Recognition of cryptic species in the Asplenium nidus complex using molecular data - a progress report

Abstract

2003. Recognition of cryptic species in the Asplenium nidus complex using molecular data — a progress report. Telopea 10(1): 487–496. Asplenium nidus is an epiphytic fern species with large simple leaves found throughout the Old World tropics. A large amount of variation of rbcL sequences found in plants identified as A. nidus sensu Holttum (1974), suggested that multiple cryptic species might be within this species. We tested this hypothesis using rbcL sequences. In previous studies, we found five rbcL sequence types from populations of A. nidus in West Java, Indonesia. Based on ecological comparison and allozyme analysis, it is suggested these five rbcL types may be potential cryptic species. Crossing experiments among these rbcL types revealed that they are also reproductively isolated. Here we extend the investigation area from West Java to the West Malesian region in order to evaluate furthur the species diversity in the A. nidus complex. In this paper, we review our previous studies on recognition of cryptic species in the A. nidus complex and report our recent progress.