Molecular Phylogeny of Dissanthelium (Poaceae: Pooideae) and its Taxonomic Implications

Abstract

We investigated the phylogeny of the New World grass Dissanthelium to explore its monophyly, to examine relationships within the genus, and to investigate its relationship with Poa. Molecular phylogenetic analyses including a thorough sampling of Dissanthelium (seventeen of the 20 species) and DNA sequences from the nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid trnT-trnL-trnF regions suggest that Dissanthelium is not monophyletic and is nested within Poa. However, ten species form a strongly supported clade (the Dissanthelium clade) in the ITS tree. We propose treating Dissanthelizon and Tovarochloa as taxonomic synonyms of Poa. We erect two new sections in Poa: sect. Dissanthelium, comprising the Dissanthelium clade and D. peruvianum, and the monotypic sect. Tovarochloa. The necessary new combinations (Poa aequalis, P. amplivaginata, P. calycina var. mathewsii, P. gigantea, P. macusaniensis, P. rahuii, and P. trollii) and new names (Poa sections Dissanthelium and Tovarochloa, P. apiculata, P. arcuata, P. boliviana, P. congestn, P. deminuta, P. linenrifolia, P. parvifolia, P. serpaiana, P. swallenii, and P. thomnsii) are effected herein.