Abstract Detail

Systematics Section / ASPT

Sousa, Leandro O. F. de [3], Wendt, Tania [3], Brown, Gregory K. [1], Tuthill, Dorothy E. [1], Evans, Timothy M. [2].

Is the genus Lymania (Bromeliaceae) monophyletyc? Phylogenetic analyses of morphology, molecular and combined data.

The genus Lymania was first proposed in 1984, to unite furrowed or winged species from Aechmea subgenus Lamprococcus, Araeococcus and Ronnbergia, all endemic to the Bahian coast of the Brazilian Atlantic Rain Forest. In order to test the monophyly of Lymania, we performed phylogenetic tests using morphological characters and matk sequences, separately and in combination. Taxon sampling was based on morphological similarities and the complex taxonomic history of the group. The 22 ingroup taxa included Lymania (7 spp.), Aechmea (10 spp.), Ronnbergia (3 spp.), and Araeococcus (2 spp.). Two species of Cryptanthus were selected as the outgroup on the basis of recent molecular work. The morphology-only analysis resulted in 7 trees of 264 steps, and did not support the monophyly of Lymania. Similarly, the molecular analysis resulted in 5 trees of 41 steps and also failed to support Lymania as a monophyletic group. However, the combined data produced a single most parsimonious tree of 335 steps, and placed all species of Lymania into a single clade that was sister to a clade containing most of the Aechmea species. This result agrees with the current taxonomic treatment of Lymania, provides new insights into the generic relationships with subfamily Bromelioideae, and suggests directions for future research.
Supported by NSF DEB-0129446 and Brazilian Research Council Grant - CAPES

1 - University of Wyoming, Department of Botany, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, Wyoming, 82071, USA
2 - Hope College, Biology Department, Peale Science Center, 35 East 12th St., Holland, Michigan, 49400-9000, USA
3 - Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Departamento de Botânica, CCS-IB, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 21941 590, Brasil

Keywords:
Bromeliaceae
morphology
matK
combined data
Lymania
Brazil.

Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 32-81
Location: Special Event Center (Cliff Lodge)
Date: Tuesday, August 3rd, 2004
Time: 12:30 PM
Abstract ID:344