Well-supported Monophyletic Group Research Articles

Systematics of Onobrychis sect. Heliobrychis (Fabaceae): morphology and molecular phylogeny revisited

Onobrychis sect. Heliobrychis with ca. 30 species is one of the most species-rich sections of Onobrychis. It comprises predominantly perennials mainly distributed in Iran, Turkey, and Transcaucasia. In order to test the monophyly of the section and as well as its subsections and to clarify interspecific relationships, three non-coding chloroplast sequences and the nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer were employed. Phylogenetic analyses were performed by maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian inference. Based on the combined data set, O. sect. Heliobrychis was retrieved as a well-supported monophyletic group sister to O. sect. Hymenobrychis. The annuals traditionally united in subsect. Persicae formed a paraphyletic group, whereas all perennials (the monotypic subsect. Szovitsianae nested within subsect. Boissierianae) assembled in a monophyletic group. Ancestral state reconstruction of morphological characters: life history, the absence/presence of stem, and the number of seed, indicated that annuality is plesiomorphic, whereas the absence of a stem and two-seeded pods is homoplasious in the section. Based on molecular phylogeny and morphological evidence, the taxonomy of some species of sect. Heliobrychis was re-examined. Therewith, O. aucheri subsp. aucheri was synonymized with O. heliocarpa, O. aucheri subsp. psammophila and O. aucheri subsp. teheranica were raised to species rank as O. psammophila and O. teheranica, respectively, and O. semnanensis was resurrected. Also as a complementary taxonomic treatment, a diagnostic key to the species of O. sect. Heliobrychis is supplied.

Genetic Variation of the Long-Legged Flies Phacaspis mitis Complex (Diptera: Dolichopodidae) in Peninsular Thailand Inferred From Three Mitochondrial Genes.

Phacaspis (Meuffels and Grootaert 1988) is a true marine dolichopodid fly genus. They are common on the mud flats in the front of mangroves where they deal with extreme conditions. The genus is represented in southern Thailand by Phacaspis mitis (Grootaert and Meuffels 2001) (Diptera: Dolichopodidae). Previous studies have focused on both taxonomy and classification of this genus, but there are a few studies focusing on this species in terms of molecular genetics. The objective of the present study was to investigate genetic variation and phylogenetic relationships of P. mitis using ribosomal DNA subunit 12S, ribosomal DNA subunit 16S, and cytochrome oxidase subunit I of mitochondrial genes. The specimens were collected in six coastal provinces from the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. The phylogenetic relationship of combined mitochondrial genes revealed that P. mitis in peninsular Thailand is a monophyletic group that can be divided into two distinct clades. According to the haplotype network, 16 haplotype patterns were observed in P. mitis, but P. mitis was separated into two major haplotype networks. In addition, a positive correlation between genetic distance (FST) and geographical distance (km) was found among the populations of peninsular Thailand. The level of genetic differentiation between populations is influenced by geographic isolation. Moreover, P. mitis arose in late Eocene (35.5 Mya) and it diversified during the Plio-Pleistocene (3.14 Mya). Although, P. mitis is divided into two populations in this study, it is a well-supported monophyletic group.

Molecular phylogeny of the benthic dinoflagellateCabra matta(Dinophyceae) from Okinawa, Japan

Abstract Cabra is a genus of marine heterotrophic thecate dinoflagellates with a peculiar cell shape and thecal plate tabulation. Previous studies suggested it was related to the benthic genus Roscoffia based on morphological features. A previous molecular phylogenetic study using 18S rDNA showed that Roscoffia capitata and members of the family Podolampadaceae formed a well-supported monophyletic group; however, the classification of Cabra remains uncertain. In this study, the first molecular phylogenetic analysis based on 18S rDNA sequence for the genus was performed using specimens of Cabra matta collected in Okinawa, Japan. Molecular phylogeny showed that C. matta formed a clade with R. capitata and the planktonic oceanic members of Podolampadaceae including Podolampas spp. and Blepharocysta sp. This result supported previous studies that inferred the close affinity between Cabra, podolampadaceans and R. capitata based on a very narrow and long 1′ plate, and the diminutive 2′ and 3′ plates, the larger...

