Phylogenetic relationships and a new sectional classification of Croton (Euphorbiaceae) in Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin W. van Ee ◽  
Paul I. Forster ◽  
Paul E. Berry

A molecular phylogeny, morphological descriptions, species lists and a key to the sections of Croton L. (Euphorbiaceae) recognised for Australia are presented. The molecular phylogenetic results supported the recognition of six sections, to account for the 29 native Australian species. The monophyly of each of these sections was highly supported in the Bayesian and maximum-likelihood analyses of nuclear ITS and plastid trnL–F DNA sequences, whereas their relationships to each other and to other groups were less well resolved. Croton may represent one, two or three separate arrivals to Australia, with support for hypotheses of subsequent dispersals from Australia to Pacific islands and to Asia. Croton sections Argyrati, Arnhemici, Caudati, Dockrilliorum and Insulares are newly described. Croton section Gymnocroton Baill., previously placed in synonymy, is again recognised. Croton armstrongii S.Moore is excluded from the Australian flora.

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Bayly ◽  
Marco F. Duretto ◽  
Gareth D. Holmes ◽  
Paul I. Forster ◽  
David J. Cantrill ◽  
...  

As currently circumscribed, Boronia (Rutaceae) is a large Australian genus of 148 species distributed in all states and mainland territories, and Boronella is confined to New Caledonia and contains ~four species. We present molecular phylogenetic analyses of these genera, based on chloroplast (trnL–trnF) and nuclear (ITS, ETS) DNA sequences, to assess their relationships and infrageneric classification. Analyses strongly support the monophyly of a Boronia+Boronella clade and that Boronella is nested within Boronia. They also support the monophyly of Boronella and Boronia sections Algidae, Valvatae and Cyanothamnus, and ser. Pedunculatae (sect. Boronia), but resolve sect. Boronia and ser. Boronia as polyphyletic. On the basis of these results, we propose a new classification wherein Boronella is transferred to Boronia and recognised at the rank of section, and a new name and two new combinations in Boronia are provided for the following three species: Boronia hartleyi Duretto & Bayly, Boronia pancheri (Baill.) Duretto & Bayly and Boronia parvifolia (Baker f.) Duretto & Bayly. A revised circumscription is presented for Boronia sect. Boronia, and Pedunculatae is elevated from a series to a section. The relationships and classification of some taxa require further clarification, either because of limited taxon sampling, or because some nodes in phylogenetic analyses are poorly resolved or supported.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 170 (3) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALFONS SCHÄFER-VERWIMP ◽  
KATHRIN FELDBERG ◽  
SHANSHAN DONG ◽  
HUUB VAN MELICK ◽  
DENILSON F. PERALTA ◽  
...  

The derived liverwort Leiolejeunea grandiflora was recollected at the type locality in Jamaica after more than 100 years. The characteristics of its oil bodies were described for the first time based on the new collections. Each leaf cell possesses 2-4(-6) rather small, subhomogeneous to very finely segmented, subglobose to ellipsoidal, colorless oil bodies. The plants were either dioicous or autoicous. DNA sequences of two chloroplast regions (trnL-trnF, rbcL) and the nuclear ribosomal ITS region were obtained for two accessions of Leiolejeunea to enable the inference of the phylogenetic relationships of these plants. Based on Bayesian inference of phylogeny as well as maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses of a dataset including 87 representatives of Lejeuneaceae, Leiolejeunea was found as the putative sister to either Echinolejeuneinae or Cheilolejeuneinae. Thus, we propose the new monogeneric subtribe Leiolejeuneinae with relationships to Cheilolejeuneinae and Echinolejeuneinae. The analyses included also one accession of the generitype of Cheilolejeunea, C. decidua [= Cheilolejeunea adnata]. This species was found in a well supported sister relationship with Cystolejeunea. To avoid nomenclatural confusion, we propose a wide genus concept for Cheilolejeunea including Aureolejeunea, Cyrtolejeunea, Cystolejeunea, Evansiolejeunea, Leucolejeunea, and Omphalanthus.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 159 (4) ◽  
pp. 241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-lan Peng ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Xin-fen Gao ◽  
Lin-jing Tong ◽  
Liang Li ◽  
...  

