Phylogenetic relationships of the enigmatic fern families Hymenophyllopsidaceae and Lophosoriaceae: Evidence from rbcL nucleotide sequences
Abstract
Nucleotide sequences from rbcL were used to infer relationships of Lophosoriaceae
and Hymenophyllopsidaceae. The phylogenetic positions of these two monotypic fern
families have been debated, and neither group had been included in recent molecular
systematic studies of ferns. Maximum parsimony analysis of our data supported a sister
relationship between Lophosoria and Dicksonia, and also between Hymenophyllopsis and
Cyathea. Thus, both newly-examined families appear to be part of a previously characterized
and well-supported clade of tree ferns. The inferred relationships of Lophosoria are
consistent with most (but not all) recent treatments. However, Hymenophyllopsis includes
only small delicate plants superficially similar to filmy ferns (Hymenophyllaceae),
very different from the large arborescent taxa. Nevertheless, some synapomorphic characteristics
are shared with the tree fern clade. Further studies on gametophytes of Hymenophyllopsis
are needed to test these hypotheses of relationship.
Type
Journal articleSubject
Science & TechnologyLife Sciences & Biomedicine
Plant Sciences
Evolutionary Biology
Hymenophyllopsis
Lophosoria
molecular systematics
evolution
rbcL
phylogeny
CHLOROPLAST DNA
MORPHOLOGY
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/21855Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1007/BF00985583Publication Info
Wolf, PG; Sipes, SD; White, MR; Martines, ML; Pryer, KM; Smith, AR; & Ueda, K (1999). Phylogenetic relationships of the enigmatic fern families Hymenophyllopsidaceae and
Lophosoriaceae: Evidence from rbcL nucleotide sequences. Plant Systematics and Evolution, 219(3-4). pp. 263-270. 10.1007/BF00985583. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/21855.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
Collections
More Info
Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Kathleen M. Pryer
Professor of Biology

Articles written by Duke faculty are made available through the campus open access policy. For more information see: Duke Open Access Policy
Rights for Collection: Scholarly Articles
Works are deposited here by their authors, and represent their research and opinions, not that of Duke University. Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info