| Abstract Detail
Pteridological Section/AFS Sundue, Michael [1], Islam, Melissa B. [2], Ranker, Tom A. [3]. Systematics of grammitid ferns: Lellingeria, Melpomene, and Terpsichore. Grammitid ferns (Polypodiaceae) are a diverse clade of primarily tropical, epiphytic ferns with a worldwide distribution. Their monophyly has been supported by morphological and DNA data sets, but this same evidence has called into question the circumscription of several large and well-known genera, and it appears that these groups were based on homoplastic and plesiomorphic character states. Here I further investigate the circumscription of genera in a large neotropical clade that includes members of the genera Lellingeria, Melpomene, and part of Terpsichore. Together, these plants comprise a conspicuous and diverse component of the neotropical epiphytic fern flora found at mid to upper elevations. Terpsichore, in particular, harbors many undescribed cryptic species with discrete distributions, and is the focus of the most intensive taxonomic sampling for this analysis. Combined analyses of data from morphology and three plastid regions (atpB, rbcL, trnL-F) yield support for a monophyletic Melpomene, but Lellingeria and Terpsichore pro parte are paraphyletic. Tree topology and character support are used to argue for the segregation of Terpsichore pro parte into two separate monophyletic genera. These genera are supported by the morphology of their rhizome scales, the distribution of sclerenchyma associated with veins, the presence of cretaceous hydathodes, and the distribution of laminar indument.
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1 - CUNY Graduate Center, Plant Sciences, The New York Botanical Garden, 200th St. and Fordham Rd., Bronx, NY, 10458-5126, USA
2 - University of Colorado, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCB 334, Boulder, Colorado, 80309, USA
3 - University of Hawaii, Botany Department, 3190 Maile Way, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA
Keywords:
Polypodiaceae
character evolution.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 8
Location: 209/SUB
Date: Monday, July 28th, 2008
Time: 10:15 AM
Number: 8007
Abstract ID:242 |
