GUALA, GERALD*, DAVID BOGLER, JAMES SADLE, and JAVIER FRANCISCO ORTEGA. Fairchild Tropical Garden Research Center, 11935 Old Cutler Rd., Coral Gables (Miami), FL 33156; Department of Biology, Florida International University, University Park, Miami, FL. - Polyphyly in the Brazilian bamboo genus Apoclada (Poaceae: Bambusoideae).
The Brazilian bamboo genus Apoclada has been extensively
studied using both morphological and molecular techniques and has been
found to be polyphyletic. The ndhF gene of the chlorplast DNA from all
three species of Apoclada was sequenced and compared with
existing sequences for several of its relatives. The data show strong
evidence for polyphyly in Apoclada as it has been
traditionally described. The two cerrado species form a clade but
Apoclada simplex is more closely allied with the genus
Guadua. Several morphological characters were also considered
and give a congruent answer. Habitat preferences were modelled as well
and show discrete spatial environmental characteristics for each
species.
Key words: Apoclada, Bambusoideae, Gramineae, Poaceae