Phylogenetic analyses of Malpighiales using plastid and nuclear DNA sequences, with particular reference to the embryology of Euphorbiaceae sens. str.

Abstract

We present phylogenetic analyses of Malpighiales, which are poorly understood with respect to relationships within the order, using sequences from rbcL, atpB, matK and 18SrDNA from 103 genera in 23 families. From several independent and variously combined analyses, a four-gene analysis using all sequence data provided the best resolution, resulting in the single most parsimonious tree. In the Malpighiales [bootstrap support (BS) 100%], more than eight major clades comprising a family or group of families successively diverged, but no clade containing more than six families received over 50% BS. Instead, ten terminal clades that supported close relationships between and among families (>50% BS) were obtained, between, for example, Balanopaceae and Chrysobalanaceae; Lacistemataceae and Salicaceae; and Phyllanthaceae and Picrodendraceae. The monophyly of Euphorbiaceae sens. str. were strongly supported (BS 100%), but its sister group was unclear. Euphorbiaceae sens. str. comprised two basally diverging clades (BS 100%): one leading to the Clutia group (Chaetocarpus, Clutia, Pera and Trigonopleura), and the other leading to the rest of the family. The latter shared a palisadal, instead of a tracheoidal exotegmen as a morphological synapomorphy. While both Acalyphoideae (excluding Dicoelia and the Clutia group) and Euphorbioideae are monophyletic, Crotonoideae were paraphyletic, requiring more comprehensive analyses.

Phenetic Analysis of Certain Taxa of Euphorbiaceae Grown in Egypt

“…Anatomically it characterized by the presence of solitary/druses crystals, stem trichomes eglandular multicellular unbranched uniseriate, anomotetracytic and anomocytic stomata. These data confirmed those of Chase et al (2002), APG II (2003), Davis & Chase (2004), Wurdack et al (2004), Davis et al (2005), Hoffmann et al (2006), Tokuoka & Tobe (2006) and APG III (2009) in regarding the placement of Andrachne aspera and Putranjiva roxburghii in the families Phyllanthaceae and Putranjivaceae consequently which are two of the five segregates of Euphorbiaceae sensu lato.…”

“…According to the recorded data in the present study Breynia disticha placed in the family Euphorbiaceae and this is supported by the work of Webster (1975) and these data conflicted with those of Chase et al (2002), APG II (2003), Davis and Chase (2004), Wurdack et al (2004), Davis et al (2005), Hoffmann et al (2006), Tokuoka & Tobe (2006) and APG III (2009) in which they placed Breynia disticha with Andrachne aspera in the family Phyllanthaceae that is one of the five segregates of Euphorbiaceae sensu lato recognized at family level. We suggest keeping Breynia disticha in the family Euphorbiaceae and this is in accordance with the recorded criteria in the present study.…”

“…APG II andIII (2003, 2009) include Andrachne aspera and Putranjiva roxburghii in families Phyllanthaceae and Putranjivaceae consequently which are two of the five segregates of Euphorbiaceae sensu lato. APG II (2003) recognises five lineages of Euphorbiaceae sensu lato at family rank: Euphorbiaceae sensu stricto, Pandaceae, Phyllanthaceae, Picrodendraceae and Putranjivaceae all are members of Malpighiales in the eurosid I clade (Chase et al, 2002;Davis & Chase, 2004;Wurdack et al, 2004;Davis et al, 2005;Hoffmann et al, 2006;Simpson, 2006 andTokuoka &Tobe, 2006).…”

Long-term morphological stasis maintained by a plant–pollinator mutualism

“…To properly root and date our phylogeny, we first clarified the closest relatives of Malpighiaceae. Previous phylogenetic studies (26)(27)(28) have identified the radially flowered, species poor clades Centroplacaceae (∼5 species) and Elatinaceae (35 species) as successive sisters to the species rich Malpighiaceae (∼1,300 species) (species diversity counts are from refs. 29 and 30).…”

Estudo ontogenético da redução floral em Euphorbiaceae e das estruturas secretoras associadas: anatomia e evolução

“…Todas essas características são frequentemente registradas em espécies de Euphorbiaceae e foram relatadas por Tokuoka & Tobe 1995, Tokuoka & Tobe 2006, Tokuoka 2007, Gagliardi et al 2012, Gagliardi et al 2013. Este conjunto de caracteres anatômicos é considerado único e exclusivo de Euphorbiaceae (Sutter & Endress 1995).…”