Phylogenetic relationships of the family Gryporhynchidae (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea) inferred through SSU and LSU rDNA sequences.

Tapeworms of the family Gryporhynchidae are endoparasites of fish-eating birds distributed worldwide. Currently the family contains 16 genera classified on the basis of the morphology of the rostellar apparatus, rostellar hooks and strobilar anatomy. However, the phylogenetic relationships among the genera are still unknown. In this study, sequences of the near complete 18S (SSU) and 28S (LSU) from rDNA of 13 species of gryporhynchids (adult specimens) representing eight genera (Cyclustera, Dendrouterina, Glossocercus, Gryporhynchidae gen. sp., Neovalipora, Paradilepis, Parvitaenia, Valipora) and one species of metacestode from fish (Neovalipora) were generated. Additionally, sequences of metacestodes of the genera Amirthalingamia, Neogryporhynchus, Paradilepis, Parvitaenia and Valipora from Africa recently added to the GenBank database were analysed. Phylogenetic relationships were inferred using maximum-likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference of each (SSU and LSU) dataset. The phylogenetic analyses indicated that the family Gryporhynchidae is a well-supported monophyletic group within the Cyclophyllidea. The trees inferred with SSU and LSU datasets had similar topologies and suggested that the genera Glossocercus (two species sequenced) and Paradilepis (four spp.) are monophyletic. In contrast, Dendrouterina, Parvitaenia and Valipora are paraphyletic, suggesting that the species composition of these genera should be critically reviewed. Interestingly, species of the genera that use the same groups of definitive hosts such as herons (Ardeidae), cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae) and ibis (Threskiornithidae) are together in the phylogenetic tree, even though they differ markedly from each other in some morphological characters, especially shape and size of rostellar hooks.

Molecular phylogeny of the scorpionflies Panorpidae (Insecta: Mecoptera) and chromosomal evolution.

Panorpidae is the most species-rich family in Mecoptera with ca. 470 species in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the intergeneric phylogenetic relationships of Panorpidae remain unsatisfactorily resolved to date. Here, we used molecular and cytogenetic approaches to determine the phylogenetic relationships of Panorpidae in the evolutionary scenario of chromosomes, and estimated their divergence times using fossil-calibrated Bayesian analysis. In total, 89 species representing all seven genera of Panorpidae were used to reconstruct the phylogenetic trees using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference based on the nuclear 28S rRNA and mitochondrial cox1 and cox2 genes. The results reveal that Panorpidae is a well-supported monophyletic group that can be categorized into two major clades. Major Clade I comprises Neopanorpa and Leptopanorpa, and Major Clade II consists of all the other genera (Cerapanorpa, Dicerapanorpa, Furcatopanorpa, Panorpa and Sinopanorpa). Neopanorpa and Cerapanorpa are regarded as paraphyletic groups for the first time. BEAST analysis indicates that Panorpidae originated in the Lower Cretaceous approximately 122.5Ma (96.8-149.3Ma), and that most diversification occurred from the Selandian (59.8Ma) to the Middle Pleistocene (0.6Ma) in the Cenozoic. Cytogenetic data plotted on the cladogram show that the lineage differentiation of Panorpidae is closely related to the chromosomal evolution, especially the reduction of chromosome number. Our study suggests that a taxonomic revision of Panorpidae is urgently needed at the generic level.

