A multi-locus molecular phylogeny of the Lepidoziaceae: laying the foundations for a stable classification.

The Lepidoziaceae, with over 700 species in 30 genera, is one of the largest leafy liverwort families. Despite receiving considerable attention, the composition of subfamilies and genera remains unsatisfactorily resolved. In this study, 10 loci (one nuclear 26S, two mitochondrial nad1 and rps3, and seven chloroplast atpB, psbA, psbT-psbH, rbcL, rps4, trnG and trnL-trnF) are used to estimate the phylogeny of 93 species of Lepidoziaceae. These molecular data provide strong evidence against the monophyly of three subfamilies; Lepidozioideae, Lembidioideae and Zoopsidoideae, and seven of the 20 sampled genera; Lepidozia, Telaranea, Kurzia, Zoopsis, Lembidium, Paracromastigum and Chloranthelia. Several robust clades are recognised that might provide the basis for a revised subfamily circumscription including a narrower circumscription of the Lepidozioideae and a more inclusive Lembidioideae. Neogrollea notabilis is returned to the Lepidoziaceae and Megalembidium insulanum is placed in the Lembidioideae.