The systematic position of Paraixeris humifusa (Asteraceae) is hard to define, because the circumscription of Paraixeris, Youngia and Crepidiastrum, three closely related genera in subtribe Crepidinae (Cichorieae), is not clear. This paper reports on the relationships between 30 species in subtribe Crepidinae, based on an analysis of nucleotides from one nuclear (ITS) and three chloroplast DNA regions ( trnL-F, rps16 and atpB-rbcL). The phylogenetic analyses used maximum parsimony with maximum likelihood inference. The monophyly of Crepidiastrum in the most recent generic classification of Shih & Kilian (2011) is explored. The results show that 12 species in Crepidiastrum constitute a monophyletic group, and that Paraixeris humifusa should be treated as Youngia humifusa.


Zootaxa ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 1517 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
FRANK GLAW ◽  
ZOLTÁN T. NAGY ◽  
MIGUEL VENCES

Based on a specimen found at Montagne d'Ambre in northern Madagascar morphologically agreeing with Compsophis albiventris Mocquard, 1894, we report on the rediscovery of this enigmatic snake genus and species and its molecular phylogenetic relationships. Compsophis albiventris, considered to be the only representative of its genus and unreported since its original description, bears strong morphological similarities to species of Geodipsas Boulenger, 1896. A molecular phylogeny based on DNA sequences of three mitochondrial and nuclear genes (complete cytochrome b, fragments of 16S rRNA and c-mos) in Compsophis albiventris and three Geodipsas species corroborated close relationships between C. albiventris and Geodipsas boulengeri, and showed that the genera Compsophis and Geodipsas together form a monophyletic unit. Despite the general similarities, morphological data and chromatic features support the existence of two species groups, corresponding to Compsophis and Geodipsas. We consequently consider Geodipsas as a subgenus of Compsophis and transfer all species currently in Geodipsas into the genus Compsophis.


Plants ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyoung Tae Kim ◽  
Ki-Byung Lim ◽  
Jung Sung Kim

The genus Lilium L. is widely distributed in the cold and temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and is one of the most valuable plant groups in the world. Regarding the classification of the genus Lilium, Comber’s sectional classification, based on the natural characteristics, has been primarily used to recognize species and circumscribe the sections within the genus. Although molecular phylogenetic approaches have been attempted using different markers to elucidate their phylogenetic relationships, there still are unresolved clades within the genus. In this study, we constructed the species tree for the genus using 28 Lilium species plastomes, including three currently determined species (L. candidum, L. formosanum, and L. leichtlinii var. maximowiczii). We also sought to verify Comber’s classification and to evaluate all loci for phylogenetic molecular markers. Based on the results, the genus was divided into two major lineages, group A and B, consisting of eastern Asia + Europe species and Hengduan Mountains + North America species, respectively. Sectional relationships revealed that the ancestor Martagon diverged from Sinomartagon species and that Pseudolirium and Leucolirion are polyphyletic. Out of all loci in that Lilium plastome, ycf1, trnF-ndhJ, and trnT-psbD regions are suggested as evaluated markers with high coincidence with the species tree. We also discussed the biogeographical diversification and long-distance dispersal event of the genus.


2020 ◽  
Vol 194 (4) ◽  
pp. 439-459
Author(s):  
Elisa Silva Cândido ◽  
Mohammad Vatanparast ◽  
Wanderleia de Vargas ◽  
Luísa M P A Bezerra ◽  
Gwilym P Lewis ◽  
...  

Abstract Eriosema comprises c. 150 species and has a pantropical distribution and two centres of diversity, Africa and America. The species occur in tropical savannas and grasslands, including the cerrado in Brazil. They have adapted to these environments by developing specialized underground organs, and an abundance of trichomes. Here we present the first comprehensive molecular phylogenetic analysis of Eriosema, including species from its entire distribution range and generating 391 new DNA sequences. We sampled 140 species from nine genera of Cajaninae, of which 94 (60% of the genus) were Eriosema. Our analyses were based on the nuclear ITS and plastid rpl32 and trnQ regions, and used maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of individual and combined data sets. In all analyses, Eriosema was resolved as monophyletic, but its interspecific relationships are not well resolved. Rhynchosia is not monophyletic, and some African Rhynchosia spp. emerged together as sister to Eriosema. Our study supports the monophyly of Adenodolichos, Dunbaria, Flemingia and Cajanus, but Chrysoscias and Bolusafra formed a clade that is sister to a group of Rhynchosia spp. Paracalyx was resolved as paraphyletic and nested among African Rhynchosia spp. Divergence time analysis suggested that the Eriosema lineages diverged 6.5–10.7 Mya. Two major lineages have diversified in Eriosema, one including most of the African species (4.41–6.68 Mya), the other mainly composed of the South American cerrado species (3.56–5.78 Mya). These results revealed that Eriosema is a recent and tropical savanna-adapted group, and its diversification occurred in the late Miocene in parallel with the expansion of C4 grasslands.