Six new species of Macellicephala (Annelida: Polynoidae) from the Southern Ocean and south Atlantic with re-description of type species

Increased sampling efforts in unexplored regions of the Southern Ocean (including depths >500 m) combined with the use of an epibenthic sledge resulted in a large collection of mobile, scale-bearing worms from the family Polynoidae Kinberg, 1856. The greatest taxonomic novelty was found in the genus Macellicephala McIntosh, 1885, the type genus of the exclusively deep-sea polynoid sub-family Macellicephalinae Hartmann-Schröder, 1971. Recently collected material from the Amundsen Sea led to discovery of four new species based on morphology and COI, 16S and 18S genes-Macellicephala gloveri sp. nov., M. linseae sp. nov., M. patersoni sp. nov. and M. brenesorum sp. nov. The holotype of type taxon Macellicephala mirabilis McIntosh, 1885 as well as historic material of Macellicephala collected from the Southern Ocean enabled comparison with the modern material. As a result, Macellicephala mirabilis is re-defined, and two new species, M. monroi sp. nov. and M. macintoshi sp. nov., are erected from the historic material previously ascribed to M. mirabilis. Additionally, DNA-suitable specimens assigned to M. monroi sp. nov. were collected from the Scotia Sea. Genetic data enabled the first test of the monophyly of Macellicephala. Based on current taxa coverage, these taxa form a well-supported monophyletic group as recovered by Bayesian and Maximum Likelihood analyses of our combined genetic dataset. In addition, the analysis shows strong support of a clade comprising Macellicephala and other exclusively deep-sea groups (including cave-dwelling taxa).

Kupeantha (Coffeeae, Rubiaceae), a new genus from Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

Two new coffee relatives (tribe Coffeeae, Rubiaceae), discovered during botanical expeditions to Cameroon, are examined for generic placement, and the placement of three previously known species (Argocoffeopsis fosimondi, A. spathulata and Calycosiphonia pentamera) is reinvestigated using plastid sequence (accD-psa1, rpl16, trnL-F) and morphological data. Seed biochemistry of the new species and pollen micromorphology (only one of the two species) are also studied. Based on the plastid sequence data, the new taxa are nested in a well-supported monophyletic group that includes Argocoffeopsis and Calycosiphonia. Within this clade, three well-supported subclades are recovered that are morphologically easy to diagnose: (1) Calycosiphonia (excluding C. pentamera), (2) Argocoffeopsis (excluding A. fosimondi and A. spathulata), and (3) a clade including the above excluded species, in addition to the new species. Based on the results, Kupeantha, a new genus of five species, is described, including two new Critically Endangered taxa from the Highlands of Cameroon: Kupeantha ebo and K. kupensis. Phytochemical analysis of Kupeantha seeds reveals compounds assigned as hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives, amino acids and ent-kaurane diterpenoids; caffeine was not detected. Kupeantha is the first new genus described in tribe Coffeeae in 40 years.

Statistical Evaluation of Monophyly in the ‘Broad-Nosed Weevils’ through Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis Combining Mitochondrial Genome and Single-Locus Sequences (Curculionidae: Entiminae, Cyclominae, and Hyperinae)

Establishing well-supported monophyletic groups is a key requirement for producing a natural classification that reflects evolutionary descent. In a phylogenetic framework this is best achieved through dense taxon sampling and the analysis of a robust character dataset, combined with statistical testing of topological hypotheses. This study assesses the monophyly of tribes and subfamilies within the diverse ‘broad-nosed weevils’ (Curculionidae: Entiminae, Cyclominae and Hyperinae) through analysis of single-locus sequence data for mitochondrial cox1 and rrnL genes, in combination with a ‘backbone’ of complete and near-complete mitochondrial genome sequences. Maximum likelihood phylogenetic analyses incorporating topological constraints for various higher-taxa were statistically tested using the AU, SH, and KH tests, which indicated that three tribes within Entiminae, as presently classified, are not monophyletic. Moderate and high bootstrap support was also consistent with two entimine tribes (Peritelini and Cylydrorhinini) being each recovered as monophyletic in an unconstrained analysis. Furthermore, one genus of cyclomine weevils (Aphela) is recovered outside the clade of ‘broad-nosed weevils’, although its taxonomic placement remains uncertain. It is apparent that the present approach may be hampered by limited taxon sampling in the ‘backbone’ dataset, rendering it difficult for divergent taxa to robustly match to their closest lineages. However, with improved taxon sampling of the mitogenome tree, the general approach can be a useful taxonomic tool for weevils.

PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF LEPTOBRACHIUM HASSELTII TSCHUDI, 1838 (AMPHIBIA, ANURA, MEGOPHRYIDAE) - DETECTION OF A POSSIBLE CRYPTIC SPECIES

By examining mitochondrial DNA phylogeny using 2424bp of sequence data 12S rRNA, tRNAval, and 16S rRNA genes, we evaluated the taxonomic relationships among Javan litter frogs Leptobrachium hasseltii from southern Sumatra, Java, and Bali. Leptobrachium hasseltii formed a well-supported monophyletic group, which comprised two major clades. One major clade represented the southern Sumatran and Javan populations and the other consisted of the population from Bali. The Javan and southern Sumatran clade included two subclades: the West Javan-southern Sumatran group and the Central Javan group. The genetic divergence between the two major clades (Bali vs. Java-Sumatra) suggested their separation happen at species level. Further studies using morphological and acoustic data are needed to determine the taxonomic status of Bali population.

Trigonocephalotrema (Digenea : Haplosplanchnidae), a new genus for trematodes parasitising fishes of two Indo-West Pacific acanthurid genera

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef ecosystem on the planet and supports a diverse community of marine fishes, as well as the organisms that parasitise them. Although the digenetic trematodes that parasitise fishes of the Great Barrier Reef have been studied for over a century, the species richness and diversity of many trematode lineages is yet to be explored. Trigonocephalotrema, gen. nov. is proposed to accommodate three new species, Trigonocephalotrema euclidi, sp. nov., T. hipparchi, sp. nov. and T. sohcahtoa, sp. nov., parasitic in fishes of Naso Lacepède and Zebrasoma Swainson (Acanthuridae) in the tropical Pacific. Species of Trigonocephalotrema are characterised with morphological and molecular data (18S rRNA, ITS2 and 28S rRNA). Species of Trigonocephalotrema are morphologically distinguished from all other haplosplanchnid lineages by having terminal, triangular, plate-like oral suckers. With the inclusion of the new molecular data, Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses of the Haplosplanchnidae Poche, 1926 recovered identical tree topologies and demonstrated Trigonocephalotrema as a well-supported monophyletic group. Although species of Trigonocephalotrema are differentiated from all other haplosplanchnid lineages on the basis of morphology, species within the genus are morphologically cryptic; thus, accurate species identification will require inclusion of host and molecular data. Species of Trigonocephalotrema cannot be assigned to a recognised subfamily within the Haplosplanchnidae using either morphological or molecular data and would require the erection of a new subfamily to accommodate them. However, we find little value in the use of subfamilies within the Haplosplanchnidae, given that there are so few taxa in the family, and herein propose that their use be avoided.

Revisionary systematics of the endemic soft coral fauna (Octocorallia: Alcyonacea: Alcyoniina) of the Agulhas Bioregion, South Africa.

The Agulhas Bioregion of southern South Africa supports a unique octocoral fauna that is entirely endemic to the region. Recent molecular phylogenetic studies indicate that this endemism extends to deeper taxonomic levels than had previously been recognized, and that most of these endemic species belong to genera and families that are also endemic to South Africa. Here we revise the taxonomy of soft corals (subordinal group Alcyoniina) that were previously assigned to the cosmopolitan families Alcyoniidae, Nephtheidae and Nidaliidae, describing three new families endemic to South Africa, along with four new genera and four new species. We reassign the endemic genera Acrophytum, Pieterfaurea and Lampophyton to Acrophytidae n. fam, and describe a new species of Lampophyton, L. spinatum n. sp. The endemic species Protodendron bruuni is reassigned to a new, monotypic genus, Corymbophyton bruuni n. comb., and family, Corymbophytidae n. fam. The endemic genus Leptophyton is placed in a third new family, Leptophytidae n. fam., along with three new genera that are established for species previously assigned to Alcyonium: Circularius wilsoni n. comb., Porphyrophyton distinctum n. comb., and Tenerodus fallax n. comb. In addition, we describe new species of Leptophyton, L. fustis n. sp.; Tenerodus, T. pollex n. gen. n. sp.; and Alcyonium, A. dolium n. sp.; reassign Protodendron verseveldti to Tenerodus verseveldti n. comb.; and reassign the endemic genus Dimorphophyton to family Paralcyoniidae. Although molecular phylogenetic analyses unite Acrophytidae, Corymbophytidae and Leptophytidae within a well-supported monophyletic group, both morphological and molecular distinctions support maintaining them as three separate families. These revisions increase the number of endemic species of shallow-water soft corals known from the Agulhas Bioregion to 40, and the number of endemic genera to 13.

