Biogeography of the Pistia clade (Araceae): based on chloroplast and mitochondrial DNA sequences and Bayesian divergence time inference

Pistia stratiotes (water lettuce) and Lemna (duckweeds) are the only free-floating aquatic Araceae. The geographic origin and phylogenetic placement of these unrelated aroids present long-standing problems because of their highly modified reproductive structures and wide geographical distributions. We sampled chloroplast (trnL-trnF and rpl20-rps12 spacers, trnL intron) and mitochondrial sequences (nad1 b/c intron) for all genera implicated as close relatives of Pistia by morphological, restriction site, and sequencing data, and present a hypothesis about its geographic origin based on the consensus of trees obtained from the combined data, using Bayesian, maximum likelihood, parsimony, and distance analyses. Of the 14 genera closest to Pistia, only Alocasia, Arisaema, and Typhonium are species-rich, and the latter two were studied previously, facilitating the choice of representatives that span the roots of these genera. Results indicate that Pistia and the Seychelles endemic Protarum sechellarum are the basalmost branches in a grade comprising the tribes Colocasieae (Ariopsis, Steudnera, Remusatia, Alocasia, Colocasia), Arisaemateae (Arisaema, Pinellia), and Areae (Arum, Biarum, Dracunculus, Eminium, Helicodiceros, Theriophonum, Typhonium). Unexpectedly, all Areae genera are embedded in Typhonium, which throws new light on the geographic history of Areae. A Bayesian analysis of divergence times that explores the effects of multiple fossil and geological calibration points indicates that the Pistia lineage is 90 to 76 million years (my) old. The oldest fossils of the Pistia clade, though not Pistia itself, are 45-my-old leaves from Germany; the closest outgroup, Peltandreae (comprising a few species in Florida, the Mediterranean, and Madagascar), is known from 60-my-old leaves from Europe, Kazakhstan, North Dakota, and Tennessee. Based on the geographic ranges of close relatives, Pistia likely originated in the Tethys region, with Protarum then surviving on the Seychelles, which became isolated from Madagascar and India in the Late Cretaceous (85 my ago). Pistia and Protarum provide striking examples of ancient lineages that appear to have survived in unique or isolated habitats.     

Ubiquitous expression of a gene encoding for uncoupling protein isolated from the thermogenic inflorescence of the dead horse arum Helicodiceros muscivorus

Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) are a family of mitochondrial inner membrane proteins that have been implicated in heat production in mammalian cells. The inflorescences of several members of the arum lily family (Araceae) have also been shown to produce heat during flowering, but the involvement of UCP-mediated heat production in plants is not known. In this work a gene has been isolated termed HmUCPa that encodes for a putative uncoupling protein from Helicodiceros muscivorus, a highly thermogenic arum lily. RT-PCR analysis revealed that the expression of HmUCPa was ubiquitously found, both in thermogenic male florets and appendix, and the non-thermogenic female florets, spathe and club-shaped organs of the spadix. These results suggest that HmUCPa is not primarily involved in organ-specific heat production in H. muscivorus.     

Function of the heater: the dead horse arum revisited

The dead horse arum, Helicodiceros muscivorus, is a conspicuous, foul smelling and thermogenic plant of the Araceae family. This Mediterranean arum lily copies several aspects of a carcass in order to attract carrion blowflies, which are subsequently exploited as unrewarded pollinators. We have previously shown that this plant exhibits a highly accurate olfactory carrion mimicry, which serves to attract the blowflies. In this study, we have investigated the role of thermogeny in the arum. We show that the thermogeny has a direct effect on the pollinators, altering their behaviour. By manipulating heat and odour release of the plant, we can show that the heat, produced along the appendix, is important to lure the flies to this structure, which is vital as the flies from the appendix are more prone to enter the trap chamber that houses the female and male florets. This study provides rare evidence for a direct functional role of thermogeny.     

