Morphological character evolution in the miliusoid clade (Annonaceae)

Publication Type:Book Chapter
Year of Publication:2004
Authors:J. B. Mols, Co, D. L. V., Gravendeel, B., Chatrou, L. W., Pirie, M. D., van der Ham, R. W. J. M., van Marle, E. J., Kessler, P. J. A.
Editor:J. B. Mols
Book Title: From Milusa to Miliuseae to Miliusoid, Identifying clades in Asian Annonaceae
Volume:91
Series Volume:4
Pagination:37-75
City:PhD Thesis at Nationaal Herbarium Nederland, Universiteit Leiden branch, Leiden
Abstract:

The tribe Miliuseae (Annonaceae) comprises six genera distributed in Asia: Alphonsea, Mezzettia, Miliusa, Orophea, Platymitra, and Phoenicanthus. A phylogenetic study to investigate the putative monophyly of the tribe and the intergeneric relationships is presented here. Nucleotide sequences of the plastid gene rbcL, trnL intron, and trnL-trnF intergenic spacer were analyzed from 114 Annonaceae taxa, including 24 Miliuseae species and two outgroups using maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference. The two data sets (rbcL and the trnL-trnF regions) were analyzed separately and in combination. Miliuseae were found to be polyphyletic due to the position of Mezzettia and are part of a large, predominantly Asian and Central-American clade (miliusoid clade). Although intergeneric relationships were poorly resolved, all genera, except Polyalthia, were monophyletic, supporting previous generic delimitation based on morphology. A group of three Polyalthia species seems the most likely sister group of Miliusa. Several infrageneric groups of Miliusa, Orophea, and Polyalthia are supported by both molecular and morphological data. No morphological synapomorphies have yet been found for the miliusoid clade. Molecular clades within the miliusoid clade, however, can be characterized by size and the shape of the outer petals, number of ovules per carpel, and the size of the fruits.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith