title: Museomics resolve the systematics of an endangered grass lineage endemic to north-western Madagascar.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent developments in DNA sequencing, so-called next-generation sequencing (NGS) methods, can help the study of rare lineages that are known from museum specimens. Here, the taxonomy and evolution of the Malagasy grass lineage Chasechloa was investigated with the aid of NGS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Full chloroplast genome data and some nuclear sequences were produced by NGS from old herbarium specimens, while some selected markers were generated from recently collected Malagasy grasses. In addition, a scanning electron microscopy analysis of the upper floret and cross-sections of the rachilla appendages followed by staining with Sudan IV were performed on Chasechloa to examine the morphology of the upper floret and the presence of oils in the appendages.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chasechloa was recovered within tribe Paniceae, sub-tribe Boivinellinae, contrary to its previous placement as a member of the New World genus Echinolaena (tribe Paspaleae). Chasechloa originated in Madagascar between the Upper Miocene and the Pliocene. It comprises two species, one of them collected only once in 1851. The genus is restricted to north-western seasonally dry deciduous forests. The appendages at the base of the upper floret of Chasechloa have been confirmed as elaiosomes, an evolutionary adaptation for myrmecochory.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chasechloa is reinstated at the generic level and a taxonomic treatment is presented, including conservation assessments of its species. Our study also highlights the power of NGS technology to analyse relictual or probably extinct groups.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-graduação em Botânica, Av. Transnordestina s.n., Feira de Santana, Bahia 44036-900, Brazil christian_da_silva@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Université de Toulouse, ENFA, UMR5174 EDB (Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique), 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Besnard
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Université de Toulouse, ENFA, UMR5174 EDB (Laboratoire Évolution & Diversité Biologique), 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Piot
authors.affiliation: Herbier, Département Flore, Parc Botanique et Zoologique de Tsimbazaza, BP 4096, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar.
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Razanatsoa
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Departamento de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-graduação em Botânica, Av. Transnordestina s.n., Feira de Santana, Bahia 44036-900, Brazil.
authors.forename: Reyjane P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 3AB, UK.
authors.forename: Maria S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Vorontsova
mesh_terms: D018744:DNA, Plant / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D056727:Endangered Species; D035264:Flowers / Q000648:ultrastructure; D059014:High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; D008270:Madagascar; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010802:Phylogeny; D006109:Poaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D018744:DNA, Plant
keywords: Chasechloa; Echinolaena; Forest Shade Clade; Poaceae; convergent evolution; extinct species; genome skimming; herbarium; microendemic; myrmecochory; next-generation sequencing; plastome