Evaluating phylogenetic positions of four liverworts from New Zealand, Neogrollea notabilis, Jackiella curvata, Goebelobryum unguiculatum and Herzogianthus vaginatus, using three chloroplast genes

Neogrollea notabilis, Jackiella curvata, Goebelobryum unguiculatum and Herzogianthus vaginatus are four leafy liverworts found in New Zealand whose phylogenetic positions are uncertain. To determine their positions, we sequenced three chloroplast genes, atpB, rbcL and rps4, from these taxa, compiled a 3-gene data set for 78 taxa representing all major lineages of liverworts and analyzed the data using both maximum likelihood and parsimony methods. Our results confirmed placement of Neogrollea within the Lepidoziaceae, but did not support the creation of the suborder Neogrollineae Engel & Braggins. The monogeneric family status of Jackiella was supported by our study, but the family is not related to the Adelanthaceae, Cephaloziaceae or Cephaloziellaceae. Instead, our results suggest that it should be included in a large marsupium-bearing clade of liverworts. Goebelobryum unguiculatum is confirmed to be a member of the Acrobolbaceae. Finally, our study showed that Herzogianthus was unrelated to Chaetophyllopsis, and should be taken out of Chaetophyllopsidaceae and placed in its own new family. The genus is perhaps related to Ptilidium and Neotrichocolea, which are positioned between the simple thalloid and leafy liverworts.