Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 9, 2025

Using Phylogenetic Analysis to Investigate Eukaryotic Gene Origin
Published on: August 14, 2018
Multi-loci phylogeny reveals unexpected novelty of the Thelephora palmata complex (Thelephoraceae, Thelephorales)
Tai-Jie Yu1,2, Rou Xue1,2,3, Lin-Jie Su1,2
1School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Pharmacology for Natural Products, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
Abstract:
Thelephora palmata is a well-known species morphologically characterized by coralloid and leathery basidiomata with numerous fuscous purple to blackish-brown branches. It was once considered to exhibit a wide ecological range and distribution area. However, comprehensive phylogenetic analysis based on four loci (ITS, nrLSU, rpb2, and nrSSU) revealed that T. palmata sensu lato represents a species complex consisting of at least 12 cryptic taxa, with a biogeographic distribution pattern bounded by geographic regions: Asia, Eurasia, Europe, and North America. In this study, we proposed eight new taxa based on available specimens. Of these, seven new species and one forma from China were described here based on phylogenetic analyses, morphological examinations, and environmental niche comparisons, viz., T. apiculata, T. cornu-damae, T. densa, T. esculenta, T. fuscidula, T. sinopalmata, T. truncicola, and T. truncicola f. pallescens.
Related Concept Videos
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons
Phylogenetic Trees
Phylogeny
The Tree of Life - Bacteria, Archaea, Eukaryotes
Modern Molecular Taxonomy
Gene Evolution - Fast or Slow?
In contrast, regions which code...

