Phylogenetic position of the genusBryhniaKaurin (Brachytheciaceae, Bryophyta) inferred from chloroplast (rpl16,trnG,trnL–F) and nuclear (ITS) sequence data

Abstract

The systematic position of the genus Bryhnia Kaurin has been problematic and remains unsettled. A phylogenetic analysis of Bryhnia and closely related genera, based on the nuclear marker ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and the plastid markers rpl16, trnG, and trnL-F, was carried out to clarify their relationships and systematic positions. The phylogenetic trees generated from Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses show that Bryhnia s.s., represented by B. novae-angliae (Sull. & Lesq.) Grout, B. hultenii E.B.Bartram, and B. scabrida (Lindb.) Kaurin, forms a maximally supported clade nested within Brachythecium Schimp. 'Bryhnia scabrida' sensu Ignatov & Huttunen (2002) is Bryhnia brachycladula Cardot, and together they form a monophyletic group with Eurhynchiadelphus eustegia (Besch.) Ignatov & Huttunen and Myuroclada maximowiczii (G.G.Borshch.) Steere & W.B.Schofield. We propose the inclusion of the species currently recognized in Bryhnia in Brachythecium, with the transfer of Bryhnia brachycladula to the genus Myuroclada Besch. Bryhnia brachycladula is further treated as a synonym of the new combination, Myuroclada longiramea (Mü ll.Hal.) M.Li, Y.F.Wang, M.S.Ignatov & S.Huttunen.

How to know Myuroclada longiramea (Brachytheciaceae, Bryophyta)?

“…The recent studies with an expanded set of specimens by Huttunen et al (accepted in Taxon) and Li et al (2014Li et al ( , 2015 including a number of additional problematic specimens from Russia allows a better outlining of the volume of Myuroclada longiramea. In the present paper we will give morphological circumscription for Myuroclada longiramea and discuss its distinction from superficially similar species from other genera.…”

“…For example, Eurhynchium (sensu authors of 1980s) was split into six genera based on molecular data (Ignatov & Huttunen, 2002;Huttunen & Ignatov, 2004) and Rhynchostegiella was divided into four genera (Aigoin et al, 2009); non-monophyly of Homalothecium was shown by Huttunen et al (2008), while Rhynchostegium was lumped with epiphytic Eriodon and aquatic Platyhypnidium (Huttunen & Ignatov, 2010). Li et al (2014) This species occurs mainly in Russia, northern China and also in Japan, where it is very rare (Takaki, 1956). Being rare throughout most of its range and also very variable in morphology, it caused numerous misinterpretations in it identification.…”