Molecular phylogeny of Glyphochloa (Poaceae, Panicoideae), an endemic grass genus from the Western Ghats, India

Abstract

The genus Glyphochloa (Poaceae: Panicoideae: Andropogoneae: Rottboellinae) is endemic to peninsular India and is distributed on lateritic plateaus of low and high altitude in and around Western Ghats and the Malabar Coast. The genus presumably originated and diversified in the Western Ghats. Species relationships in the genus Glyphochloa were deduced here based on molecular phylogenies inferred using nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences and plastid intergenic spacer regions (atpB-rbcL, trnT-trnL, trnL-trnF), and new observations were made of spikelet morphology, caryopsis morphology and meiotic chromosome counts. We observed two distinct clades of Glyphochloa s.l. One of these ('group I') includes Ophiuros bombaiensis, and is characterized by a single-awned lower glume and a base chromosome number of 6; it grows in low elevation coastal areas. The other clade ('group II') has a double-awned lower glume, a base chromosome number of 7, and is restricted to higher elevation lateritic plateaus; G. ratnagirica may belong to the group II clade, or may be a third distinct lineage in the genus. A sister-group relationship between group I and II taxa (with or without G. ratnagirica) is not well supported, although the genus is recovered as monophyletic in shortest trees inferred using ITS or concatenated plastid data. We present a key to species of Glyphochloa and make a new combination for O. bombaiensis.

A worldwide phylogenetic classification of the Poaceae (Gramineae) II: An update and a comparison of two 2015 classifications

“…Accordingly, Dimeriinae is placed in Ischaeminae, Sorghinae in Saccharinae, and Anthistiriinae in Andropogoninae. Gosavi et al (2016) and Arthan et al (2016) offer new insights in Rottboelliinae, and we now accept Hackelochloa (as did Kellogg). Kellogg (2015, p. 300) mentioned an unpublished DNA study where Coelorachis is placed in Rottboellia rather than Mnesithea as proposed by Veldkamp et al (1986); and we now follow that here.…”

Phylogenomics enables biogeographic analysis and a new subtribal classification of Andropogoneae (Poaceae—Panicoideae)

“…are also included in Ratzeburgiinae in this classification since they form a strongly supported clade with Hemarthria in GPWG II (2012). Manisuris L. is placed in this subtribe based on the phylogenetic analysis of Gosavi et al (2016), while Ratzeburgia is placed here based solely on morphology. According to Clayton & Renvoize (1986), Ratzeburgia is “an elegant variant of the Mnesithea theme, in which the highly modified internode and pedicel form a narrow frame protecting the edges of the spikelets.”…”

Glyphochloa shrirangii (Poaceae), a new species from Western Ghats of Maharashtra, India

“…The genus is characterized by a distinctive morphology with terminal or axillary inflorescence, a single flattened dorsiventral raceme, oblong, clavate or turbinate internodes, abscissing between segments in an usual way, sessile spikelets, a turbinate callus with a central knob, a crustaceous lower glume which is smooth or with flaps or columns and has broad membranous wings at the apex, pedicelled spikelet with 1 or 2 awns and which are as large as the sessile spikelet, and a pedicel that is fused with the internodes (Clayton 1980, Fonseca 2003). The genus has been divided into two groups: group I is characterized by a single‐awned lower glume of the sessile spikelet and the chromosome number 6, while group II is defined by a two‐awned lower glume of the sessile spikelet and a chromosome number of 7 (Gosavi et al 2015). Group II is represented by five species and one variety distributed in the lateritic plateaus of Western Ghats and Western coast, but also includes one species G. forficulata (C.E.C.…”

“…Panicoideae (Soreng et al 2015). It is endemic to peninsular India and is distributed both in low and high altitude plateaus of the Western Ghats and Western Coast, where it may have originated and diversified (Gosavi et al 2015, Singh et al 2015). Presently, the genus comprises 12 species and 4 varieties (Gosavi et al 2015).…”