YOUNG, LAURA*, PAUL KORES, and MIA MOLVRAY. Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK 73019. - Phylogenetic analysis of Schoenoplectus (Cyperaceae) using ITS sequence data.
Schoenoplectus is a morphologically diverse genus that contains
30-40 species that is found predominantly in wetland areas. The genus
has a complex taxonomic history and was previously considered a
segregate of Scirpus. Recent molecular analysis by Muasya et
al. (2000) using trnL-F and rbcL has shown evidence of
paraphyly in Schoenoplectus, but a comprehensive phylogenetic
analysis of this genus has not been undertaken. This study attempts to
clarify relationships within the North American species by using ITS
DNA sequence data. Fourteen ingroup and two outgroup taxa were
examined in this preliminary study using maximum parsimony.
Schoenoplectus, as currently delimited, is paraphyletic.
Isolepis is sister to the dwarf species of
Schoenoplectus, and three sampled species that were formerly
placed in Bolboschoenus are sister to the
Isolepis-Schoenoplectus clade. In our preliminary analysis
there are indications that the large-sized Schoenoplectus
species form a monophyletic group. Expanded sampling within
Schoenoplectus and related genera is in progress.
Key words: Cyperaceae, Schoenoplectus, Scirpus, systematics