HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Supplementary Data Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (6) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ortiz, R. D. C. Articles by Werff, H. V. D. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Ortiz, R. D. C. Articles by Werff, H. V. D. Agricola Articles by Ortiz, R. D. C. Articles by Werff, H. V. D.

Molecular phylogeny of the moonseed family (Menispermaceae): implications for morphological diversification¹

University of Missouri–St. Louis, 1 University Boulevard, St. Louis, Missouri 63121 USA; Missouri Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, Missouri 63166-0299 USA

ABSTRACT

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.

Key Words: Menispermaceae • moonseed • ndhF • phylogeny • Ranunculales • synandrium

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. A. Rasmussen, E. M. Kramer, and E. A. Zimmer One size fits all? Molecular evidence for a commonly inherited petal identity program in Ranunculales Am. J. Botany, January 1, 2009; 96(1): 96 - 109. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Doria, C. A. Jaramillo, and F. Herrera Menispermaceae from the Cerrejon Formation, middle to late Paleocene, Colombia Am. J. Botany, August 1, 2008; 95(8): 954 - 973. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]