Molecular phylogeny and the biogeographic origin of East Asian Isoёtes (Isoёtaceae)

Abstract

Isoёtes L. (Isoёtaceae) is a cosmopolitan genus of heterosporous lycopods containing ca. 200 species being found in lakes, streams, and wetlands of terrestrial habitats. Despite its ancient origin, worldwide distribution, and adaptation to diverse environment, species in Isoёtes show remarkable morphological simplicity and convergence. Allopolyploidy appears to be a significant speciation process in the genus. These characteristics have made it difficult to assess the phylogenetic relationships and biogeographic history of Isoёtes species.

Novel classification and biogeography of Leptolejeunea (Lejeuneaceae, Marchantiophyta) with implications for the origin and evolution of the Asian evergreen broad‐leaved forests

“…Several other vascular lineages were also inferred to have migrated between Sahul (e.g., Australia) and Sundaland (e.g., SE Asia), including Livistona R.Br. (Arecaceae) (Crayn et al, 2015), Isoёtes L. (Isoёtaceae) (Choi et al, 2018), and Celastrus L. (Celastraceae) (Zhu et al, 2020), and some migrated in the opposite direction (e.g., Cinnamomum group (Lauraceae) (Huang et al, 2016) and Cryptocarya R.Br (Lauraceae) (van der Merwe et al, 2016)). The latter direction also presented in L. epiphylla and L. schiffneri by recent dispersal.…”