兰州盆地早第三纪植物及古气候意义

化石采自甘肃省兰州盆地咸水河组底部,经研究认为有29种,归属20属12科。它们是：樟科 Lauraceae (Daphnogene),木通科Lardizabalaceae(Akebia),小檗科Berberidaceae(Berberis),榆科Ulmaceae (Planera,Ulmus,Zelkova),桦木科Betulaceae(Alnus,Carpinus),杨梅科Myricaceae(Myrica),杨柳科Sali- caceae(Populus,Salix),紫金牛科Myrsinacese(Ardisia),蔷薇科Rosaceae (Prunus,Sorbus,Sorbaria,Spir- aea),豆科Leguminosae(Gleditsia,Sophora),漆树科 Anacardiaceae(Rhus),忍冬科Caprifoliaceae(Viburnum) 等。经植物区系组成与叶相分析显示,该植物区系的大多数成员是落叶阔叶乔、灌木,少数为常绿灌木。其中特殊的分子是 Rhus turcomanica Korov．ex Vassilvesk,该成分是早第三纪中、晚期的标志化石植物。另一化石植物 Sorbaria callicomifolia Kornilova曾出现在中亚的早渐新世,最晚至早中新世。同一层位采集的孢粉样分析结果显示：该组合仅约20种,种类相对贫乏,并以被子植物的花粉占优势。其中出现裸子植物的麻黄粉,被子植物的白刺粉及蒿粉等,这几个类型均指示沉积时期经历干旱气候。综合植物大化石及孢粉分析研究,均出现一些指示气候为亚热带干旱或周期性干旱气候的特点,并据Rhus turcomanica出现的最晚记录,推测咸水河组底部的地质时代大约是早渐新世晚期。     

Early Tertiary fossil plants and paleoclimate of Lanzhou Basin

Fossil plants from the lower part of Xianshuihe Formation in the Lanzhou Basin, Gansu Province were studied. The flora contains 29 species, representing 20 genera and 12 families, which include Lauraceae ( Daphnogene ), Lardizabalaceae ( Akebia ), Berberidaceae ( Berberis ), Ulmaceae ( Planera, Ulmus, Zelkova ), Betulaceae ( Alnus, Carpinus ), Myricaceae( Myrica ), Salicaceae ( Populus, Salix), Myrsinaceae(Ardisia), Rosaceae ( Prunus, Sorbus, Sorbaria, Spiraea ), Leguminosae ( Gleditsia, Sophora), Anacardiaceae (Rhus), Caprifoliaceae(Viburnum). An analysis of the floristic elements and their foliar physiognomy shows that most members of the flora are deciduous broad-leaved trees or shrubs with a few evergreen shrubs. The most noteworthy species is Rhus turcomanica which was present in the Middle Eocene to Late Eocene of Central Asia (Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan). Generally, Rhus turcomanica occurred at the same beds as Palibinia, an extinct fossil plant whose presence indicates a subtropical dry climate. Another species, Sorbaria callicomifolia Kornilova was present from the Early Oligocene to Early Miocene of Central Asia (Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan). According to an analysis of spores and pollen, this flora contains over 20 species. It is predominated by the angiosperm pollen. There appeared Ephedripites and Nitrariadites which were important elements in the dry area. Ephedripites was found from the Upper Cretaceous to Early Tertiary. Nitrariadites occurred in the Late Miocene, whereas Rhus turcomanica and Sorbaria callicomifolia were both reported in the subtropical dry area from the Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene. The latest record of Rhus turcomanica is from the Middle Eocene to Early Oligocene of Central Asia. The presence of this element in the lower part of Xianshuihe Formation may indicate that itsage is the latest stage of the Early Oligocene.     

河南潭头、卢氏和灵宝盆地上白垩统一下第三系的划分

在这篇短文中,根据脊椎动物化石的发现,进一步叙述和讨论了豫西潭头、灵宝和卢氏三个盆地的中、新生代地层的划分问题。在这三个盆地的中、新生代堆积物中,属于晚白垩世的有潭头盆地秋扒组和灵宝盆地的南朝组,后一个盆地还可能存在着时代更早的白垩纪地层。在潭头盆地的高峪沟组和大章组中分别找到中古新世的阶齿兽、中兽科和晚古新世的牧兽科、假古猬科化石;在潭头组中发现原恐角兽类和古脊齿兽类化石,时代为早始新世。在灵宝盆地的项城群中尚未找到哺乳类化石,可能包括古新世和始新世早中期的堆积。卢氏盆地的卢氏组和锄钩峪组以及灵宝盆地的川口组和浑水河组的时代为晚始新世。卢氏组下部和川口组或许可延至中始新世。     

Fossil fruits of Illigera (Hernandiaceae) from the Eocene of central Tibetan Plateau

