Speciation in the genera Anthericum and Chlorophytum (Asparagaceae) in Ethiopia—a molecular phylogenetic approach

Charlotte Sletten Bjorå; MARTE ELDEN; INGER NORDAL; ANNE K. BRYSTING; TESFAYE AWAS; SEBSEBE DEMISSEW; MIKA BENDIKSBY

doi:10.11646/phytotaxa.297.2.2

Issue: Vol. 297 No. 2: 27 February 2017

Type: Article

Published: 2017-02-27

DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.297.2.2

Page range: 139–156

Abstract views: 36

PDF downloaded: 85

**Speciation in the genera Anthericum and Chlorophytum (Asparagaceae) in Ethiopia—a molecular phylogenetic approach**

Charlotte Sletten Bjorå⁺⁻
MARTE ELDEN⁺⁻
INGER NORDAL⁺⁻
ANNE K. BRYSTING⁺⁻
TESFAYE AWAS⁺⁻
SEBSEBE DEMISSEW⁺⁻
MIKA BENDIKSBY⁺⁻

Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172 Blindern, NO–0318 Oslo, Norway

Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO–0316 Oslo, Norway

Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1066 Blindern, NO–0316 Oslo, Norway

Institute of Biodiversity Conservation, PO Box 30726, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

National Herbarium, College of Natural Sciences,University of Addis Ababa, P.O. Box 3434, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172 Blindern, NO–0318 Oslo, Norway NTNU University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway

Anthericaceae endemism Horn of Africa sister group relations taxonomy monocots

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Abstract

Sister group relations of Ethiopian species of Anthericum and Chlorophytum and variation patterns in the C. gallabatense and C. comosum complexes were studied using molecular phylogenetic analyses, morphometrics, and scanning electron microscopy of seed surfaces. Results indicate that molecular data largely support previous morphological conclusions, and that speciation has occurred in Ethiopia at least three times in Anthericum and repeatedly within different subclades of Chlorophytum. Areas particularly rich in endemic species are the lowland area around Bale Mountains in SE Ethiopia and in the Beninshangul Gumuz regional state in W Ethiopia near the border to Sudan. A new species, Chlorophytum mamillatum Elden & Nordal, is described, and the names C. tordense and C. tetraphyllum are re-instated.