Abstract
Diplachne P. Beauv. comprises two species with C4 (NAD-ME) photosynthesis. Diplachne fusca has a nearly pantropical-pantemperate distribution with four subspecies: D. fusca subsp. fusca is Paleotropical with native distributions in Africa, southern Asia and Australia; the widespread Australian endemic D. f. subsp. muelleri; and D. f. subsp. fascicularis and D. f. subsp. uninervia occurring in the New World. Diplachne gigantea is known from a few widely scattered, older collections in east-central and southern Africa, and although Data Deficient clearly is of conservation concern. A discussion of previous taxonomic treatments is provided, including molecular data supporting Diplachne in its newer, restricted sense. Many populations of Diplachne fusca are highly tolerant of saline substrates and most prefer seasonally moist to saturated soils, often in disturbed areas. Some populations of Diplachne fusca in southern Asia combine nitrogen-fixation, high salinity tolerance and palatibilty to livestock, which should be pursued with further research for purposes of soil reclamation. Diplachne fusca subsp. uninervia is the most invasive of the subspecies and is becoming weedy in some non-native areas, including in the Old World. This monograph provides detailed descriptions of all taxa, a key to the species and subspecies, geographic distributions and information on the anatomy of leaves, stems, lemmatal micromorphology and discussions of the chromosome numbers. Lectotypes are designated for: Atropis carinata Grisb.; Diplachne acuminata Nash; Diplachne capensis (Nees) Nees var. concinna Nees; Diplachne capensis (Nees) Nees var. obscura Nees, Diplachne capensis (Nees) Nees var. prolifera subvar. minor Nees, Diplachne halei Nash, Diplachne maritima E.P. Bicknel, Diplachne muelleri Benth., Diplachne reverchonii Vasey, Diplachne tectoneticola Backer, Leptochloa imbricata Thurb., Leptochloa neuroglossa Peter, Leptochloa uninervia var. typica fo. abbreviata Parodi, Triodia ambigua R. Br. and Triodia parviflora R. Br.
Highlights
Recent molecular phylogenetic studies (Peterson et al 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016; Aliscioni et al 2012; Soreng et al 2015, 2017) documented the polyphyly of Leptochloa P
The phylogeny was estimated among members of Diplachne based on the analysis of five molecular markers
The backbone of this phylogram (Fig. 1) was generated with existing data from Peterson et al (2010, 2012, 2015, 2016) and the addition of sixteen new samples: thirteen of Diplachne fusca, two of Dinebra divaricatissima and one of Diplachne gigantea
Summary
Recent molecular phylogenetic studies (Peterson et al 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016; Aliscioni et al 2012; Soreng et al 2015, 2017) documented the polyphyly of Leptochloa P. After Hackel, the generic boundaries of Diplachne remained highly unstable (Parodi 1927; McNeill 1979; Phillips 1974, 1982; Clayton and Renvoize 1986; Watson and Dallwitz 1992; Jacobs 1987; Snow 1997a). This paper is the third in an antipated series of five monographic treatments (see Snow and Peterson 2012a, 2013) for species formerly placed in Leptochloa P. Subsequent papers will treat Leptochloa and Dinebra Jacq The objectives of this monograph are to provide a detailed systematic treatment of Diplachne in its newer and more restricted sense; provide complete synonymy (as currently understood); propose many lectotypifications; include a key to species and subspecies; and suggest IUCN recommendations based on current knowledge from herbarium specimens
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