[Botany • 2025] Phylogenetic Relationships and Character Evolution in Yucca (Asparagaceae: Agavoideae)

 

1) Yucca lacandonica, 2) Y. queretaroensis, 3) Y. reverchonii, 

7) Y. baccata, 8) Y. valida, 

12) Y. aloifolia, 13) Y. madrensis, 14) Y. arizonica, 

4) Y. brevifolia, 5) Y. linearifolia, 6) Y. gloriosa, 9) Y. faxoniana, 10) Y. rostrata,   

17–18) Y. jaliscensis, 19–20) Y. rigida, 21–22) Y. grandiflora, 

25–26) Y. gigantea, 27–28) Y. torreyi, 

23) Y. elata, 29–30) Y. filifera, 31–32) Y. carnerosana, 

37–38) Y. coahuilensis, 39–40) Y. schottii 

in Ayala-Hernández, Fehlberg, García-Mendoza,  Solano, García-Sandoval et Samain, 2025. 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.687.2.2

Abstract

The current classification of Yucca (Asparagaceae, Agavoideae) is based on morphological characters, mainly on fruit type, caulescence, leaf margin and inflorescence type. To investigate the evolution of these characters, and their potential taxonomic significance as synapomorphies for some groups within Yucca, a phylogenetic analysis was performed with 44 Yucca and eight outgroup species. Divergence times were estimated to produce a suitable phylogenetic framework for the investigation of morphological character evolution. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses showed closer phylogenetic relationship between Hesperoyucca and Hesperaloe than either of these two genera with Yucca. The series previously proposed within the genus were not recovered as monophyletic, but based on fruit type we recovered two main clades which we name here clade Aloifolia and clade Rupicola. The ages of the Yucca stem and crown groups were estimated at 14.34 (95% HPD: 14.64–14.2) and 7.45 (95% HPD: 11.31–3.48) million years, respectively. More recent diversification events occurred in both the species with fleshy and dry fruits. Yucca is monophyletic with two main clades, corresponding to the species with dry fruit (clade Rupicola) and fleshy fruit (clade Aloifolia). Partial geographical concordances were observed in both clades. The dispersal type could be a key character in the diversification of the genus. Leaf margin, caulescence, and inflorescence type are not consistent with phylogenetic relationships.

ABK clade, ancestral-characters, classification, fruit-type, Hesperoyucca, morphological evolution, phylogeny, yuccas, Monocots

1) Yucca lacandonica, 2) Y. queretaroensis, 3) Y. reverchonii, 4) Y. brevifolia, 5) Y. linearifolia, 6) Y. gloriosa, 
7) Y. baccata, 8) Y. valida, 9) Y. faxoniana, 10) Y. rostrata, 11) Y. sp. Chihuahua,
12) Y. aloifolia, 13) Y. madrensis, 14) Y. arizonica, 15) Y. thompsoniana, 16) Y. capensis,

(Photographs by E. Solano & R. Ríos-Gómez; 

Figure 1 was prepared by B. Ayala-García).

 17–18) Y. jaliscensis, 19–20) Y. rigida, 21–22) Y. grandiflora,
23–24) Y. elata, 25–26) Y. gigantea, 27–28) Y. torreyi,
29–30) Y. filifera, 31–32) Y. carnerosana, 33–34) Hesperoyucca whipplei,
35–36) Y. schidigera, 37–38) Y. coahuilensis, 39–40) Y. schottii

(Photographs by E. Solano & R. Ríos-Gómez; 

Figure 1 was prepared by B. Ayala-García).

María M. AYALA-HERNÁNDEZ, Shannon D. FEHLBERG, Abisai J. GARCÍA-MENDOZA, Eloy SOLANO, Ricardo GARCÍA-SANDOVAL and Marie-Stéphanie SAMAIN. 2025. Phylogenetic Relationships and Character Evolution in Yucca (Agavoideae, Asparagaceae). Phytotaxa. 687(2); 176-200. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.687.2.2 [2025-02-18]

[Botany • 2024] Echinoagave nievesiorum (Asparagales: Agavaceae) • A New Species from the Sierra Madre Occidental, Jalisco, Mexico

 

Echinoagave nievesiorum  A. Vázquez, A.T. Nuño, Cházaro, Padilla-Lepe & García-Mor., 

in Vázquez-García, Nuño-Rubio, García-Morales, Lomelí-Hernández, Cházaro-Basañez, Padilla-Lepe, Cristóbal-Gabriel,  Hernández-Vera et Muñiz-Castro, 2024. 

DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.647.2.2 

  Researchgate.net/publication/380428022

 

Abstract

Echinoagave nievesiorum (Agavaceae, Asparagales), a new species endemic to the Sierra Wixárika (Huichola), part of the Sierra Madre Occidental, Jalisco, Mexico, is described. This species shares morphological characteristics with Echinoagave rzedowskiana but it differs from the latter by having narrower and striate leaves; leaf sheaths shorter, triangular and wider at the base; narrower ovary width; shorter tube length; tepal lobes at anthesis converging and tightening the filaments; larger filament length to flower length ratio; fruiting spikes thicker and denser with the peduncle covered by the capsules and the bracts usually deciduous; capsules broadly ellipsoid with dorsally blackish valves. A distribution map with biogeographic provinces is provided to place the species in an ecological and evolutionary context.

Allopatric speciation, endemic, Group Striatae, Sierra Huichola, subgen. Littaea, Monocots

  Echinoagave nievesiorum.
A. fruiting rosette on top of Sierra Wixárika, Cerro El Gallo, Bolaños, Jalisco. B. Stages of flower and inflorescence development, from a specimen cultivated at Huentitán El Alto, Jalisco, México.
C. Miguel Cházaro on Cerro El Gallo, Bolaños, Sierra Wixárika. D. At moist vertical cliffs with Dasylirion acrotrichum and Brahea sarukhanii at El Nalgazo, Bolaños,

Photographs: A by M. Chazaro, B by A.T. Nuño-R. (April 2021); C & D by J.A. Vázquez-García (April 2004 and October 2022, respectively).

Echinoagave nievesiorum A. Vázquez, A.T. Nuño, Cházaro, Padilla-Lepe & García-Mor. sp. nov.

Diagnosis:—Echinoagave nievesiorum shares with E. rzedowskiana a similar rosette size and cespitose habit, rigid leaves, length of flowers, ovaries, tepal lobes, and size of capsules; however, it differs from the latter by having mature leaves bluish-white to whitish (vs. pale-green to green), narrower at the widest part (12.0–12.5 mm vs. 13.0–14.0 mm), and narrower at the middle of the leaves (6.0–6.5 mm vs. 7.0–10.0 mm); leaf sheaths shorter (9.0–11.0 mm vs. 28.0–34.0 mm), triangular and wider at the base (vs. rectangular and wider above the base); inflorescences usually straight and erect, sometimes vertically-curved or geniculate, rarely dropping (vs. usually horizontally-curved, often dropping and sinuous) narrower ovary width (4.5–5.1 mm vs. 5.7–7.5 mm); shorter tube length (5.5–6.4 mm vs. 7.0–10.0 mm); tepal lobes at anthesis converging and tightening the filaments (vs. diverging and not tightening the filaments); larger filament length to flower length ratio (2.0–2.3 vs. 1.8–1.9); fruiting spike narrowly pyramydal thicker (3.5–4.5 cm vs. 2.4–2.5 cm) and denser with the peduncle covered by the capsules and the bracts usually deciduous (vs. cylindroid, slim and lax, with the peduncle conspicuous and the bracts usually persistent); mature capsules broadly ellipsoid with dorsally blackish and opaque valves (vs. broadly ovoid, slightly depressed, with dorsally light brown and shiny valves) (Table 1).

Etymology:—The specific epithet honors the family members of Prof. Gregorio Nieves Hernández, who have contributed notably for over a decade to the knowledge of vascular flora and ethnobotany of the Sierra Wixarika.

 

J. Antonio Vázquez-García, Ana T. Nuño-Rubio, Leccinum Jesús García-Morales, Juan Luis Lomelí-Hernández, Miguel. J. Cházaro-Basañez, Jesús Padilla-Lepe, Saúl Cristóbal-Gabriel, Gerardo Hernández-Vera and Miguel A. Muñiz-Castro. 2024. Echinoagave nievesiorum (Agavaceae, Asparagales): A New Species from the Sierra Madre Occidental, Jalisco, Mexico.  Phytotaxa. 647(2); 144-158. DOI: doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.647.2.2 

  Researchgate.net/publication/380428022_Echinoagave_nievesiorum_A_new_species_from_the_Sierra_Madre_Occidental_Jalisco_Mexico