Premium
Species‐level phylogenetic analysis in the Relhania clade of “everlastings” and a new generic treatment of species previously assigned to Macowania and Arrowsmithia (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae)
Author(s) -
Bentley Joanne,
Verboom G. Anthony,
Bergh Nicola G.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
taxon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1996-8175
pISSN - 0040-0262
DOI - 10.12705/666.9
Subject(s) - clade , monophyly , biology , genus , zoology , phylogenetic tree , evolutionary biology , genetics , gene
The “Relhania clade” is a relatively species‐poor lineage that is sister to the remaining members of the paper daisy tribe Gnaphalieae. Although the monophyly of the Relhania clade is well established, previous molecular studies are based on fairly sparse sampling. Here, we explore clade membership and generic circumscription using plastid and nuclear DNA sequence data, and near‐complete species‐level sampling of all putative member genera. Two subclades are recovered within the Relhania clade: (i) clade I housing the genera Alatoseta, Athrixia, Pentatrichia and Phagnalon , all monophyletic as currently circumscribed; and (ii) clade II, containing the genera Antithirixia, Comborhiza, Oedera, Oreoleyesera, Relhania and Rosenia ; the annual or otherwise “short‐lived” genera Leysera, Nestlera and Rhynchopsidium ; as well as a subclade in which the monospecific Arrowsmithia is embedded within Macowania . A new taxonomic treatment involving 12 new combinations is proposed for the two latter genera. Only demonstrably monophyletic and diagnosable genera are recognised, involving the erection of a novel monospecific genus, Fluminaria , to house Macowania pinifolia , and the transfer of the remaining members of Macowania to Arrowsmithia . Updated descriptions and keys are provided.