Phytotaxa ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 296 (2) ◽  
pp. 171 ◽  
Author(s):  
SAROJ RUCHISANSAKUN ◽  
PIYAKASET SUKSATHAN ◽  
TIMOTHEÜS VAN DER NIET ◽  
SAW LWIN ◽  
STEVEN B. JANSSENS

Impatiens tanintharyiensis Ruchisansakun, Suksathan & Saw-Lwin from the Tanintharyi region of Southern Myanmar is described and illustrated as a new species. The presence of connate lateral united petals and a four-locular ovary, as well as results of molecular phylogenetic analyses of nuclear ITS and plastid atpB-rbcL spacer DNA sequences, suggest that the new species is a member of Impatiens section Semeiocardium (Zoll.) S.X. Yu & Wei Wang. The new species is morphologically most similar to I. spectabilis Triboun & Suksathan, but can be distinguished by its asymmetric flowers, saccate-bucciniform lower sepal, and shorter, slightly incurved spur. Floral traits, including the presence of a large floral chamber with a wide entrance, are consistent with the bee-pollination syndrome in Impatiens. Since I. tanintharyiensis is only known from two small populations, its conservation status is assessed as Endangered.


2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mei Lin Tay ◽  
Heidi M. Meudt ◽  
Philip J. Garnock-Jones ◽  
Peter A. Ritchie

We examined the geographic origins and taxonomic placements of New Zealand and Australian Plantago (Plantaginaceae) by using molecular phylogenetic data. Plantago comprises over 200 species distributed worldwide. Analyses of three markers from the nuclear (ITS), chloroplast (ndhF–rpl32) and mitochondrial (coxI) genomes showed that the New Zealand species form three distinct, well supported clades that are not each others’ closest relatives, and were each derived relative to the sampled Australian species. Therefore, at least three long-distance directional dispersal events into New Zealand can be inferred for Plantago, likely from Australian ancestors. This result differs from the biogeographic pattern often reported for New Zealand plant genera of a single dispersal event followed by rapid radiation, and may be attributed to ready biotic dispersal of mucilaginous seeds and habitat similarities of the Australasian species. Molecular dating placed the arrival time and diversification of the New Zealand species between 2.291 and 0.5 million years ago, which coincides with the geological dates for the uplift of mountain ranges in New Zealand. The mitochondrial DNA substitution rate of the Australasian clade relative to the rest of the genus is discussed, as well as implications of the non-monophyly of sections Oliganthos, Mesembrynia and Plantago within subgenus Plantago.


2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 306
Author(s):  
Mei Lin Tay ◽  
Heidi M. Meudt ◽  
Philip J. Garnock-Jones ◽  
Peter A. Ritchie

We examined the geographic origins and taxonomic placements of New Zealand and Australian Plantago (Plantaginaceae) by using molecular phylogenetic data. Plantago comprises over 200 species distributed worldwide. Analyses of three markers from the nuclear (ITS), chloroplast (ndhF?rpl32) and mitochondrial (coxI) genomes showed that the New Zealand species form three distinct, well supported clades that are not each others' closest relatives, and were each derived relative to the sampled Australian species. Therefore, at least three long-distance directional dispersal events into New Zealand can be inferred for Plantago, likely from Australian ancestors. This result differs from the biogeographic pattern often reported for New Zealand plant genera of a single dispersal event followed by rapid radiation, and may be attributed to ready biotic dispersal of mucilaginous seeds and habitat similarities of the Australasian species. Molecular dating placed the arrival time and diversification of the New Zealand species between 2.291 and 0.5�million years ago, which coincides with the geological dates for the uplift of mountain ranges in New Zealand. The mitochondrial DNA substitution rate of the Australasian clade relative to the rest of the genus is discussed, as well as implications of the non-monophyly of sections Oliganthos, Mesembrynia and Plantago within subgenus Plantago.


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