Species delimitation and biogeography of a southern hemisphere liverwort clade, Frullania subgenus Microfrullania (Frullaniaceae, Marchantiophyta).

Frullania subgenus Microfrullania is a clade of ca. 15 liverwort species occurring in Australasia, Malesia, and southern South America. We used combined nuclear and chloroplast sequence data from 265 ingroup accessions to test species circumscriptions and estimate the biogeographic history of the subgenus. With dense infra-specific sampling, we document an important role of long-distance dispersal in establishing phylogeographic patterns of extant species. At deeper time scales, a combination of phylogenetic analyses, divergence time estimation and ancestral range estimation were used to reject vicariance and to document the role of long-distance dispersal in explaining the evolution and biogeography of the clade across the southern Hemisphere. A backbone phylogeny for the subgenus is proposed, providing insight into evolution of morphological patterns and establishing the basis for an improved sectional classification of species within Microfrullania. Several species complexes are identified, the presence of two undescribed but genetically and morphologically distinct species is noted, and previously neglected names are discussed.

Volatile components of selected species of the liverwort genera Frullania and Schusterella (Frullaniaceae) from New Zealand, Australia and South America: a chemosystematic approach.

The volatile components of 25 taxa of the liverwort family Frullaniaceae from New Zealand, Australia and South America have been analyzed by GC-MS. The present Frullania species are chemically divided into five major types: (1) sesquiterpene lactones, (2) sesquiterpene lactones-bibenzyls, (3) bibenzyls, (4) 2-alkanone and (5) triterpene types; the latter two chemo-types are newly proposed for the genus. Schusterella chevalierii, belonging to the Frullaniaceae, is closely related chemically to the sesquiterpene lactone type of the Frullania species since it elaborates two eudesmanolides, beta-cyclocostunolide and dihydro-beta-cyclocostunolide as major components.