Phylogenetic position of Oryzolejeunea (Lejeuneaceae, Marchantiophyta): Evidence from molecular markers and morphology

Abstract

The systematic position of the small neotropical genus Oryzolejeunea (three spp.) has long been controversial. Phylogenetic analyses of molecular data for the present study using DNA markers (trnL, psbA, and a nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer [nrITS] region) shows that the genus is nested in Lejeunea. The results not only reveal the phylogenetic position of Oryzolejeunea for the first time, but also challenge the taxonomic value of the proximal hyaline papilla as a key feature in Lejeunea. The present study shows the urgent need for a reassessment of the perimeters of the genus Lejeunea and its infrageneric classification. Three new combinations, namely Lejeunea saccatiloba, Lejeunea grolleana, and Lejeunea venezuelana, are proposed. Type: L. serpyllifolia (Dicks.) Libert (¼ L. cavifolia (Ehrh.) Lindb.). Oryzolejeunea (R. M. Schust.) R. M. Schust., J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 72: 249. 1992. syn. nov. Type: O. antillana (R. M. Schust.) R. M. Schust. (¼ O. saccatiloba (Steph.) Gradst.).

Molecular Phylogeny of the Leafy Liverwort Lejeunea (Porellales): Evidence for a Neotropical Origin, Uneven Distribution of Sexual Systems and Insufficient Taxonomy

“…Recent taxonomic and/or molecular phylogenetic studies of Lejeuneaceae led to a considerable reduction of genera [12]–[18]. This trend becomes particularly apparent in Lejeunea since more than a dozen generic names were recently lowered to synonyms of this genus [15], [18], [19].…”

“…Recent taxonomic and/or molecular phylogenetic studies of Lejeuneaceae led to a considerable reduction of genera [12] – [18] . This trend becomes particularly apparent in Lejeunea since more than a dozen generic names were recently lowered to synonyms of this genus [15] , [18] , [19] . Lejeunea is currently circumscribed by long-inserted leaves, divided or undivided underleaves, leaf lobules with an unreduced first tooth and a marginal hyaline papilla, small, segmented or homogeneous oil bodies, lack of ocelli, lejeuneoid innovations, unwinged female bracts and inflated perianths with 0–5 smooth or toothed wings [17] , [20] .…”

Contribution to the knowledge of the bryophyte flora of Ecuador

“…The two species can be readily distinguished when fertile, L. puiggariana being autoicous, L. phyllobola dioicous, and by the oil bodies, which are numerous and homogeneous in L. puiggariana whereas L. phyllobola has only 2-5 finely segmented oil bodies. Recent phylogenetic studies (Ye et al 2013) clarified the systematic position of the small neotropical genus Oryzolejeunea, which is nested in Lejeunea. A widely distributed tropical American species (reported from Mexico and Cuba to Bolivia and Brazil) which has been described several times under different names (Piippo 1986).…”

<p><strong>Phylogenetic position of <em>Trocholejeunea</em> and a new infrageneric classification of <em>Acrolejeunea</em> (Lejeuneaceae, Marchantiophyta)</strong></p>

“…Lejeuneaceae Cavers (1910: 291) with more than a thousand species in 69 genera are the largest family of leafy liverworts and notoriously difficult in terms of generic delimitation (e.g., Schuster 1963;Gradstein 1979Gradstein , 2013. Several recent studies have analysed generic relationships in Lejeuneaceae using molecular evidence (e.g., Ahonen et al 2003;Dong et al 2013;Gradstein et al 2006;Hartmann et al 2006;Heinrichs et al 2012aHeinrichs et al , b, 2013Sukkharak et al 2011;Wilson et al 2007;Ye et al 2013), the most comprehensive one being the study by Wilson et al (2007). These studies showed that the number of genera is much lower than previously accepted and that several genera, including Aphanolejeunea A.…”