Phylogenetic analyses of Microstegium (Andropogoneae, Poaceae) and some other Andropogoneae species were conducted inferred from the ITS/5.8S sequences. As a result of this study, Microstegium is polyphyletic. There are two rather distant monophyletic clades, one with Microstegium nudum (type of Leptatherum), M. japonicum and M. somae, the other one with M. ciliatum, M. fauriei, M. geniculatum and M. vimineum (type of Microstegium). Therefore we feel justified to reinstate the genus Leptatherum and three new combinations, Leptatherum boreale, L. nudum and L. somae, are proposed.

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Blumea: Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants

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Naturalis journals & series

Chen, C.-H., Veldkamp, J. F., Kuoh, C.-S., Tsai, C.-C., & Chiang, Y.-C. (2009). Segregation of Leptatherum
from Microstegium
(Andropogoneae, Poaceae) confirmed by Internal Transcribed Spacer DNA sequences. Blumea: Biodiversity, Evolution and Biogeography of Plants, 54(1/3), 175–180.