Reconstructing Dryopteris "semicristata" (Dryopteridaceae): Molecular profiles of tetraploids verify their undiscovered diploid ancestor.

Premise Of The Study: Discovering missing ancestors is essential to understanding the evolutionary history of biodiversity on Earth. Evidence from extinct species can provide links for reconstructing intricate patterns of reticulate relationships among extant descendents. When fossils are unavailable and other evidence yields competing hypotheses to explain species ancestry, data from proteins and DNA can help resolve conflicts and generate novel perspectives.