Phylogenetic Relaitionships of the Enigmatic Fern Families Hymenophyllopsidaceae and Lophosocoriaceae: Evidence From rbcL Nucleotide Sequences
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Molecular Biology and Evolution
Volume
16
Publication Date
1-1-1999
First Page
1774
Last Page
1784
Abstract
Nucleotide sequences fromrbcL were used to infer relationships of Lophosoriaceae and Hymenophyllopsidaceae. The phylogenetic positions of these two monotypic fern families have been debated, and neither group had been included in recent molecular systematic studies of ferns. Maximum parsimony analysis of our data supported a sister relationship betweenLophosoria andDicksonia, and also betweenHymenophyllopsis andCyathea. Thus, both newly-examined families appear to be part of a previously characterized and well-supported clade of tree ferns. The inferred relationships ofLophosoria are consistent with most (but not all) recent treatments. However,Hymenophyllopsis includes only small delicate plants superficially similar to filmy ferns (Hymenophyllaceae), very different from the large arborescent taxa. Nevertheless, some synapomorphic characteristics are shared with the tree fern clade. Further studies on gametophytes ofHymenophyllopsis are needed to test these hypotheses of relationship
Recommended Citation
Soltis, P. S., D. E. Soltis, P. G. Wolf, D. L. Nickrent, S-M. Chaw, and R. L. Chapman. 1999. The Phylogeny of land plants inferred from 18S rDNA sequences: pushing the limits of rDNA signal? Molecular Biology and Evolution 16: 1774 - 1784.
