Studies in the Arundinelleae (Gramineae). XIII. Taximetrics of the loudetioid, tristachyoid, and danthoniopsoid groups

Abstract

This paper describes the phenetic taximetrics of the 'main groups' of the tribe Arundinelleae (Gramineae) on the basis of 106 characters. At the higher levels of classification the loudetioid, tristachyoid, and danthoniopsoid groups are recognizable in a general way, though the tristachyoids are split into Tristachya, sens. str., and others, in which case Tristachya allies with loudetioids. Another somewhat miscellaneous group, consisting of certain Loudetiopsis, sens. lat., and some tristachyoid monotypics, is frequently observable. At the more detailed level of classification Loudetia section Loudetia subsections Typicae and Densispicae may be generally identified as may Tristachya, sens. str., and Danthoniopsis, sens. str. The genus Loudetiopsis, sens, lat., is strongly fragmented and certain monotypic genera, Gilgiochloa, Muantijamvella, and Rattraya, are shown to be moderately isolated. This paper strongly clarifies the tentative groupings provided in an earlier paper (Phipps 1970) based on a systematic sample of half the tribe.