Evolutionary biological studies of the diversity of the Asplenium unilaterale group.

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In this study it was intended to discriminate natural taxonomic groups within the Asplenium unilaterale group and elucidate interrelationships among them, using various kinds of methods. Ecological preference of each species was observed in field works. Morphlogical variations were examined by quantitative analysis of their various characters using materials collected in the field and herbarium specimens. Three species A. hondoense sp. nov., A. apogamum sp. nov., and A. cataractarum Ros. were recognized in A. unilaterale sesu auctt. in Japan and Taiwan. Cytotaxonomical studies showed that sexual apogamous species exist within the A. unilaterale group and also this group has peculiar basic number x=39 (most Aspleniacean species have x=36). Enzyme electrophoretic analysis showed that in apogamous specie A. hondoense, there exists genetic polymorphism that is due in part to hybridization with sexual speies A. cataractarum. On the other hand, the distribution pattern of some non-protein amino acids and some morphological characters especially on their rhizomes were examined in detail. Taking all these characters available into account, the phylogenetic relationship among the species of this group is discussed by the transformed cladistic method.