Phylogeny, biogeography, reticulation, and classification of Agrostis (Poaceae: Pooideae: Poeae: Agrostidinae) with expansion of Polypogon to include Lachnagrostis (in part)

doi:10.1111/jse.13175

J Syst Evol ›› 2025, Vol. 63 ›› Issue (4): 999-1025.DOI: 10.1111/jse.13175

• Research Article • Previous Articles Next Articles

Phylogeny, biogeography, reticulation, and classification of Agrostis (Poaceae: Pooideae: Poeae: Agrostidinae) with expansion of Polypogon to include Lachnagrostis (in part)

Paul M. Peterson^1*, Robert J. Soreng¹, Konstantin Romaschenko¹, Patricia Barberá^2,3, Alejandro Quintanar⁴, Carlos Aedo⁵, and Jeffery M. Saarela⁶

¹Department of Botany MRC‐166, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20013‐7012, USA
²Departamento de Biología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Calle Darwin 2, Madrid 28049, Spain
³Africa and Madagascar Department, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO 63110‐2291, USA
⁴Herbarium MA, Unidad de Herbarios, Real Jardín Botánico, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid 28014, Spain
⁵Department of Biodiversity and Conservation, Real Jardín Botánico, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid 28014, Spain
⁶Beaty Centre for Species Discovery and Botany Section, Research and Collections, Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa ON KIP 6P4, Canada

^*Author for correspondence. E‐mail: peterson@si.edu

Received:2024-08-28 Accepted:2025-02-05 Online:2025-04-13 Published:2025-07-01
Supported by:
We thank the Flora iberica project (CGL2014–52787–C3–1–P, CGL2012–32914, CGL201785204‐C3‐1‐P) and FPI fellowship BES‐2012‐053754 to P. Barberá; the National Geographic Society Committee for Research and Exploration (Grant No. 8848‐10, 8087‐06) for field and laboratory support; and the Smithsonian Institution′s Restricted Endowments Fund, the Scholarly Studies Program, Research Opportunities, the Atherton Seidell Foundation, Biodiversity Surveys and Inventories Program, Small Grants Program, the Laboratory of Analytical Biology, and the United States Department of Agriculture.

Abstract

Abstract: To investigate the evolutionary relationships and biogeographical history among the species of Agrostis and allied genera within the subtribe Agrostidinae, we generated a phylogeny based on sequences from nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS) and three plastid regions (rpl32‐trnL spacer, rps16‐trnK spacer, and rps16 intron). We also aimed to assess the generic limits of Agrostis, characterize possible subgeneric relationships among species in the genus, identify hypothesized reticulation events, and present our biogeographical theory. Based on our phylogeny of 198 samples, representing 138 species (82 from Agrostisas currently recognized, 10 from Polypogon, and 10 from Lachnagrostis), we identify two strongly supported clades within Agrostis: clade Longipaleata (Agrostis subg. Vilfa) and clade Brevipaleata (A. subg. Agrostis). The species of Agrostis in clade Longipaleata usually have ﬂorets with paleas 2/5 to as long as the lemma, whereas species in clade Brevipaleata have ﬂorets with paleas less than 2/5 as long as the lemma, minute, orabsent. Core (species with congruent alignment using ITS and plastid data) phylogenetic analysis of Agrostis reveals three strongly supported clades within Longipaleata (European‐Northwest African, Asian,and African), three strongly supported clades within Brevipaleata (Asian, North American, and South American), and a European grade leading to the latter two. Of the six genera commonly associated with Agrostis, that is, Bromidium, Polypogon, Lachnagrostis, Linkagrostis, Chaetopogon, and Chaetotropis, only Polypogon maintained its status as a separate genus, while the remaining genera are subsumed within Agrostis or Polypogon. Polypogon is identiﬁed as an intergeneric hybrid originating via ancient hybridization between unknown representatives of Agrostis clade Longipaleata (plastid DNA) and Calamagrostis clade Americana (nrDNA). We include several species of Lachnagrostis, including the type (L. ﬁliformis), that follow the same pattern in Polypogon, while the remaining species of Lachnagrostis in our study are identiﬁed as ancient intersubgeneric hybrids within Agrostis. We propose nine new combinations in Polypogon: P. adamsonii (Vickery) P.M. Peterson, Soreng & Romasch.; P. aemulus (R. Br.) P.M. Peterson, Soreng & Romasch.; P. billardierei (R. Br.) P.M. Peterson, Soreng & Romasch.; P. bourgaei (E. Fourn.) P.M.Peterson, Soreng & Romasch.; P. ﬁliformis (G. Forst.) P.M. Peterson, Soreng & Romasch.; P. littoralis P.M.Peterson, Soreng & Romasch.; P. exaratus (Trin.) P.M. Peterson, Soreng & Romasch.; P. polypogonoides (Stapf) P.M. Peterson, Soreng & Romasch.; and P. reuteri (Boiss.) P.M. Peterson, Soreng & Romasch. We designate lectotypes for the names Agrostis sect. Aristatae Willd., Agrostis barbuligera Stapf, A. bourgaei E. Fourn., A. eriantha Hack., A. exarata Trin., A. lachnantha Nees, A. polypogonoides Stapf, Chaetotropis chilensis Kunth, Polypogon elongatus Kunth, P. inaequalis Trin., P. suspicatus Willd., and Vilfa muricata J. Presl.

Key words: Agrostis, Calamagrostis, Chaetopogon, Chaetotropis, genomic introgression, ITS, Linkagrostis, phylogenetic analysis, plastid DNA sequences, taxon duplication approach, taxonomy.

Paul M. Peterson, Robert J. Soreng, Konstantin Romaschenko, Patricia Barberá, Alejandro Quintanar, Carlos Aedo, Jeffery M. Saarela. Phylogeny, biogeography, reticulation, and classification of Agrostis (Poaceae: Pooideae: Poeae: Agrostidinae) with expansion of Polypogon to include Lachnagrostis (in part)[J]. J Syst Evol, 2025, 63(4): 999-1025.

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Phylogeny, biogeography, reticulation, and classification of Agrostis (Poaceae: Pooideae: Poeae: Agrostidinae) with expansion of Polypogon to include Lachnagrostis (in part)

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