Abstract
The morphologically diverse members of the Laminariales are separated into three families, the Alariaceae, Laminariaceae and Lessoniaceae, on the basis of developmental features exhibited at the stipeblade transition zone. We have investigated the relationships of lessoniacean taxa with those of alariacean and laminariacean affinity. This was done by completing phylogenetic analyses of 3′ small-subunit (SSU) rRNA gene (113 bp), first internal transcribed spacer (ITS 1), 5.8S rRNA gene and second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2)(12 bp) sequence data from a variety of taxa. In summary, the Alariaceae and Lessoniaceae are polyphyletic. We present a restricted view of the Alariaceae, including only Alaria and Pterygophora of the genera usually placed in this family, and transfer the monotypic genus Lessoniopsis to this group. Current theories of kelp evolution and biogeography must be reconsidered in view of our data.
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Saunders, G.W., Druehl, L.D. Revision of the kelp family Alariaceae and the taxonomic affinities of Lessoniopsis Reinke (Laminariales, Phaeophyta). Hydrobiologia 260, 689–697 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00049089
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00049089