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Abstract Detail



Systematics Section/ASPT

Hammer, Timothy [1], Thiele, Kevin [2], Davis, Robert [2], Motley, Timothy [1].

Preliminary phylogeny of the Australian genus Ptilotus (Amaranthaceae).

Ptilotus R.Br. is a genus in the Amaranth family with over 100 species, only one of which has a distribution that extends outside of Australia (to Timor and adjacent islands). The center of diversity for this genus is in the arid western Eremean region of Australia. Ptilotus is sister to the genus Aerva, which has an African and South Asian distribution. Due to the break-up of East Gondwana and the northward movement of the Australian continent from the Cenozoic, the climate of Australia is much drier today than prior to the Miocene. Arid Australia presents an additional challenge to plant life by having some of the oldest and most nutrient deficient soils on earth. Ptilotus displays many adaptations to aridity and low nutrient conditions, such being able to uptake relatively large amounts of phosphorus from nutrient deficient soils and ample, diverse xeromorphic characters. This research presents the first molecular phylogenetic framework for the genus. DNA was extracted from herbarium and silia-dried material collected from Western Australian Ptilotus species and the outgroup taxon, Aerva javanica. This phylogeny provides a framework that will be used in further studies to analyze character evolution and biogeographic patterns of the genus.

Broader Impacts:


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1 - Old Dominion University, Department of Biological Sciences, 110 Mill Godwin Bldg., West 45th Street, Norfolk, VA, 23529, USA
2 - Western Australian Herbarium, 17 Dick Perry Ave, Kensington, WA, 6152, Australia

Keywords:
Amaranthaceae
Australia
ITS
phylogeny
Ptilotus
Systematics.

Presentation Type: Poster:Posters for Sections
Session: P
Location: Grand Salon A - D/Riverside Hilton
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2013
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PSY041
Abstract ID:716
Candidate for Awards:None


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