Columbus, J. Travis , Z˙˝iga, JosÚ D. , Macfarlane, Terry D , Simon, Bryan K. .
Phylogenetics, biogeography, and taxonomy of the Uniola clade (Poaceae, Chloridoideae).
The Uniola clade (= subtribe Uniolinae of tribe Eragrostideae) is an early diverging lineage of chloridoid grasses comprising four small genera. Entoplocamia (1 sp.), Fingerhuthia (2 spp.), and Tetrachne (1 sp.) are distributed in the Old World (Africa and southwest Asia), whereas Uniola (4 spp.) is restricted to the New World. The recent, surprising discovery in Australia of an undescribed species in the Uniola clade led us investigate where this small clade might have originated and how it achieved its broad distribution. As well, it was not immediately evident whether the new species should be positioned in one of the four genera or its own genus. We began addressing these questions by estimating the phylogeny of the clade, first by sequencing and analyzing the internal transcribed spacer region (nrDNA) from species in all four genera plus the Australian species. The three African genera form a clade in the ITS phylogeny, and Uniola is monophyletic. Sister to Uniola is the Australian species. Therefore, a New World origin for the clade is not supported in the phylogeny, but an Old World versus Australian origin remains uncertain owing to the insufficiently known phylogenies of nearby clades. Within the genus Uniola, migration from South America to North America is inferred from the ITS phylogeny. We also discuss the challenges of classifying the undescribed Australian species at the generic rank when keeping in mind phylogeny, morphology, and ease of identification.
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1 - Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden and Claremont Graduate University, 1500 North College Avenue, Claremont, CA, 91711, USA
2 - Department of Environment & Conservation, Western Australian Herbarium, Science Division, Brain Street, 6258 Manjimup, WA, Australia
3 - Department of Environment and Resource Management, Queensland Herbarium, Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha, Toowong, Queensland, 4066, Australia
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Location: 556B/Convention Center
Date: Tuesday, August 3rd, 2010
Time: 9:45 AM