Abstract Detail

Systematics Section/ASPT

Lu-Irving, Patricia [1], Olmstead, Richard [2].

Untangling the evolutionary history of Lantaneae (Verbenaceae).

Lantaneae are a morphologically diverse group of some 400 species, representing the largest tribe within Verbenaceae. They are widespread and diverse in the new world tropics and subtropics; some members are native to Africa, and others, most notably the Lantana camara complex, have spread across the globe as noxious weeds. Morphological parallelisms and intermediacy have hindered taxonomic efforts within Lantaneae, and previous molecular phylogenetic studies have failed to achieve much resolution in this group due to insufficient variability among loci commonly used to infer phylogeny at the species level - suggesting that Lantaneae are recently radiated. With a growing interest in determining generic boundaries in this difficult group, and growing recognition of the serious worldwide ecological and economic impacts of Lantana camara, there is a clear need for a well resolved phylogenetic hypothesis for Lantaneae. We have taken a multi-locus approach to address this need, resolving the pattern of species diversification among a broad representative sample of the morphological, taxonomic and geographic diversity of Lantaneae. Our results highlight the effectiveness of the newly-developed PPR gene family as phylogenetic tools, and reveal that none of the major genera of Lantaneae are monophyletic as currently circumscribed. The small African genus Coelocarpum is sister to the rest of the tribe; members of the genus Aloysia, along with smaller genera, form an ancestral grade to the Lantana-Lippia complex. Fleshy fruits have evolved multiple times independently from dry-fruited ancestors; Lantana camara and its relatives form a lineage distant from that which contains the majority of Lantana species sampled. The phylogeny allows hypotheses about the evolution of geographic range in Lantaneae to be formulated.

Broader Impacts:

1 - University Of Washington, Department Of Biology, Box 355325, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
2 - University Of Washington, Department Of Biology, CAMPUS BOX 355325, SEATTLE, WA, 98195-5325, USA

Keywords:
Verbenaceae
Lantaneae
Lantana
Lippia
Aloysia
PPR genes.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 25
Location: Franklin A/Hyatt
Date: Tuesday, July 10th, 2012
Time: 8:45 AM
Number: 25004
Abstract ID:743