A phylogeny of Cephaloziaceae (Jungermanniopsida) based on nuclear and chloroplast DNA markers

Cephaloziaceae represent a subcosmopolitan lineage of largely terrestrial leafy liverworts with three-keeled perianths, a reduced seta, capsules with bistratose walls, filamentous sporelings, large, thin-walled cells, and vegetative distribution by gemmae. Here we present the most comprehensively sampled phylogeny available to date based on the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region and the chloroplast markers trn L- trn F and rbc L of 184 accessions representing 41 of the 89 currently accepted species and four of the five currently accepted subfamilies. Alobielloideae are placed sister to the remainder of Cephaloziaceae. Odontoschismatoideae form a sister relationship with a clade consisting of Schiffnerioideae and Cephalozioideae. Cephalozioideae are subdivided in three genera, Fuscocephaloziopsis , Cephalozia , and Nowellia , the last two in a robust sister relationship. Most morphological species circumscriptions are supported by the molecular topologies but the Cephalozia bicuspidata complex and the Cephalozia hamatiloba complex require further study. A Neotropical clade of Odontoschisma originates from temperate ancestors. Odontoschisma yunnanense is described as new to science.