phylogenetic analyses. In addition to Trichosporon species, identifiable strains of eight ascomycetous yeasts and one basidiomycetous yeast were recovered at frequencies of 5 to 35%. Our findings suggest that Trichosporon spp. are the major yeast species in bat guano in Japan and that bat guano is a potentially rich source of previously undescribed yeast species.


Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1517 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
FRANK GLAW ◽  
ZOLTÁN T. NAGY ◽  
MIGUEL VENCES

Based on a specimen found at Montagne d'Ambre in northern Madagascar morphologically agreeing with Compsophis albiventris Mocquard, 1894, we report on the rediscovery of this enigmatic snake genus and species and its molecular phylogenetic relationships. Compsophis albiventris, considered to be the only representative of its genus and unreported since its original description, bears strong morphological similarities to species of Geodipsas Boulenger, 1896. A molecular phylogeny based on DNA sequences of three mitochondrial and nuclear genes (complete cytochrome b, fragments of 16S rRNA and c-mos) in Compsophis albiventris and three Geodipsas species corroborated close relationships between C. albiventris and Geodipsas boulengeri, and showed that the genera Compsophis and Geodipsas together form a monophyletic unit. Despite the general similarities, morphological data and chromatic features support the existence of two species groups, corresponding to Compsophis and Geodipsas. We consequently consider Geodipsas as a subgenus of Compsophis and transfer all species currently in Geodipsas into the genus Compsophis.


2015 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Gebiola ◽  
Antonio P. Garonna ◽  
Umberto Bernardo ◽  
Sergey A. Belokobylskij

Doryctinae (Hymenoptera : Braconidae) is a large and diverse subfamily of parasitic wasps that has received much attention recently, with new species and genera described and phylogenies based on morphological and/or molecular data that have improved higher-level classification and species delimitation. However, the status of several genera is still unresolved, if not controversial. Here we focus on two related groups of such genera, Dendrosoter Wesmael–Caenopachys Foerster and Ecphylus Foerster–Sycosoter Picard & Lichtenstein. We integrated morphological and molecular (COI and 28S–D2 genes) evidence to highlight, by phylogenetic analyses (maximum likelihood and Bayesian) and a posteriori morphological examination, previously overlooked variation, which is here illustrated and discussed. Monophyly of Dendrosoter and Caenopachys and the presence of synapomorphic morphological characters support synonymy of Caenopachys under Dendrosoter. Low genetic differentiation and high variability for putatively diagnostic morphological characters found in both C. hartigii (Ratzeburg) and C. caenopachoides (Ruschka) supports synonymy of D. caenopachoides under D. hartigii, syn. nov. Morphological and molecular evidence together also indicate independent generic status for Sycosoter, stat. rev., which is here resurrected. This work represents a further advancement in the framework of the ongoing effort to improve systematics and classification of the subfamily Doryctinae.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 166 (4) ◽  
pp. 241 ◽  
Author(s):  
ELDIS R. BÉCQUER ◽  
FABIÁN A. MICHELANGELI ◽  
THOMAS BORSCH

In order to assess seed morphology 47 species of Miconieae (Melastomataceae) from the Antilles were studied. The majority of these species belong to Calycogonium, a complex genus that has been shown to be polyphyletic, but for which we lack for many species any recent and suitable material for molecular systematics studies. A better understanding of homoplastic versus synapomorphic seed characters may therefore be helpful to illuminate the affinities of such species. Some taxa from Clidemia, Miconia, Ossaea, Pachyanthus and Tetrazygia were also sampled due to their morphological similarities with some species of Calycogonium. Variable seed characters include overall shape and size, raphe shape and size, and testa sculpturing. Based on these characters we grouped the species in five seed types, and an additional three species were found to have distinctive seeds that were not grouped with any other species. Species with identical seed types often belong to more than one genus as currently classified. There are five groups of species within Calycogonium characterized by similar seed morphology but none of the respective seed types is exclusive to the genus. Some of these seed types correlate well with previously proposed subgeneric groups of Calycogonium based on flower morphology and presences and type of leaf domatia. While the occurrence of some seed characters and states matches species groups in Calycogonium also found with molecular phylogenetic analyses, seed morphology generally indicates relationships of Calycogonium and allied taxa of the Caribbean clade that are not completely reflected by the current generic classification. The study provides a matrix for seed characters of the included species that will serve further phylogenetic reconstruction and analyses of character evolution.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Denk ◽  
Guido W. Grimm ◽  
Paul S. Manos ◽  
Min Deng ◽  
Andrew Hipp

In this paper, we review major classification schemes proposed for oaks by John Claudius Loudon, Anders Sandøe Ørsted, William Trelease, Otto Karl Anton Schwarz, Aimée Antoinette Camus, Yuri Leonárdovich Menitsky, and Kevin C. Nixon. Classifications of oaks (Fig. 1) have thus far been based entirely on morphological characters. They differed profoundly from each other because each taxonomist gave a different weight to distinguishing characters; often characters that are homoplastic in oaks. With the advent of molecular phylogenetics our view has considerably changed. One of the most profound changes has been the realisation that the traditional split between the East Asian subtropical to tropical subgenus Cyclobalanopsis and the subgenus Quercus that includes all other oaks is artificial. The traditional concept has been replaced by that of two major clades, each comprising three infrageneric groups: a Palearctic-Indomalayan clade including Group Ilex (Ilex oaks), Group Cerris (Cerris oaks) and Group Cyclobalanopsis (cycle-cup oaks), and a predominantly Nearctic clade including Group Protobalanus (intermediate or golden cup oaks), Group Lobatae (red oaks) and Group Quercus (white oaks, with most species in America and some 30 species in Eurasia). The main morphological feature characterising these phylogenetic lineages is pollen morphology, a character overlooked in traditional classifications. This realisation, along with the now available (molecular-)phylogenetic framework, opens new avenues for biogeographic, ecological and evolutionary studies and a re-appraisal of the fossil record. We provide an overview about recent advances in these fields and outline how the results of these studies contribute to the establishment of a unifying systematic scheme of oaks. Ultimately, we propose an updated classification of Quercus recognising two subgenera with eight sections. This classification considers morphological traits, molecular-phylogenetic relationships, and the evolutionary history of one of the most important temperate woody plant genera.


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