Molecular phylogeny of the genus Rhabdosciadium (Apiaceae) with description of a new species R. anatolyi from Hakkâri province, eastern Turkey

Six species of the genus Rhabdosciadium (Apiaceae) were studied by molecular phylogenetic analysis. The taxonomic status of each of them has been confirmed, the genus Rhabdosciadium turns out as a well-supported monophyletic group closely related to the genera Aegopodium, Caropodium, Carum, Falcaria, Fuernrohria, Gongylosciadium, Grammosciadium s.s., Hladnikia, Olymposciadium, etc. Rhabdosciadium anatolyi sp. nov. is described and illustrated as a new species from Hakkâri province, eastern Turkey. It differs from the other taxa of the genus, in addition to its unique geographical range, in the large terminal leaf lobes with regularly serrated margin, mainly ternate primary basal segments of leaves, and long internodes.

Comparative and Phylogenetic Analyses of the Complete Chloroplast Genomes of Three Arcto-Tertiary Relicts: Camptotheca acuminata, Davidia involucrata, and Nyssa sinensis.

The Arcto-Tertiary relict genera, Camptotheca, Davidia, and Nyssa represent deep lineages in the asterid order Cornales. Recent phylogenetic studies suggested that these genera should be placed in a newly circumscribed family, Nyssaceae. However, because these analyses were based upon a few genes, it is prudent and necessary to examine further evidence before adopting this taxonomic treatment. In this study, we determined the complete chloroplast (cp) genomes of Camptotheca acuminata, Davidia involucrata, and Nyssa sinensis. Their cp genomes ranged from 156,672 to 158,409 bp, which included 115 genes, and their genome features were highly similar to those of other species within the order Cornales. The phylogenetic relationships among the genera Camptotheca, Davidia, Nyssa, and 23 related taxa in the asterids were analyzed based on 73 protein-coding genes from the cp genomes. All of the previously recognized major clades (namely Cornales, Ericales, Campanulids, and Lamiids) in the asterids, as well as their relationships, were recovered with robust support. A clade including the genera Davidia, Nyssa, Camptotheca, and Diplopanax, was resolved as a well-supported monophyletic group, which was fully separated from the family Cornaceae by the family Hydrangeaceae. Our results provide novel evidence to support the acceptance of the family Nyssaceae outlined by the updated Angiosperm Phylogeny Group.

Phylogeny and biogeography of a subclade of mangoes (Aves, Trochilidae)

In this study we explore the phylogenetic relationships within the hummingbird genera Doryfera, Schistes and Colibri (Family Trochilidae), distributed in the Andes, the Pantepui, the southern Brazilian uplands and the lowlands of South America including the Choco, the Amazon Basin, the Chaco, the Cerrado, and the southeastern Brazilian coast, as well as Central and Mesoamerica. To do this, we included a comprehensive sampling of the 16 traditionally recognized subspecies within this group. We found that Doryfera, Schistes and Colibri form a well-supported monophyletic group, and that most of the traditionally recognized subspecies are indeed evolutionary lineages. As there is a high likelihood that the ancestors of this clade of hummingbirds were distributed in the lowlands, we ask: what events might account for the diversification of this subclade of mangoes into the Andes with a later potential dispersal episode from the Andes to the lowlands? We found that several phenomena such as the uplift of the Andes, the marine transgressions of the Plio–Pleistocene, the final closure of the Isthmus of Panama and the climatic oscillations of the Pleistocene might be at least, in part, responsible for the diversification of this group in both the lowlands and the highlands of this region of South America.

