An investigation of the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Glossopetalon (Crossosomataceae)

Allen, Maya LeNene (2019) An investigation of the phylogenetic relationships within the genus Glossopetalon (Crossosomataceae). Masters thesis, Northern Arizona University.

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Abstract

Glossopetalon (Gray, 1853) inhabits arid, limestone regions in the American west and northern Mexico. The genus comprises four species: G. clokeyi; G. pungens; G. texense; and G. spinescens. Three of the species are narrow endemics. The fourth, G. spinescens, is a widespread species with six recognized varieties. All six varieties are intricately branched shrubs that have been difficult to identify due to a lack of clearly distinguishable morphological characters. Characters typically used to differentiate the varieties of G. spinescens, such as stem coloration, blade size, and presence of stipules, are highly variable among populations. To date the phylogeny of this genus has not been resolved; therefore, the species relationships and validity of the six varieties of G. spinescens are unknown. A custom protocol of double digest restriction-site associated DNA sequencing (ddRAD) was used to resolve the phylogeny of Glossopetalon and address if molecular data corroborates the recognition of six varieties of G. spinescens. Glossopetalon was fully supported as monophyletic and G. pungens was resolved to be sister to the remaining species of the genus. The varieties of G. spinescens were resolved as two distinct lineages corresponding to their biogeography – one to the northwest (lineage 1) and one to southeast (lineage 2). Glossopetalon clokeyi was resolved as embedded within lineage 1 of G. spinescens. Glossopetalon texense was also found to be embedded with G. spinescens; except its placement was within lineage 2. Taxonomic recommendations of this study are to treat G. texense and G. clokeyi as a varieties of G. spinescens, describe a unique population from northern Arizona as a new variety of G. spinescens, and retain the rest of the current classification. Keywords: Glossopetalon, Crossosomataceae, ddRAD, RADseq, Systematics

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Publisher’s Statement:	© Copyright is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the Cline Library, Northern Arizona University. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author.
Keywords:	Crossosomataceae; ddRAD; Glossopetalon; RADseq; Systematics
Subjects:	Q Science > QK Botany
NAU Depositing Author Academic Status:	Student
Department/Unit:	Graduate College > Theses and Dissertations
Date Deposited:	25 Jan 2022 17:09
Last Modified:	25 Jan 2022 17:09
URI:	https://openknowledge.nau.edu/id/eprint/5547

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