Abstract Detail

Horsetails Through Form, Space, and Time

Graham, Sean W [1], Rothfels, Carl [2], Lin, Qianshi [3], Zhan, Shing Hei [4].

Equisetum and its place in vascular-plant phylogeny.

In analyses of molecular data sets, Equisetum has placed in a clade (often referred to as 'monilophytes' or 'ferns') along with extant fern lineages (Ophioglossaceae, Marattiaceae, leptosporangiate ferns) plus Psilotaceae -- to the exclusion of lycophytes and seed plants. This result is consistent across a broad range of studies that consider different genes and genomes, different taxon samplings, and various optimality criteria. In contrast, the identity of the extant sister-group of Equisetum within this clade has varied substantially, and is either poorly supported, or strongly supported and conflicting across studies. Here we analyze these data sets to assess the optimality of alternative hypotheses that consider different positions of Equisetum both within and entirely outside the extant 'fern' clade, as currently construed. We also apply this approach to a morphological data set that includes a broad diversity of extinct lineages.

1 - University Of British Columbia, Botany, #3529 - 6270 University Boulevard, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
2 - University of California Berkeley, University Herbarium and Dept. of Integrative Biology, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
3 - University Of British Columbia, Botany, Bio Sciences BLDG, 6270 University BLVD, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada
4 - University Of British Columbia, Zoology, 4200-6270 University Blvd. , Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada

Keywords:
Equisetum
ferns
Monilophytes
Congruence
Long Branch Attraction.

Presentation Type: Symposium Presentation
Session: SY03, Horsetails through form, space and time
Location: Oglethrope Auditorium/Savannah International Trade and Convention Center
Date: Monday, August 1st, 2016
Time: 4:15 PM
Number: SY03008
Abstract ID:828
Candidate for Awards:None