Molecular phylogenetic studies on the Parmotrema reticulatum (syn. Rimelia reticulata) complex, including the confirmation of P. pseudoreticulatum as a distinct species

Abstract

Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nuclear ITS rDNA and mitochondrial SSU rDNA sequences from 32 specimens representing Parmotrema pseudoreticulatum, P. reticulatum and P. clavuliferum from Africa, Asia, Australia, and Europe are reported. Samples from western Europe and South Africa formed an independent monophyletic group, which belongs to P. pseudoreticulatum, a species not accepted by some recent authors, that has only been reported from Portugal, Spain and Morocco. In contrast, P. reticulatum and P. clavuliferum, both widely distributed taxa, formed a monophyletic clade, supporting the synonymy already proposed on the basis of morphological features.