The Taxonomy and Relationships of the African Small Barbs (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae)

Through a series of phylogenetic and taxonomic works, the unwieldy and non-monophyletic genus Barbus was reduced to just the typical Barbus of Europe and East Asia and most of the small, African, diploid barbs (‘Barbus'). The genus Enteromius Cope, 1867 was recently elevated to rename most of the small African ‘Barbus'; however, this designation has been controversial. Opponents of this change argue the designation was based on poorly supported phylogenies and state these changes would disrupt currently well-supported monophyletic groups; however, the genus is currently in use, and it is necessary to determine the species that should be recognized as Enteromius. Herein, we present a list of species placed in Enteromius and provide a description of the genus. We list the species of the other small African barbs (Barboides, Barbopsis, Caecobarbus, Clypeobarbus, Pseudobarbus, and ‘Pseudobarbus'). We also contribute 36 cytochrome b sequences of Enteromius to further build an understanding of the phylogenetic relationships among members of this group, and to aid in further taxonomic decisions.

Carpinus langaoensis (Betulaceae), a new hornbeam species from the Daba Mountains in Shaanxi, China

Carpinus langaoensis Z. Qiang Lu & J. Quan Liu, a new hornbeam species from the Daba Mountains in the Shanxi province of China, is described and illustrated in this study. Morphological comparisons show that this species is similar to C. tientaiensis W. C. Cheng and C. mianningensis Yi, with which it shares the presence of the long bract with lobes at bases of both inner and outer margins and large glabrescent nutlet. However, it is distinct from both in the dense pubescence on the abaxial leaf, and the long infructescence bract. Phylogenetic analyses of ITS sequence variation indicates that these three species form a well-supported monophyletic group, but all examined individuals of the new species are separated from all others by three fixed nucleotide mutations. The new species is also geographically isolated from these two closely related ones. Therefore, all available evidence suggests that a new species (C. langaoensis) should be established for this evolutionarily independent lineage. The new species is known from only a single small population, and so should be treated as a critically endangered species according to the IUCN categories and criteria.

Molecular phylogeny of the Haplosplanchnata Olson, Cribb, Tkach, Bray and Littlewood, 2003, with a description of Schikhobalotrema huffmani n. sp.

We describe Schikhobalotrema huffmani n. sp. from Tylosurus crocodilus (Péron and Leseur) (Belonidae) collected off Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia and Tylosurus gavialoides (Castelnau) collected from Moreton Bay, Queensland. Schikhobalotrema huffmani n. sp., along with Schikhobalotrema ablennis (Abdul-Salam and Khalil, 1987) Madhavi, 2005, Schikhobalotrema acutum (Linton, 1910) Skrjabin and Guschanskaja, 1955 and Schikhobalotrema adacutum (Manter, 1937) Skrjabin and Guschanskaja, 1955 are distinguished from all other species of Schikhobalotrema Skrjabin and Guschanskaja, 1955 in having ventral suckers which bear lateral lobes and have longitudinal apertures. Schikhobalotrema huffmani n. sp. differs from S. ablennis in having an obvious post-vitelline region and a longer forebody. From S. acutum, S. huffmani n. sp. differs in having a prostatic bulb smaller than the pharynx and more anterior testis. From S. adacutum, S. huffmani n. sp. differs in having more prominent ventral sucker lobes, a conspicuous prostatic bulb and a longer forebody. We also report the first Australian record of Haplosplanchnus pachysomus (Eysenhardt, 1829) Looss, 1902, from Mugil cephalus Linnaeus (Mugilidae) collected in Moreton Bay. Molecular sequence data (ITS2, 18S and 28S rDNA) were generated for Schikhobalotrema huffmani n. sp., H. pachysomus and archived specimens of Hymenocotta mulli Manter, 1961. The new 18S and 28S molecular data were combined with published data of five other haplosplanchnid taxa to expand the phylogeny for the Haplosplanchnata. Bayesian inference and Maximum Likelihood analyses recovered identical tree topology and demonstrated the Haplosplanchnata as a well-supported monophyletic group. However, relationships at and below the subfamily level remain poorly resolved.

