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A revised classification of Santalales
Author(s) -
Nickrent Daniel L.,
Malécot Valéry,
Vidal-Russell Romina,
Der Joshua P.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
taxon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1996-8175
pISSN - 0040-0262
DOI - 10.1002/tax.592019
Subject(s) - biology , monophyly , clade , loranthaceae , phylogenetic tree , phylogenetic nomenclature , botany , parasitic plant , evolutionary biology , zoology , ecology , host (biology) , biochemistry , gene
Abstract We present here a revised classification of Santalales, an angiosperm order that contains 18 families, 160 genera, and over 2200 species. Both nonparasitic and parasitic flowering plants occur in the traditionally circumscribed family Olacaceae whereas all other families are composed entirely of parasites. The five evolutionary radiations of aerial parasitism produced mistletoes that constitute most of the generic and specific diversity seen in the order. This classification, although based primarily upon results from molecular phylogenetic investigations, brings together all currently available information that contributes to our understanding of relationships among these plants. Monophyletic groups (clades) obtained from molecular analyses were named using a Linnaean ranked system. Four new families are named that formerly resided in Santalaceae s.l.: Amphorogynaceae, Cervantesiaceae, Comandraceae, and Nanodeaceae. A new tribal and subtribal classification for Loranthaceae is presented where nine new subtribe names are proposed.