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23 March 2009 Phylogeny of the Herbaceous Tribe Spermacoceae (Rubiaceae) Based on Plastid DNA Data
Inge Groeninckx, Steven Dessein, Helga Ochoterena, Claes Persson, Timothy J. Motley, Jesper Kårehed, Birgitta Bremer, Suzy Huysmans, Erik Smets
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Abstract

In its current circumscription, the herbaceous tribe Spermacoceae s.l. (Rubiaceae, Rubioideae) unites the former tribes Spermacoceae s. str., Manettieae, and the Hedyotis–Oldenlandia group. Within Spermacoceae, and particularly within the Hedyotis–Oldenlandia group, the generic delimitations are problematic. Up until now, molecular studies have focused on specific taxonomic problems within the tribe. This study is the first to address phylogenetic relationships within Spermacoceae from a tribal perspective. Sequences of three plastid markers (atpB-rbcL, rps16, and trnL-trnF) were analyzed separately as well as combined using parsimony and Bayesian approaches. Our results support the expanded tribe Spermacoceae as monophyletic. The former tribe Spermacoceae s. str. forms a monophyletic clade nested within the HedyotisOldenlandia group. Several genera formerly recognized within the Hedyotis–Oldenlandia group are supported as monophyletic (Amphiasma Bremek., Arcytophyllum Willd. ex Schult. & Schult. f., Dentella J. R. Forst. & G. Forst., Kadua Cham. & Schltdl., and Phylohydrax Puff), while others appear to be paraphyletic (e.g., Agathisanthemum Klotzsch), biphyletic (Kohautia Cham. & Schltdl.), or polyphyletic (Hedyotis L. and Oldenlandia L. sensu Bremekamp). Morphological investigations of the taxa are ongoing in order to find support for the many new clades and relationships detected. This study provides a phylogenetic hypothesis with broad sampling across the major lineages of Spermacoceae that can be used to guide future species-level and generic studies.

Inge Groeninckx, Steven Dessein, Helga Ochoterena, Claes Persson, Timothy J. Motley, Jesper Kårehed, Birgitta Bremer, Suzy Huysmans, and Erik Smets "Phylogeny of the Herbaceous Tribe Spermacoceae (Rubiaceae) Based on Plastid DNA Data," Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden 96(1), 109-132, (23 March 2009). https://doi.org/10.3417/2006201
Published: 23 March 2009
KEYWORDS
atpB-rbcL
Hedyotis–Oldenlandia group
molecular phylogeny
plastid DNA
rps16
Rubiaceae
Spermacoceae
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