SCHOENENBERGER, JUERG* and ELENA CONTI. Institute of Systematic Botany, University of Zurich, Zollikerstrasse 107, CH-8008 Zurich, Switzerland. - Molecular systematics and floral structure of a Western Gondwanan clade of Myrtales.
Recent order-wide phylogenetic studies in the Myrtales strongly
supported a clade comprising the three African taxa Oliniaceae,
Penaeaceae, and Rhynchocalycaceae plus the Central and South American
family Alzateaceae. Inter- and intrafamilial relationships however,
remained unclear. A phylogenetic hypothesis based on chloroplast and
nuclear DNA sequences of most of the species within the clade will be
presented and discussed in connection with important floral features.
Preliminary results suggest a sister relationship of Oliniaceae and
Rhynchocalycaceae, a clade which in turn is sister to the Penaeaceae.
First results based on the chloroplast gene rpl16 suggest that
intrafamilial relationships in Penaeaceae are different from
traditional conceptions.
Key words: floral structure, molecular systematics, Myrtales, Oliniaceae, Penaeaceae, Rhynchocalycaceae