A phylogeny of Disakisperma and resurrection of Cypholepis (Poaceae, Chloridoideae, Cynodonteae, Eleusininae)

The classification of Disakisperma is reevaluated with the study of molecular DNA sequences and morphological characters. We present a phylogeny of four species of Disakisperma utilizing eight plastid (rps 3, rps 16 - trnK, rps 16 intron, rpoC 2, rpl 32 - trnL spacer, ndhF, ndhA intron, ccsA) and the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions investigating 31 species of subtribe Eleusininae, including an increase in the number of DNA markers and sequence data for an additional individual of Disakisperma dubium.

We present a revised classification, resurrect Cypholepis with a new generic description for three species, make two new combinations (C. eleusine and C. obtusiflora), and recognize Disakisperma as monotypic with an amended generic description.