XVI International Botanical Congess

Species separation in Fossombronia Raddi has been based largely on spore characters. F. brasiliensis, F. salina and F. crispa have been considered conspecific with F. foveolata based on spore and elater characters. Sequences of the rbcL gene suggest that these taxa are genetically separate. Reinvestigation of the spore and elater characters at the SEM level was undertaken to determine if they mirrored the DNA results. Sixteen populations showing the typical 'foveolata' spore ornamentation were measured and subjected to both univariate and multivariate analyses. A UPGMA cluster analysis showed a distinct separation of the lectotype, isotype and North American F. foveolata populations from F. brasiliensis and F. crispa which also separated out from one another. This is in agreement with the rbcL findings.