Abstract Detail

Systematics Section/ASPT

Radosavljevic, Aleksandar [1], Mackinder, Barbara [2], Herendeen, Patrick [3], Forest, Felix [4].

Phylogeny and biogeography of Cynometra and Maniltoa (Leguminosae: Caesalpinioideae).

Among the genera of the tribe Detarieae, Cynometra L. (80-90 species globally, ca. 25 in the neotropics) is of particular interest due to its pantropical distribution, morphological variation, and paucity of taxonomic and phylogenetic studies. While many clades in Detarieae show intergeneric continental disjunction, there are few examples of intra-generic disjunctions and Cynometra is one of few genera distributed pantropically. Previous analyses have suggested that it may be paraphyletic with respect to what is currently regarded as its sister genus, Maniltoa (restricted to south east Asia and Oceania). These studies, however, did not include any New World species of Cynometra—a morphologically homogenous group that has been neglected taxonomically as well. Here we reconstruct a global phylogeny of Cynometra and Maniltoa using molecular data from the matK and trnL regions of the chloroplast genome, including extensive species representation from the New World. Combined maximum likelihood analyses reveal two well supported clades of Cynometra. One is comprised of exclusively east African species. The second contains all other Cynometra species sampled in this study including the remaining African species from west Africa and Madagascar. Maniltoa is nested within this second clade, though low support values preclude determining whether or not Maniltoa is monophyletic. Low bootstrap values also make it difficult to determine the relationship between the two Cynometra clades or to infer much about the relationships of the taxa within each of the clades. Those clades that are resolved, however, do show clear geographic structuring. The low bootstrap values may be indicative of a rapid radiation in the past, though the pantropical distribution of the genus makes this unlikely. Further, although there is support for a Cynometra plus Maniltoa clade, preliminary analyses of additional data suggest that other genera also belong in this clade. Ongoing work will investigate this and incorporate additional markers.

Broader Impacts:

1 - Chicago Botanic Garden and Northwestern University, Program in Plant Biology and Conservation, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL, 60022, USA
2 - Royal Botanic Gardens-Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3DS, UK
3 - Chicago Botanic Garden, Senior Scientist, 1000 Lake Cook Road, Glencoe, IL, 60022, USA
4 - Royal Botanic Gardens - Kew, Jodrell Laboratory, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3DS, United Kingdom

Keywords:
Systematics
biogeography
Fabaceae
legumes.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 5
Location: Rosedown/Riverside Hilton
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2013
Time: 10:00 AM
Number: 5007
Abstract ID:686
Candidate for Awards:None