Phytotaxa 324 (1): 051–062 ISSN 1179-3155 (print edition) http://www.mapress.com/j/pt/ PHYTOTAXA Copyright © 2017 Magnolia Press Article ISSN 1179-3163 (online edition) https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.324.1.3 The phylogenetic position of Polysiphonia scopulorum (Rhodomelaceae, Rhodophyta) based on molecular analyses and morphological observations of specimens from the type locality in Western Australia JOHN M. HUISMAN1, BYEONGSEOK KIM2 & MYUNG SOOK KIM2* 1Western Australian Herbarium, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Locked Bag 104, Bentley Delivery Centre, Western Australia 6983, Australia; and School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia 2Department of Biology, Jeju National University, Jeju 63243, Korea *Author for correspondence. Email:
[email protected] Abstract Considerable uncertainty surrounds the phylogenetic position of Polysiphonia scopulorum, a species with an apparently cos- mopolitan distribution. Here we report, for the first time, molecular phylogenetic analyses using plastid rbcL gene sequences and morphological observations of P. scopulorum collected from the type locality, Rottnest Island in Western Australia. Mor- phological characteristics of the Rottnest Island specimens allowed unequivocal identification, however, the sequence analy- ses uncovered discrepancies in previous molecular studies that included specimens identified as P. scopulorum from other locations. The phylogenetic evidence clearly revealed that P. scopulorum from Rottnest Island formed a sister clade with P. caespitosa from Spain (JX828149 as P. scopulorum) with moderate support, but that it differed from specimens identified as P. scopulorum from the U.S.A. (AY396039, EU492915). In light of this, we suggest that P. scopulorum be considered an endemic species with a distribution restricted to Australia.