Advances in knowledge of the Brachytheciaceae (Bryophyta)

: Huttunen S, Gardiner AA, Ignatov MS

: 2007

Systematics Association Special Volume

: PLEUROCARPOUS MOSSES: SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION

: SYST ASSOC SPEC VOL

: 71

: 117

: 143

: 27

: 978-0-8493-3856-4

: 0309-2593

Although the backbone phylogeny of the Brachytheciaceae has been worked out (Huttunen and Ignatov, 2004; Vanderpoorten et al., 2005), problems with some particular groups still remain. New data are presented for their solution, utilizing three different methods: (1) evaluation of the POY alignment; (2) analysis of the secondary structure of the trnL intron; and (3) phylogenetic analysis with inclusions of additional species. Rhynchostegiella durieui is found to be closely related to a group of tropical and temperate epiphytes (Aerolindigia, Clasmatodon, Helicodontium, Homalotheciella, Remyella) and Platyhypnidium austrinum to sympatric Rhynchostegiella muricatula. Hawaiian specimens referred to Platyhypnidium muelleri are found to be an undescribed species of Donrichardsia. The Madeiran endemic Brachythecium percurrens belongs to subfamily Helicodontioideae, being found in the basal position of the Helicodontioideae clade. Eurhynchiella and Eriodon are found nested in Rhynchostegium s. lat. Platyhypnidium was found to be still not monophyletic but species were found nested in Rhynchostegium in the subfamily Eurhynchioideae or in the Helicodontioideae. The substitution events in the trnL intron are quite uneven within the family, being especially high in groups of Oxyrrhynchium + Donrichardsia and also in Sciuro-hypnum.