Bryophyte molecular systematics - current state of affairs with examples from the European bryoflora

Abstract

A brief overview of the current state of bryophyte systematics by usingmolecular data for inferring phylogenetic relationships of bryophytesand the development of the publication record is given. The impact ofmolecular data on bryophyte taxonomy and systematics is discussed withan emphasis on the West- and Central-European bryoflora. As an exampleof how molecular analyses can contribute to resolve difficult speciescomplexes, analyses of DNA sequences (psbA-trnH spacer, ITS2) and AFLPfingerprinting of six taxa of the Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. complex arepresented.