Molecular evidence for the systematic positions of two enigmatic mosses: Pterogonidium pulchellum (Sematophyllaceae, Musci) and Piloecium pseudorufescens (Myuriaceae, Musci)

Abstract

The systematic position of Pterogonidium pulchellum (W.J. Hooker) Muell. Hal. in the Sematophyllaceae and Piloecium pseudorufescens (Hampe) Muell. Hal. in the Myuriaceae is reexamined with new evidence derived from rbcL gene sequences. A total of 18 taxa from Sematophyllaceae, Hypnaceae, Myuriaceae, and Hookeriaceae were included, 11 of which were newly sequenced for the rbcL gene. Analyses were done using maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood (TrN + Γ + I model and GTR + Γ + I model), and Bayesian inference (GTR + Γ + I model). The results show that Pterogonidium pulchellum has a closer relationship with members of Hypnaceae than with Sematophyllaceae, while Piloecium pseudorufescens forms a clade with the Sematophyllaceae in all phylogenetic analyses, with robust branch support. Two SOWH tests were carried out and the results show that it is not appropriate to classify Pterogonidium pulchellum in Sematophyllaceae and it is also not appropriate to classify Piloecium pseudorufescens in Myuriaceae. © 2006 NRC.