New insights into the phylogeny and historical biogeography of the Lellingeria myosuroides clade (Polypodiaceae)

• DOI: 10.1371/currents.rrn1197
• Publication Date: 2010-11-25T08:00:23Z
• Authors: Tom A. Ranker; Michael Sundue; Paulo Labiak; Barbara Parris; Germinal Rouhan
• Keywords: Monophyly; Pantropical; Polypodiaceae

Grammitid ferns are a well-supported clade of ~900 primarily tropical epiphytic species. Recent phylogenetic studies have found support for distinctive, geographically diverse group 24 species referred to as the Lellingeria myosuroides and provided evidence variety relationships within group, well hypotheses historical processes that produced current biogeographical patterns. We present new data analyses following primary conclusions: 1) L. is monophyletic pantropical; 2) sister more rich entirely Neotropical (Lellingeria s.s.); 3) we infer two independent dispersal events from Neotropics Pacific islands, five Paleotropics, separate mainland America West Indies.