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Cytinaceae are sister to Muntingiaceae (Malvales)
Author(s) -
Nickrent Daniel L.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
taxon
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1996-8175
pISSN - 0040-0262
DOI - 10.2307/25065907
Subject(s) - biology , synapomorphy , phylogenetic tree , botany , evolutionary biology , maximum parsimony , most recent common ancestor , clade , gene , genetics
The holoparasitic family Cytinaceae ( Cytinus and Bdallophyton ) was previously shown to be allied with Malvales, however its closest photosynthetic ancestor was not determined. A molecular phylogenetic study was conducted using nuclear small‐subunit rDNA and three chloroplast genes (the latter missing from the holoparasites but included to stabilize the overall tree topology) using Cytinaceae and exemplars from all recognized families from an expanded Malvales. Using maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods, Cytinaceae were resolved with strong support as sister to the newly described Muntingiaceae. Potential morphological synapomorphies include trichome types, mature pollen released as tetrads, inferior ovaries, intrusive parietal placentation with many ovules, and fruit type. Given that all Muntingiaceae are neotropical, it is likely that the ancestor of Cytinaceae arose in the New World and migrated to continental Africa prior to the separation of Africa from South America.