A subgeneric classification of Selaginella (Selaginellaceae).

The lycophyte family Selaginellaceae includes approximately 750 herbaceous species worldwide, with the main species richness in the tropics and subtropics. We recently presented a phylogenetic analysis of Selaginellaceae based on DNA sequence data and, with the phylogeny as a framework, the study discussed the character evolution of the group focusing on gross morphology. Here we translate these findings into a new classification. To present a robust and useful classification, we identified well-supported monophyletic groups from our previous phylogenetic analysis of 223 species, which together represent the diversity of the family with respect to morphology, taxonomy, and geographical distribution. Care was taken to choose groups with supporting morphology. In this classification, we recognize a single genus Selaginella and seven subgenera: Selaginella, Rupestrae, Lepidophyllae, Gymnogynum, Exaltatae, Ericetorum, and Stachygynandrum. The subgenera are all well supported based on analysis of DNA sequence data and morphology. A key to the subgenera is presented. Our new classification is based on a well-founded hypothesis of the evolutionary relationships of Selaginella, and each subgenus can be identified by a suite of morphological features, most of them possible to study in the field. Our intention is that the classification will be useful not only to experts in the field, but also to a broader audience.

Morphological and Molecular Studies on <i>Termitomyces</i> Species of Menge District, Asossa Zone, Northwest Ethiopia

Despite the extensive study on plant and animal biodiversity in Ethiopia, our knowledge of microbial diversity in general and macrofungal diversity in particular is very limited. Thus, as part of the ongoing study on macrofungal diversity of the country, this is the first report on morphological and molecular taxonomy of the genus Termitomyces in the country. In this particular report, we identified seven Termitomyces species collected from Menge Districts, Asossa Zone, Benshangul Gumuz region. Identification was based on morphological characteristics and partial LSU rDNA sequences. The results of morphological identification of each of our collection were supported with molecular investigation. Phylogenetic analysis of partial LSU rDNA sequences of 7 Ethiopian Termitomyces species using distance, Parsimony measurements and Maximum Likelihood presented similar inferred trees that only had minor differences. Based on these phylogenetic analyses of the partial LSU rDNA sequences, 7 species of Termitomyces were identified as T. aurantiacus, T. clypeatus, T. eurrhizus, T. letestui, T. microcarpus, T. robustus and T. schimperi. The inferred ML cladogram revealed both Asian and African Termitomyces samples in our analysis demonstrated a well-supported monophyletic group with bootstrap value of 99%. Moreover, the monophyletic tree from pure Ethiopian Termitomyces collection and a combination of African and Asian Termitomyces samples suggested their common origin. However incorporating more samples, more DNA markers and extensive analyses may reveal the true link among the sequences from different regions of the world. All the species reported are used for culinary purposes by the native community and few of them (T. microcarpus and T. clypeatus) are used for treatment of indigestion and malnutrition.

Parmotrema clavuliferum and P. reticulatum are independent species

Parmotrema clavuliferum (<TEX>$R{\ddot{a}}s{\ddot{a}}nen$</TEX>) Streimann and P. reticulatum (Taylor) M. Choisy (Parmeliaceae, lichenized Ascomycotina) have similar morphological characters such as wide lobes with soralia, reticulate-maculate on upper surface of lobes, and marginal cilia. In addition, they both produce salazinic acid and atranorin as major chemical substances. These similar properties found in both species have led to confusion in recognizing them as distinct species; however, P. clavuliferum is distinguished from the latter by capitate soralia on short laciniae which are always mottled white and by the production of fatty acid and gyrophoric acid together with salazinic acid. In addition, the most likely phylogenetic tree of these species shows that they are nested in well-supported monophyletic groups. Therefore, it is reasonable to recognize them as two separate species, P. clavuliferum and P. reticulatum.