Illigera (Hernandiaceae) is a liana genus distributed mainly in the tropical Asia and Africa. Previous fossil records suggested that Illigera was restricted in western North America during the Eocene. Recent paleobotanical investigation has unveiled a Paleogene flora that is totally different from today's vegetation in central Tibet. This provides novel insights into the paleoenvironmental change during the evolution of the Tibetan Plateau (TP). Here, we investigated 10 fruit impressions of Illigera from the early middle Eocene Niubao Formation in the Bangor Basin, central TP. The fossil winged fruits are characterized by their eroded fruit wings, well preserved fusiform locular areas with a median ridge bisecting the fruit, and short veins fanning radially outward. These features allow us to assign these fossils to Illigera eocenica, a species originally discovered in the Eocene of western North America. This is the second fossil occurrence of Illigera worldwide, and the first in Asia. Our finding suggests a warm and humid climate in the central TP during the early middle Eocene, and a close floristic link between Asia and North America during the Paleogene. We also propose a Northern Hemisphere origin and a Paleogene dispersal event from Northern Hemisphere to Africa for Illigera.     

Paleocene and Eocene floras of Russia and adjacent regions: Climatic conditions of their development

Climatic changes in the western and central regions of Russian Eurasia in the Paleocene and in the first half of the Eocene were caused by the dynamics and rearrangement of the systems of marine seaways: the longitudinal one, which connected the Arctic Basin with marginal seas of the Northern Peri-Tethys, and the latitudinal one, which connected the latter seas with the Atlantic. As these systems were progressively reduced, the climate in the middle latitudes changed from paratropical to a subtropical monsoon climate with a moist summer, and later to a climate with a moist winter, and, in the Late Eocene, to a humid climate without any marked seasonal variation in precipitation. The type of flora changed in agreement with these changes. In the Paleogene, cold currents constantly influenced the climate of the Northwestern Pacific rim and facilitated the development of a warm-temperate mesophilic flora.     

Biogeography and evolution of Abies (Pinaceae) in the Mediterranean Basin: the roles of long‐term climatic change and glacial refugia

Aim The genus Abies exemplifies plant diversification related to long‐term climatic, geological and evolutionary changes. Today, the Mediterranean firs comprise nine species, one natural hybrid and several varieties. Here I summarize current knowledge concerning the origin and evolution of the genus Abies in the Mediterranean Basin and propose a comprehensive hypothesis to explain the isolation and speciation pattern of Mediterranean firs. Location The Mediterranean Basin. Methods The literature on Abies was reviewed, focusing on the morphology, fossil records, molecular ecology, phytosociology and biogeography of the genus in the Mediterranean Basin. Results Abies fossils from the western Mediterranean indicate a wide Tertiary circum‐Mediterranean distribution of the Abies ancestor. Palaeogeographical data also suggest a single eastern Mediterranean Tertiary ancestor. Following the Miocene to Pliocene climate crisis and marine transgressions, the ancestor of the northern Mediterranean firs is hypothesized to have separated into two eastern groups, one on the Balkan Peninsula and the other in Asia Minor. However, land bridges may have permitted gene flow at times. A southward migration of A. alba to refugia, where older fir species may have remained isolated since the Miocene, could explain recent findings indicating that morphologically distant species are more closely related than expected based on such morphological classification. Main conclusions The Abies genus appears to have undergone significant morphological differentiation that does not necessarily imply reproductive isolation. That is, long‐term Mediterranean Basin dryness along a south‐eastern to north‐western gradient may have caused an initial Miocene–Pliocene speciation sequence. Pleistocene glacial cycles probably forced migrations to occur, leading to repeated contact between fir species in glacial refugia.     

榆科榉属的植物地理学

榉属是东亚—地中海间断分布局,分属于东亚植物区、地中海植物区及伊朗—土兰植物区。根据现存榉属植物的形态演化趋势、细胞学、孢粉学证据及其化石资料和古地质历史事件相结合分析,该属植物是第三纪温带森林的孑遗成分而且第三纪末期的喜马拉雅造山运动及第四纪的冰川作用是样属植物演化的主要动力。在欧洲,由于喜马拉雅造山运动及第四纪冰川作用的较强烈,使分布于此的榉属植物受到严厉的生存竞争,未能适应环境的物种遭受灭绝,少数进行适应性变异的物种在极端环境条件下生存了下来。而东亚地区由于自然环境相对较稳定,便成了榉属植物的避难所,因此也保留了榉属植物种较为古老的种类。     

