Narduroides

Röser, Julia Schneider Grit Winterfeld Martin, 2012, Polyphyly of the grass tribe Hainardieae (Poaceae: Pooideae): identification of its different lineages based on molecular phylogenetics, including morphological and cytogenetic characteristics, Organisms Diversity & Evolution (New York, N. Y.) 12 (2), pp. 113-132 : 124

Narduroides ( lineage II ) and Agropyropsis

Our analyses resolved the monotypic genus Narduroides (only N. salzmannii ) as a member of lineage II , which is clearly monophyletic from the cp mat K data but paraphyletic with respect to the placement of Festuca in the nuclear ITS tree (Figs. 1 and 2). A close relation of Narduroides to Festuca , Psilurus and Vulpia was also found by previous molecular studies ( Catalán et al. 2004; 2007; Torrecilla et al. 2004; Soreng et al. 2007; Bouchenak-Khelladi et al. 2008), and these genera were accommodated under subtribe Loliinae ( Soreng et al. 2003; 2007; Catalán et al. 2004; 2007). Megalachne is a further element of the Festuca lineage (Figs. 1 and 2; Schneider et al. 2011). Although it was not considered an element of the Loliinae in recent classifications ( Soreng et al. 2003; 2007; Catalán et al. 2007), the molecular data corroborate placement in the Festuca lineage as suggested by Clayton and Renvoize (1986).

The monotypic genus Agropyropsis (only A. lolium ) differs morphologically from the genera of lineage I (Figs. 1 and 2), which represents subtribe Parapholiinae as circumscribed in this study: Spikelets of Agropyropsis have several flowers instead of a single flower and ciliolate instead of glabrous keels of the palea ( Table 3; Figs. 3d and 4f ) as in Hainardia and Parapholis , which are the only genera of Parapholiinae with spicate inflorescences (after removal of Agropyropsis and Pholiurus from this subtribe). The spikelet rachilla in Agropyropsis disarticulates below each floret (cf. footnote to Table 3), whereas the spikelet axis is tough in Hainardia and Parapholis and the rachis of the inflorescence disarticulates ( Table 3 with footnotes; Fig. 3a, b, d). Additionally, the rachilla internode beneath the uppermost floret is comparatively long in Agropyropsis ( Fig. 4e ) and the appendage of the ovary tip has two conspicuous decurrent wings ( Table 3; Fig. 5f, g). Altogether, in these morphological characters, perennial Agropyropsis thus rather resembles Narduroides ( Table 3; Figs. 3c, 4c, d and 5d, e) or other annual or perennial taxa with spike-like inflorescences and prolonged upper rachilla internodes of the Festuca lineage (subtribe Loliinae ), in which it seems to be positioned judging from the available data. Molecular information on Agropyropsis , however, is still wanting.

Figures

Fig. 4 a–h Spikelet details. Palea of a Hainardia cylindrica and b Parapholis incurva with glabrous keels (nerves). c, d florets of Narduroides salzmannii with glabrous callus of the lemmas and long rachilla internodes. e, f Agropyropsis lolium with glabrous callus of the lemma (e) and ciliolate keels of the palea (f). g, h Scribneria bolanderi with lemma awned from a sinus of the lemma tip (g) and hairy callus (h). The margin of the lemma is marked at one side in a, b, and f with arrows. Material used: a fruits from Göttingen Botanical Garden in 2006, no. 1850 (HAL); b Röser 2517 (HAL); c Hernández s.n. (C); d Rivas-Martínez s.n. (BASBG); e, f Cosson s.n. (JE); g, h Wilken 16163 and Painter (RSA 695253)