A Systematic Approach to Subtribe Loliinae (Poaceae: Pooideae) Based on Phylogenetic Evidence

Abstract

Loliinae (Poaceae, Pooideae) encompass a large group of genera closely related to Festuca, the largest genus in the subtribe, which as traditionally circumscribed has been shown to be highly paraphyletic. In this investigation we combined molecular and morphological data representing 20 genera of Loliinae and closely related subtribes. Combined analysis of nucleotide sequences from the nuclear ITS and chloroplast trnL-F regions and structural characters recovered a consensus topology that shows Loliinae to be monophyletic and possessing two main clades-the fine-leaved Festuca clade that includes Ctenopsis, Micropyrum, Narduroides, Psilurus, Vulpia, and Wangenheimia, and the broad-leaved Festuca clade that includes Lolium and Micropyropsis. The presence of morphologically intermediate, unresolved, or poorly supported taxa (Castellia, Festuca subgen. Subulatae and subgen. Leucopoa p. p., and Festuca sect. Amphigenes p. p.) among the two groups points to a potential evolutionary trend from ancestral broad-leaved taxa to the more recently evolved fine-leaved taxa. Alternate classifications are evaluated for subtribes Loliinae, Cynosurinae, Dactylidinae, and Parapholiinae. We propose to maintain a paraphyletic Festuca as presently circumscribed and not to divide the polyphyletic Vulpia and Festuca infrageneric taxa until more phylogenetic data become available.

Phylogenetic Relationships in the Festuca-Lolium Complex (Loliinae; Poaceae): New Insights from Chloroplast Sequences

“…Breviaristatae, F. altaica taxa were attached to clade B and F. california has developed as an individual group. Similar results were achieved previously where the phylogenetic relationships among the Festuca-Lolium complex were described using SRAP markers (Cheng et al, 2015) and in earlier studies (Catalán et al, , 2007Inda et al, 2008). From the current and previous research, we strongly propose that the sect.…”

Study of the leaf anatomy in cross-section in the Iberian species of Festuca L. (Poaceae) and its systematic significance

“…The species were grouped by subgenera and taxonomic sections according to traditional classification (Devesa et al 2013), and subsequently were ordered by anatomical affinities. The lineage in which the fine-leaved species is located based on nuclear ITS and chloroplast trn L and trn L-F markers has been added when the molecular classification differs from the conventional one (Torrecilla and Catalán 2002; Torrecilla et al 2004; Catalán et al 2006, 2007; Nova et al 2006; Inda et al 2008). The main anatomical patterns found are discussed in relation to the two large clades recognized in molecular analyses within genus ( Festuca s.str.)…”

“…The fescue species are subdivided into two well supported clades: the “broad-leaved” and the “fine-leaved”, named so for the leaf shape of the species included in them. In general terms, the broad-leaved fescues have flat leaves, convolute or inrolled vernation, and the fine-leaved fescues have conduplicate or infolded leaves, and acicular, setaceous, or filiform innovation leaf blades (Catalán et al 2007), although there are several exceptions (Namaganda and Lye 2008). …”

“…According to the molecular data, some species conventionally classified within sects. Festuca and Aulaxyper fall outside the clades that include their respective type species (Catalán et al 2007), but the interspecific relations within those clades are not resolved or are poorly supported (Torrecilla et al 2004). …”

Karyological analysis of the five native Macaronesian <i>Festuca</i> (Gramineae) grasses supports a distinct diploid origin of two schizoendemic groups

“…Amphigenes, proposed by Saint-Yves (1922), and places them firmly within F. sect. Aulaxyper (Torrecilla & al., 2003;Catalán & al., 2007).…”