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Systematic significance and evolutionary dynamics of the achene twin hairs in Filago (Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae) and related genera: further evidence of morphological homoplasy

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Abstract

The variation and evolutionary dynamics of the twin hairs covering the achenes of the external female florets in Filago and related genera are studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a Bayesian reconstruction of ancestral character states. A molecular phylogenetic hypothesis based on sequences of ITS and ETS (nuclear ribosomal DNA) and plastid rpl32-trnL intergenic spacer regions was used as a framework to test the phylogenetic, evolutionary and taxonomic significance of this character in the study group. The phylogenetic position of three island-endemic species (F. petro-ianii, F. tyrrhenica and F. wagenitziana) is explored. Three types of twin hairs are described, which alone or combined define five different types of indumentum. The results suggest that glabrous achenes are the ancestral condition for “Filago group s.str.”, while the presence of long-clavate twin hairs on the achene represents the ancestral character state for the genus Filago. Several cases of parallelisms are detected. With regard to taxonomy, twin hairs provide additional support for the recognition of Bombycilaena and Logfia at the generic level and allow the taxonomic re-evaluation of F. lutescens subsp. atlantica and F. crocidion. Finally, the utility of a Bayesian Binary MCMC approach (using the software RASP) for evolutionary reconstruction of morphological characters is demonstrated.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to express our gratitude to the herbarium SALA for the loan of material. This work was supported by the Spanish Dirección General de Investigación Científica y Técnica through the research projects CGL2008-02982-C03-02, CGL2009-07555 and CGL2010-18631/BOS and by the Catalan government (‘Ajuts a grups consolidats’ 2009/SGR/00439). A grant to S. Andrés-Sánchez from the Spanish Dirección General de Investigación Científica y Técnica is also gratefully acknowledged. We thank Y. Ruiz from Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid for technical assistance concerning SEM and A. J. Harris for his help and advice on the use of the software RASP. Sincere thanks are given to Prof. Anderberg for providing helpful information. Finally, we thank the anonymous reviewers for their constructive remarks which helped to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, HW Pearson Building, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X3, Cape Town, 7701, South Africa

    Santiago Andrés-Sánchez

  2. Departament de Biologia Animal, Biologia Vegetal i Ecologia, Facultat de Biociènces, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Bellaterra, Spain

    Mercè Galbany-Casals

  3. Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Albrecht-von-Haller-Institut für Pflanzenwissenschaften, 37073, Göttingen, Germany

    Erwin Bergmeier

  4. Departamento de Botánica, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007, Salamanca, Spain

    Santiago Andrés-Sánchez, Enrique Rico & M. Montserrat Martínez-Ortega

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  1. Santiago Andrés-Sánchez
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  2. Mercè Galbany-Casals
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Correspondence to Santiago Andrés-Sánchez.

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Handling editor: Hong-Zhi Kong.

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Appendix

Appendix

New sequences included in the molecular analyses. Species with voucher information and European Nucleotide Archive accession numbers (ITS, ETS, rpl32-trnL intergenic spacer) are included. Sequences of the other species are mentioned in Galbany-Casals et al. (2010).

Filago aegaea Wagenitz, (1) Grecia, Crete, between Asigonia and Kallikratis, Kallikratis plateau, Galbany et al., GC2169-3, SALA110232 (HG918219, HG918234, HG918249); (2) Galbany et al., GC2169-4, SALA110232 (HG918220, HG918235, HG918250); (3) Galbany et al., GC2170-2, SALA1497422 (HG918221, HG918236, HG918251); (4) Galbany et al., GC2170-4, SALA1497422 (HG918222, HG918237, HG918252). Filago petro-ianii Rita & Dittrich, (1) Spain, Majorca, between Cap Blanc and Cala Blava, Partió de S’Águila, Martínez-Ortega and Andrés-Sánchez, SA255-11, SALA139205 (HG918223, HG918238, HG918253); (2) Martínez-Ortega and Andrés-Sánchez, SA255-9, SALA139205 (HG918224, HG918239, HG918254); (3) between Palma and Algaida, Martínez-Ortega and Andrés-Sánchez, SA249-4, SALA139206 (HG918225, HG918240, HG918255); (4) Martínez-Ortega and Andrés-Sánchez, SA249-1, SALA139206 (HG918226, HG918241, HG918256). Filago tyrrhenica Chrtek & Holub, (1) Italy, Sardinia, Monte Rosso, E. Farris, s.n.-1, BC (HG918227, HG918242, HG918257); (2) E. Farris, s.n.-2, BC (HG918228, HG918243, HG918258); (3) Tempio, Pausania, Rena Majore, Navarro et al., s.n., SALA136481 (HG918229, HG918244, HG918259). Filago wagenitziana Bergmeier, (1) Greece, Crete, Grenzgebiet der Nomoi Chania und Rethimno, S Asi Gonia, Bergmeier, 10-135-1, Herb. Bergmeier (HG918230, HG918245, HG918260); (2) Bergmeier, 10-135-2, Herb. Bergmeier (HG918231, HG918246, HG918261); (3) Bergmeier, 10-136-1, Herb. Bergmeier (HG918232, HG918247, HG918262); (4) Bergmeier, 10-136-2, Herb. Bergmeier (HG918233, HG918248, HG918263)

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Andrés-Sánchez, S., Galbany-Casals, M., Bergmeier, E. et al. Systematic significance and evolutionary dynamics of the achene twin hairs in Filago (Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae) and related genera: further evidence of morphological homoplasy. Plant Syst Evol 301, 1653–1668 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00606-014-1185-7

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