Geographical distribution of the weevil subfamily Ceutorhynchinae (Coleoptera, Curculionidae)

A brief general characteristic and review of distribution of the subfamily Ceutorhynchinae over zoogeographical realms are given, with an emphasis on the distribution within the Holarctic and Palaearctic. The potential of exploiting landscapes of all natural zones of the Holarctic by a low-rank taxon is exemplified by the Holarctic Ceutorhynchus cochleariae (Gyll.) species-group comprising ca. 20 species evenly distributed between the Palaearctic and Nearctic. Although neighboring with the powerful centers of tropical biota, the Holarctic fauna of the subfamily Ceutorhynchinae is formed mostly of endemic and subendemic genera which are especially abundant in the Palaearctic. This region possesses the most diversified generic and species composition of the fauna consisting of predominantly endemic and subendemic genera (in the Mediterranean and Saharo-Gobian regions, also of the highly diversified tribe Oxyonychini) up to its southern border. The existence of characteristic transitional faunas in the zones of contact of the Holarctic fauna with the faunas of the tropical regions in East Asia and Mexico is shown. These transitional faunas include a considerable number of endemic taxa of the genus and species groups. A conspicuous feature of the Palaearctic ceutorhynchine fauna is the rather numerous complex of the upland and high-latitude species.     

The Earliest Asian Duck (Anseriformes: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Romainvillia</Emphasis>) and the Origin of Anatidae

A new species of the extinct duck Romainvillia from the Upper Eocene of Kazakhstan is described. This is the earliest duck from Asia, the first record of Romainvillia beyond France and the first reliable evidence of the presence of Romainvilliinae (regarded here as family) in Asia. This occurrence shows a wide range of Romainvillia and suggests a greater similarity of Late Eocene faunas of Western Europe and Asia than it was previously thought. The origin of Romainvilliidae and their presumable descendants Anatidae may be connected with adaptation to a new biotope, the shallowing Late Eocene epicontinental Asian basins (due to a global decrease in sea level).     

The Latest Cretaceous Flora of Heilongjiang Province and the Floristic Relationship Between East Asia and North America (Cont.)

The present paper deals with a collection of plant fossils from the Wuyun Group of Heilongjiang Province. These fossils belong to 28 families, 39 genera and 53 species. The flora is composed of 7 species of pteridophytes, 8 of conifers and 37 of angiosperms. All have been fully described, of which ten are new species. Most elements of this flora are subtropic or warm-temperate, with only a few of them are temperate ones. The flora consists of conifers and broad-leaved trees adapted to humid warm-temperate or subtropic climate. With the physiognomy of leaves, 40 per cent of them are of entire margin, and most are medium-sized, with some megaphyllous. The nervation is mostly palmate. These characters indicate that the climate was warm-temperate or subtropic. Among 35 genera known from the Late Cretaceous of East Asia, 27 are also found in North America, which indicates that the floristic relationship between East Asia and North Americal was closer at that time than it is now. Therefore the number of genera in common has been decreasing through the age, because these two regions have been detached from each other since the late Eocene, as a result of continental drift. Only some relic forms left on both sides, and only 4.1% of genera are common to both continents. After the early Tertiary the floras of East Asia and North America have been developing independently. The Chinese flora of the Late Cretaceous may be divided into three Zones from the north to the south: (1) warm temperate-subtropic zone, rich in Metasequoia, Ginkgo, Trochodendroides, Platanus, Trochodendron, Protophyllum, Ampelopsis Pterospermites and Menispermites; (2) subtropic or dry subtropic transitional zone; and (3) subtropictropic zone, rich in Brachyphyllum, Cinnamomum, Nectandra and Palms. The Wuyun flora is considered closely related to the Chajiayang Group and SikhoteAlin flora of USSR, with 15 genera in common and also related to the Kuji flora of Japan (Cenonian), with 11 genera in common. It is interesting to note that 11 genera are also found in North America (Canada and Alaska) of the Late Cretaceous. The palynological assemblage of the Wuyun flora is closely related to Minshui flora of the Souliao Basin, 15 genera being common to the both. Seventy per cent of megafossils of the Wuyun flora have become extinct, which seems to show that the age of the flora is older than Paleocene and is assigned to the Latest Late Crataceous (Maestrichtian-Dani-an).     

