Sousa 2007 (Article) Lymania

Monophyly and phylogenetie relationships in Lymania (Bromeliaceae: Bromelioideae) based on morphology and chloroplast DNA sequences

Author(s):—L.O.F. Sousa, T. Wendt, G.K. Brown, D.E. Tuthiii & TM. Evans

Publication:—Syst. Bot. 32(2): 264-270.. (2007)

Abstract:—A cladistic analysis of Lymania was conducted using data from morphology and sequences from three chloroplast DNA regions (matK coding region and the psbA-trnH and trnL-trnF intergenic spacers) to examine monophyly of the genus and phylogenetic relationships among genera with which Lymania species have been segregate. All nine recognized Lymania species are nearly endemic to southern Bahia state in Brazil. It is the first genus in Bromeliaceae subfamily Bromelioideae to be the subject of a combined morphological and molecular analysis. The genera of Bromelioideae have been particularly difficult to classify and there has been disagreement about their relationships. Morphological data show better resolution than molecular data alone. The partition homogeneity test supported a combined analysis of the two data sets, yielding a single most parsimonious tree. In the combined analysis, monophyly of Lymania is moderately supported, and the genus is closely related to species of Aechmea subg. Lamprococcus and Ortigiesia. The morphological distinctiveness coupled with low molecular divergence indicates relatively recent and rapid speciation within Lymania. This study provides a framework for future study of Bromelioideae genera and highlights areas that need further attention.