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Molecular phylogeny of the moonseed family (Menispermaceae): implications for morphological diversification
Author(s) -
Ortiz Rosa Del C.,
Kellogg Elizabeth A.,
Van Der Werff Henk
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
american journal of botany
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.218
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1537-2197
pISSN - 0002-9122
DOI - 10.3732/ajb.94.8.1425
Subject(s) - polyphyly , biology , ndhf , monophyly , phylogenetics , menispermaceae , phylogenetic tree , clade , evolutionary biology , zoology , botany , genetics , alkaloid , gene
We used the chloroplast gene ndhF to reconstruct the phylogeny of the moonseed family (Menispermaceae), a morphologically diverse and poorly known cosmopolitan family of dioecious, primarily climbing plants. This study includes a worldwide sample of DNA sequences for 88 species representing 49 of the 70 genera of all eight traditionally recognized tribes. Phylogenetic relationships were estimated, and the Shimodaira–Hasegawa test was used to compare the likelihood of alternative phylogenetic hypotheses and to evaluate the monophyly of tribes currently in use. The monospecific Indo‐Malesian Tinomiscium is sister to the remaining members of the family, within which are two major clades. Within these two clades, well‐supported clades correspond to four of the eight traditionally recognized tribes, while others, such as Menispermeae, are polyphyletic. Mapping of major morphological characters on the phylogeny indicates that the crescent‐shaped seed is derived from a straight seed, the tree habit has arisen multiple times, endosperm has been lost many times, but unicarpellate flowers evolved only once. Morphological synapomorphies for Menispermaceae include the presence of a condyle, a large embryo, and druplets. The phylogeny provides for the first time a detailed molecular‐based assessment of relationships in Menispermaceae and clarifies our understanding of morphological diversification within the family.