Fruits of icacinaceae (tribe iodeae) from the late paleocene of Western north america

The Icacinaceae occur pantropically today, but are well represented by fossil fruits of the warm Early Middle Eocene, when tropical plants that currently occupy low latitudes were more widely distributed in higher latitudes. Members of this family are first known in the Late Cretaceous; however, fossil fruits of tribe Iodeae are quite rare before the Eocene. In this paper we describe the first formally recognized Late Paleocene icacinaceous taxa from western North America. We name two new species of Icacinicarya based on anatomically preserved fruits and establish a new genus, Icacinicaryites, for impressions with a strong similarity to Icacinicarya that lack anatomical preservation. These new records from the Almont/Beicegel Creek flora in North Dakota and several localities in Wyoming, Colorado, and Montana complement records known from the Early Eocene of England and document an increased diversity of Iodeae and related forms in the Paleogene of western North America.     

Biogeography of Eocene bryozoans from the St Vincent Basin, South Australia

The first extensive and stratigraphically detailed taxonomic study of the Middle to Late Eocene Bryozoa of the St Vincent Basin has identified more than 200 species of Cheilostomata and 50 species of Cyclostomata. There are three biogeographic groups: basin endemic, Australian and global. Two-thirds (116) of the cheilostome species and seven genera are currently considered endemic to this basin. Most species are endemic to Australia and similar to those found in the Oligo-Miocene of Victoria. The Cellariidae are a common component of most Australian Cainozoic deposits, but the species are highly dissimilar, with 13 of the 17 species here being new. The global component indicates that biogeographic links with regions outside Australia still existed in the Eocene. The cyclostome genus Reticrescis is only known from the Australian and Antarctic Eocene. Ten genera have their first occurrence in the Eocene St Vincent Basin. The Phidoloporidae and Smittinidae represent the most diverse and ubiquitous groups at a geological time close to their time of origination. Contemporaneous sediments in Antarctica, eastern Europe and North America also have a diverse fauna of this family, pointing to a strong Tethyan link. Rhamphosmittina lateralis (MacGillivray) is still extant in New Zealand, having an exceptionally long time range of 40 million years. Overall, the fauna has a distinct Late Cretaceous character. A new genus of Onychocellidae appears similar to genera that were common in Cretaceous Tethyan faunas but rare during the Cainozoic. This similarity ends in the Oligocene, after which the Australian bryozoan became endemic     

The Paleocene-Eocene Palynoflora from the Tantou Basin in West Henan

On the basis of palynological data the Paleoeene-Eocene palynoflora from the Tantou Basin in west Itenan are divided into three sporo-pollen assemblages. They are given ill ascending order as follows: 1. The first assemblage (Dazhang Formation) characterized mainly by the predominance of palynoforms of Ulmaeeae anal various Proteaeeous pollen, being assigned to Late Paleoeene and indicating a dry-hot climate. 2. The second assemblage (Lower part of the Tantou Formation) marked by the presence of various Triporopollenites and Tricolporopollenites, belonging to the Early Eocene. A moist-hot climate is reflected. 3. The third assemblage (the Upper part of the Tantou Formation) represented by aboundant pollen grains of saeeated elements (consisting of Pinaeeae and Podocarpaeeae) and the occurrence of Aquilapollenites pollen which plays an important part in this assemblage. It is interpreted as belonging to the middle to early Eocene. The climate was moist and warm. As indicated by the sporo-polleu assemblage the present Paleoeene to Eocene flora in the whole phytoprovienee may belong to a flora transitional from western to eastern China. In this paper the distribution of Aquilapollenites pollen and its stratigraphicai significance are also discussed and it is considered that this kind of pollen distributed in the Paleoeene of China is eertainly not redeposited. At the same time, sonm palynoforms of certain significance for delimitation of Paleoeene and Eocene are provided.     

