The infrageneric taxonomy of Chaerophyllum (Apiaceae) revisited: new evidence from nuclear ribosomal DNA ITS sequences and fruit anatomy. (13th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Piwczyński, Marcin; Puchałka, Radosław; Spalik, Krzysztof
• Is Part Of: Botanical journal of the Linnean Society. Volume 178:Number 2(2015:Jun.)
• Page Start: 298
• Page End: 313
• Publication Date: 2015-05-13
• Subjects: Botany -- Periodicals; 580
• DOI: 10.1111/boj.12282
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0024-4074

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Evolutionary relationships among 65 <italic>Chaerophyllum</italic> spp. were inferred from nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence variation. Thirty‐one species, represented by 158 mericarp samples, were analysed for fruit anatomical character variation, employing phylogenetic and phenetic methods to explore their congruence with infrageneric divisions based on molecular data. Phylogenetic trees inferred from molecular data using maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) methods corroborated the division of the genus into four sections: <italic>Chaerophyllum</italic>, <italic>Dasypetalon</italic>, <italic>Physocaulis</italic> and <italic>Chrysocarpum</italic>. From among the newly sequenced species, the Greek endemic <italic>C. heldreichii</italic> was grouped with section <italic>Chaerophyllum</italic>, whereas the highly variable Asian <italic>C. reflexum–C. villosum</italic> complex formed an early‐branching paraphyletic assemblage in section <italic>Chrysocarpum</italic>. The recently described <italic>C. karsianum</italic> has an identical ITS sequence to <italic>C. bulbosum</italic>, whereas <italic>C. aksekiense</italic> was clearly separated from the morphologically similar <italic>C. macrospermum</italic>. Our study confirmed the postulated synonymy of several species on the basis of morphology, but also demonstrated distant relationships between some morphologically similar species. With the exception of the monotypic section <italic>Physocaulis</italic>, we were unable to find carpological traits matching sectional divisions. We hypothesize that fruit characters evolved rapidly as a result of diversification of members of the genus in different habitats. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, <italic>Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society</italic>, 2015, <bold>178</bold>, 298–313.</p> </abstract>