Investigations on the phylogenetic position of the ditypic genus Froriepia reveal Yildirimlia , a new genus of Apiaceae

Froriepia is a ditypic genus in the subfamily Apioideae. Froriepia subpinnata occurs in Iran and the Caucasus, while F. gracillima is a species endemic to Turkey that is known only from the type specimen collected near the country's eastern border. Although many comprehensive phylogenetic studies of members of the family Apiaceae have been conducted, the phylogenetic position of Froriepia has remained unknown. When we examined this genus in detail, we suspected that the two species assigned to it may in fact belong to separate genera because of morphological differences between them. To understand the tribal classification of this genus and to reveal its infrageneric phylogenetic relationships, we examined its members morphologically and phylogenetically. We obtained phylogenetic relationships by Bayesian inference and maximum likelihood analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and rps16 intron gene sequences. We also examined pollen ornamentation and seed surface sculpturing with scanning electron microscopy. We found that, while F. subpinnata is a member of the tribe Pyramidoptereae, F. gracillima is a member of the tribe Selineae, and this conclusion was supported by our analyses of both the ITS and rps16 intron sequences. When we evaluated all of our results together, we deduced that F. gracillima should be removed from Froriepia . Ultimately, in light of both differences in morphological characteristics and phylogenetic evidence, we describe a new genus, Yildirimlia. The taxonomical diagnosis, detailed description, and illustrations of the new genus are provided herein.