Abstract

Abstract - The first comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of Cryphaeaceae (Bryophyta), a pleurocarpic moss family, is conducted on the base of morphological characters. The data set comprised 73 characters, 10 continuous and 63 discrete. Taxon sampling involved 9 genera and 46 species of Cryphaeaceae, 32 species belonging to Cryphaea. Outgroup sampling included species from 27 genera and 14 families of pleurocarpous mosses. The phylogenetic analyses were conducted using parsimony as optimality criterion following an implied weighting approach. Our results supported the non-monophyly of Cryphaeaceae and excluded Dendroalsia abietina from the family. A clade composed by the remaining genera (clade A) was diagnosed by a short seta (0.26-0.30 mm), a costa throughout the innermost perichaetial bract, a conic operculum and appressed leaves in dry condition. The analyses recovered Cryphaea and Dendrocryphaea as non-monophyletic. Cryphaea included Schoenobryum concavifolium and Cyptodontopsis leveillei. Dendrocryphaea lamyana was separated from the other species of the genus and was nested within Cryphaea; thus, contradicting previous hypotheses. Character mapping revealed that, as a consequence of the unexpected placement of crucial species, diagnosis should be considerable modified.