The Bryophyte Phylogeny Group: A revised familial classification system based on plastid phylogenomic data

• Published in: Journal of systematics and evolution : JSE Vol. 62; no. 4; pp. 577 - 588
• Main Authors: Li, Yun‐Feng, Luo, Lian, Liu, Yang, He, Qiang, Yu, Ning‐Ning, Gaowa, Naren, Yi, Zhao‐Qin, Wang, Jun‐Jie, Han, Wei, Peng, Tao, Ho, Boon‐Chuan, He, Xiaolan, Zhang, Li, Chen, Zhi‐Duan, Jia, Yu, Wang, Qing‐Hua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Beijing Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.07.2024
• Subjects: Bryophyta; Bryophytes; Classification; hornworts; Hypnanae; liverworts; Mosses; Phylogeny; plastome; taxonomy
• ISSN: 1674-4918; 1759-6831
• DOI: 10.1111/jse.13063

Bryophytes, a monophyletic group comprising three major lineages, diversified soon after the terrestrialization of land plants. However, their internal phylogenetic relationships remain controversial. In this study, we reconstructed the ordinal and familial phylogeny of bryophytes using the largest plastid data set to date, including 549 taxa that represent almost all known orders and two‐thirds of families. The strongly supported phylogenetic inference enabled us to propose in mosses seven newly segregated families, that is, Baldwiniellaceae, Calyptrochaetaceae, Ctenidiaceae, Herpetineuraceae, Isodrepaniaceae, Pseudotaxiphyllaceae, and Rozeaceae, and one reduced family, that is, Climaciaceae. We also transferred the liverwort family Calyculariaceae from Fossombroniales to Pelliales. Recent advancements in molecular phylogeny have revolutionized bryophyte classification, tending to be more fragmental. Hence, we further propose a revised familial classification system for bryophytes that includes 45 orders and 142 families in mosses, 23 orders and 85 families in liverworts, and five orders and five families in hornworts. Bryophytes are morphologically distinct and diverse in land plants, and their internal phylogenetic relationships remain controversial. We reconstructed the ordinal and familial phylogeny of bryophytes using the largest plastome data set to date, including 549 taxa that represent almost all known orders and two‐third families. Based on the plastid genomic phylogeny presented here and the recently published systems, we further propose a revised familial classification system for bryophytes that includes seven newly segregated families and one reduced family in mosses.