Observations on the formation of Chinese desert floras

1. Based upon the analyses in the floristic elements of the three genera (Suaeda, Salsola and Zygophyllum) in different regions we can see that the genesis of our desert floras in these regions is very much diversified. The flora of Songaria is similar to that of the Middle Asia, while the Hosi Corridor seems to be a transitional area very close to Alashan and also related to the Tarim Basin in floristic elements. Thus, we may classify the desert floras into three parts: the flora of Songaria, of Alashan including the Hosi Corridor and of the Tarim Basin including the Tsaidam Basin. The ages and approaches in their formation are different. 2. There are plenty species but no or rare endemics in Songaria. In spring there are a number of ephemeral plants. The variation of aspect is evident. The vegetation cover is abundant. The floristic elements are developed from the flora of Middle Asia and it was formed in Quaternary period. 3. The floristic elements of the Tarim Basin are poor, but there are not few endemics and the distribution of the endemics is much limited. They are of the characteristics of relic species. Therefore it was formed in the Tertiary period and developed in Quaternary period. The elements are related to the Mediterranean flora. 4. There are a large number of endemics and many endemic monotypie genera in Alashan. They represent the flora formed in Tertiary period. Although it is of a special style, it relates both to the Middle-Asian and the Mediterranean flora. 5. The historic causes for the formation of the different floras lie chiefly on: (1) The rise of the Tibetan plateau and mountains strongly changed the climatic and edaphic conditions and in the long course of evolution some species survived or even developed, while the others deteriorated or even died out from the flora. (2) Because the circumstances of transgression or regression of the Tethys were different in these regions. (3) The mountain-making movement, the transgression and regression and the fluence of glaciation, all the mutation of these associated factors modified the climatic zonation and then the plant species changes followed, new species formed and migration of floristie elements occurred. (4) Songaria is the nearest region to the then Sibirian glacier, so the frozen injury to the flora might be the greatest. (5) In the Glacial period the descension of snow line in Songaria was greater than that of the Tarim Basin, so the frozen injurymight be greater.     

Species richness and endemicity in the Spanish vascular flora

Data from an updated and revised checklist of the Spanish flora is analyzed. The Spanish vascular plant flora is composed of 204 families, 1433 genera and 7071 species. Floristic data are analysed by considering three regions: mainland Spain with 5984 species, the Balearic Islands with 1521 species and Canary Islands with 2066 species. Extinct species are included in the analysis, with an extinction rate of 0.35% of the flora. A total of 1488 endemic species are recognized, which account for 21% of the Spanish flora. The rate of endemism in the Canary Islands is 25.9%, considerably higher than for the Balearic Islands (6.9%) and for mainland Spain (13.8%). A list of the 35 strict endemic genera is compiled, of which 65.7% are Canarian, and another list of 27 subendemic genera of which 48.1% are also Canarian. An estimated 12% of the Spanish flora is non‐native, with large variation between the 20.7% of the Canary flora, 10.5% of mainland Spain and 9.7% of the Balearic Islands. Finally, the composition of the Spanish flora for large groups and families is ana lysed. The data show that species richness and endemicity rates have been overestimated by previous authors, and are similar to other Mediterranean countries. It is concluded that a complete revision of the Macaronesian flora is strongly needed to obtain an accurate comparison with the flora of other areas.     

Some Fossil Plants of Thinnfeldia from the Jiuligang Formation in Jingmen-Dangyang Basin,Western Hubei

The genus Thinnfeldia was seldom reported in former geological literature from Hubei. In the present paper, the following fossil plants of Thinnfeldia from Hubei are collected for the first time: Thinnfeldia elegans (sp. nov.), T. nanzhangensis (sp. nov.), T. yuananensis (sp. nov.), from Late Triassic Jiuligang Formation of the Jingmen-Dangyang Basin. It is interesting to point that the Jiuligang flora has transational characters between Yanchang flora of North China and Anyun flora of South China of Late Triassic.     

Phylogeography and evolution in matsutake and close allies inferred by analyses of ITS sequences and AFLPs

Matsutake are commercially important ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes in the genus Tricholoma. Despite their importance, the systematics of this species complex have remained elusive and little is known about their origin and biogeography. Using DNA analyses on a worldwide sample of matsutake, we present here the first comprehensive definition of natural groupings in this species complex. We infer patterns of migration and propose Eocene origins for the group in western North America by a transfer from an angiosperm-associated ancestor to an increasingly specialized conifer symbiont. From these origins, matsutake appear to have followed migratory routes parallel to those of coniferous hosts. Patterns of vicariance between eastern North America and eastern Asia are resolved and their origins are suggested to stem from migration through Beringia. Using an analysis of genetic dissimilarity and geographical distance, we reject both the possibility that migration into Europe and Asia occurred through Atlantic bridges and the connection between matsutake populations in the Mahgrebi Mountains and those from Europe. Instead, African and European matsutake appear to be the most recent ends of a westward expansion of the domain of these fungi from North America.