TY - JOUR
T1 - How to kill two genera with one tree
T2 - Clarifying generic circumscriptions in an endemic Malagasy clade of Sapindaceae
AU - Buerki, Sven
AU - Lowry, Porter P.
AU - Andriambololonera, Sylvie
AU - Phillipson, Peter B.
AU - Vary, Laura
AU - Callmander, Martin W.
PY - 2011/3
Y1 - 2011/3
N2 - Phylogenetic relationships in a Malagasy clade of Sapindaceae, encompassing Molinaea (with members also in the Mascarene Islands), Neotina, Tina and Tinopsis, were inferred by expanding a previous nuclear and plastid DNA data set for the family. The circumscription of these morphologically similar genera has remained problematic since the first family-wide treatment. To investigate this situation, representative taxa were analysed to: (1) test the monophyly of the genera; (2) investigate their phylogenetic relationships; and (3) explore alternative circumscriptions that reflect phylogeny and yield genera that are morphologically coherent and easily characterized. Phylogenetic inferences supported the monophyly of the group and its subdivision into three clades. All species of Molinaea sampled belong to a clade (Clade I) that is sister to a clade comprising Neotina, Tina and Tinopsis, within which one clade (Clade II) encompasses Tinopsis and Neotina (with the latter nested within the former) and another (Clade III) comprises all taxa of Tina. These three genera can be easily distinguished from Molinaea by having two rather than three carpels, which represents an unambiguous synapomorphy. Given the paraphyly of Tinopsis with regard to Neotina and the strong support for the monophyly of Tina, two potentially viable options are available for the generic delimitation of the taxa in this clade: (1) to recognize two genera corresponding, respectively, to Clades II and III; or (2) to place all of the taxa in a single genus encompassing both clades. Based on a review of morphological evidence the second option is favoured and consequently a broad generic concept is applied.
AB - Phylogenetic relationships in a Malagasy clade of Sapindaceae, encompassing Molinaea (with members also in the Mascarene Islands), Neotina, Tina and Tinopsis, were inferred by expanding a previous nuclear and plastid DNA data set for the family. The circumscription of these morphologically similar genera has remained problematic since the first family-wide treatment. To investigate this situation, representative taxa were analysed to: (1) test the monophyly of the genera; (2) investigate their phylogenetic relationships; and (3) explore alternative circumscriptions that reflect phylogeny and yield genera that are morphologically coherent and easily characterized. Phylogenetic inferences supported the monophyly of the group and its subdivision into three clades. All species of Molinaea sampled belong to a clade (Clade I) that is sister to a clade comprising Neotina, Tina and Tinopsis, within which one clade (Clade II) encompasses Tinopsis and Neotina (with the latter nested within the former) and another (Clade III) comprises all taxa of Tina. These three genera can be easily distinguished from Molinaea by having two rather than three carpels, which represents an unambiguous synapomorphy. Given the paraphyly of Tinopsis with regard to Neotina and the strong support for the monophyly of Tina, two potentially viable options are available for the generic delimitation of the taxa in this clade: (1) to recognize two genera corresponding, respectively, to Clades II and III; or (2) to place all of the taxa in a single genus encompassing both clades. Based on a review of morphological evidence the second option is favoured and consequently a broad generic concept is applied.
KW - Cupania group
KW - Molinaea
KW - Neotina
KW - Phylogenetic inference
KW - Taxonomy
KW - Tina
KW - Tinopsis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79751470520&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2010.01106.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1095-8339.2010.01106.x
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:79751470520
SN - 0024-4074
VL - 165
SP - 223
EP - 234
JO - Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society
JF - Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society
IS - 3
ER -