Abstract Detail

Systematics Section/ASPT

Tseng, Yu-Hsin [1], Wei, Yi-Gang [2], Monro, Alex [3], Hu, Jer-Ming [1].

Molecular phylogeny of Elatostema sensu lato (Urticaceae) based on sequences of nuclear ITS and chloroplast trnH-psbA spacer.

Elatostema J. R. Forst. & G. Forst. (Urticaceae) consists of about 350 species distributed in the tropical to temperate zones all over the world with a diversity center in tropical Asia. The genus Elatostema has never been studied thoroughly mostly due to the relatively wide distribution and its minuscule reproductive organs. The circumstances of generic delimitation among the three closely related genera Elatostema, Pellionia and Procris are based on inflorescence types, which is quite controversial. Similarly, the infrageneric grouping is also quite uncertain. Phylogenetic analysis of nuclear ITS and chloroplast trnH-psbA sequences was used to address these problems. The results show that Pellionia is nested within Elatostema, and Procris is the basal lineage of Elatostema sensu lato. A unique clade, comprising the species with nanophyll (E. parvum, E. backeri and E. sinense), also occupies the basal lineage next to Procris, probably suggesting that the presence of nanophyll and opposite leaves are the pleiomorphies in Elatostema s. l. The phylogenetic tree does not support the five sections classification within Elatostema sensu stricto as proposed by Wang (1980). Our results partly support the subgeneric classification as proposed by Schröter and Winkler (1935, 1936). Therefore, Elatostema s. l. probably can be divided into five groups: Procris clade, E. parvum clade (nanophyll clade), Pellionia clade, African clade and Elatostema s. s. clade. The current results also indicate a strong association between geography and phylogenetic relationship, which is congruent with short-distance seed dispersal ability in Elatostema s.s.

Broader Impacts:

1 - National Taiwan University, Institute of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Rm1227, Life Science Building, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Road, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
2 - Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangxi Institute of Botany, Guilin, 541006, China
3 - Natural History Museum, Department of Botany, London, SW7 5BD, UK

Keywords:
Elatostema
Urticaceae
Molecular phylogeny
nuclear ITS
chloroplast trnH-psbA spacer.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Battelle South/Convention Center
Date: Monday, July 9th, 2012
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PSY013
Abstract ID:621