Phylogenetic Systematics Of Ectropothecium Mitt. (Hypnacea)

Abstract

<p>Micromorphological investigations and morphometric analyses of median laminal cells in <em>Ectropothecium</em> Mitt. and its relatives in Hypnales confirmed the presence of protuberances in some taxa. Differences in form and size of protuberances were diagnostic and statistically significant in some taxa. Combined cpDNA (<em>rp</em>L32-<em>trn</em>L, <em>trn</em>H-,em>psb</em>A, and <em>trn</em>SGG) and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 nDNA sequence data were well-suited to examine evolutionary relationships of <em>Ectropothecium</em>. All analyses recovered <em>Ectropothecium</em> as paraphyletic and supported sister relationships of <em>Ectropothecium</em> and Vesicularia (Müll.Hal.) Müll.Hal. Analyses of molecular and combined data supported the monophyly of Australasian <em>Ectropothecium</em>, with the inclusion of <em>Trachythecium verrucosum</em> (A.Jaeger) M.Fleisch. in <em>Ectropothecium</em>. These latter analyses also recovered <em>Ectropothecium</em> and <em>Vesicularia</em> as sisters.</p>