Combining the small South American genus Androtrichum into Cyperus (Cyperaceae)

Abstract

Background and aims – Molecular phylogenetic studies have provided a clearer understanding of the complex relationships within the family Cyperaceae. These studies have consistently shown that 12 allied genera are nested in the genus Cyperus. However, early Sanger sequencing-based phylogenies that included the two species of the small South American genus Androtrichum were inconclusive in placing this genus either as sister to Cyperus or as part of its early divergent lineages. A recent phylogenetic analysis however conclusively placed the two species of Androtrichum within the C3 Cyperus Grade. In this study, we investigate if the morphology and anatomy of Androtrichum species provide additional evidence for their placement in the genus Cyperus. In addition, we provide descriptions and distribution data for the species.Material and methods – Herbarium material from FLOR, FURB, GENT, ICN, and K has been studied. Samples of the culm and leaf were studied using histological methods. Taxonomic changes and typifications of names were performed according to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants. Key results – The morphology and the non-Kranz anatomy observed in the Androtrichum species confirm their placement among the other C3 Cyperus species. Androtrichum is combined into Cyperus. For one species, a combination in Cyperus is already available: Cyperus trigynus. For the other species, a new name in Cyperus is published: Cyperus byssaceus. Two typifications are established and morphological descriptions and distribution data are provided. Conclusion – By integrating recent molecular phylogenetic data with additional evidence from morphology and anatomy, Androtrichum is combined into Cyperus. As a result of this taxonomic change, a single monophyletic genus Cyperus is now recognised in the Cyperus Clade of tribe Cypereae.

A new classification of Cyperaceae (Poales) supported by phylogenomic data

“…Brongn. (Pereira‐Silva et al, 2020). Genera including species using the C 4 photosynthetic pathway are indicated with an asterisk (*).…”

“…The small genus Androtrichum (C 3 photosynthesis) had not yet been combined into Cyperus due to a lack of data (only rbcL sequences were available for Androtrichum ) and conflicting results (Muasya et al, 2009a; Hinchliff & Roalson, 2013; Jung & Choi, 2013). Recently, Pereira‐Silva et al (2020) sank Androtrichum into Cyperus , based on the results of Semmouri et al (2019). Our results confirm the placement of the two species previously placed in Androtrichum , that is, Cyperus byssaceus Pereira‐Silva and C. trigynus Spreng., among the C 3 lineages of Cyperus (Fig.…”

“…Distribution Cosmopolitan. Larridon et al (2011bLarridon et al ( , 2014, Bauters et al (2014), Pereira-Silva et al (2020).…”

Delimiting the genera of the Ficinia Clade (Cypereae, Cyperaceae) based on molecular phylogenetic data

“…A total of 166 ingroup accessions were sequenced (Table S1), representing: one species of Afroscirpoides (100%), three Dracoscripoides (100%), one Erioscirpus (50%), 64 (plus three undescribed) Ficinia (78%), one Hellmuthia (100%), 57 Isolepis (plus some infraspecific taxa) (76%) and three Scirpoides (75%). The outgroup taxa, selected based on Semmouri et al (2019) and Larridon et al (2021), consists of 114 accession (Table S2) representing the six genera of tribe Fuireneae and the genus Cyperus, the only genus of the Cyperus Clade of tribe Cypereae after Androtrichum was recently synonymised with Cyperus (Pereira- Silva et al, 2020). The DNA extraction protocol, primers, and material and methods for PCR amplification and sequencing follow Viljoen et al, 2013. Sequences were assembled and edited in Geneious R8 (http://www.geneious.com, Kearse et al, 2012), aligned using MAFFT 7 (Katoh, Asimenos & Toh, 2009;Katoh & Standley, 2013) with "maxiterate" and "tree rebuilding number" set to 100 (long run), afterwards, alignments were checked manually in PhyDE 0.9971 (Müller et al, 2010).…”

Peer Review #1 of "Delimiting the genera of the Ficinia Clade (Cypereae, Cyperaceae) based on molecular phylogenetic data (v0.1)"

“…A total of 166 ingroup accessions were sequenced (Table S1), representing: species of Afroscirpoides (100 %), Dracoscripoides (100 %), 1 Erioscirpus (50 %), (plus 3 undescribed) Ficinia (78 %), 1 Hellmuthia (100 %), 57 Isolepis (plus some infraspecific taxa) (76 %) and 3 Scirpoides (75%). The outgroup taxa, selected based on Semmouri et al (2019) and Larridon et al (in review), consists of 114 accession (Table S2) representing the six genera of tribe Fuireneae and the genus Cyperus, the only genus of the Cyperus Clade of tribe Cypereae after Androtrichum was recently synonymysed with Cyperus (Pereira-Silva et al, 2020). The DNA extraction protocol, primers, and material and methods for PCR amplification and sequencing follow Viljoen et al, 2013.…”