Phylogenetic Relationships and Evolution in <I>Erodium</I> (Geraniaceae) based on <I>trnL-trnF</I> Sequences

Abstract

Phylogenetic reconstructions in the Mediterranean genus Erodium are for the first time performed using two matrices: one with 96 trnL-trnF sequences from Erodium (90 accessions plus four outgroups) and the other with 72 trnL-trnF sequences plus 23 morphological characters (66 species of a total of 74), using Maximum Parsimony (MP) and Bayesian Inference (BI). An association between reproductive properties (high selfing rates, flower asymmetry, insect-attraction structures), life form, and breeding system distributed in different lineages suggests multiple shifts from allogamy to autogamy in the course of evolution, whereas dioecy has occurred only once. The phylogenetic analyses revealed a remarkable capability for dispersal in Erodium because closely related species occur in different continents. Major lineages containing sublineages of species also from several continents lead us to interpret ancient dispersal activity. Establishment of Mediterranean-like climates in most continents may have been crucial in the evolution of Erodium, as manifested by occurrence of species of the Mediterranean floristic region in the four major lineages. The body of knowledge accumulated from molecular phylogenetics and morphology lead us to conclude that the Mediterranean region harbors the major center of diversity of Erodium, where active radiation in dry, disturbed environments, is still operating.

A morphological study on the dioecious endemic Erodium somanum H. Peşmen (Geraniaceae), critically endangered in Turkey

“…The phylogenetic relationships and evolution in Erodium have been described according to gene sequences by Fiz et al (2006). This work is very important in the sense that 74 Erodium taxa have been collected from all over the world.…”

“…Photographs are taken with a Jeol JSM 6060. For fruit terminology the following literature was consulted (Davis 1967, Fiz et al 2006. Seed terminology from the following literature was consulted (Stearn 1996).…”

“…The genus Erodium is distributed across all continents. A major center of diversity is in the Mediterranean region (63 species), whereas in other regions only a few native species have been observed; North America (1), South America (1), Australia (5), and Asia (4) (Fiz et al 2006). The fi rst revision of Erodium species in Turkey and the East Aegean Islands was made by Davis who recognized 27 taxa (Davis 1967).…”

“…Moreover, it was seen that a new name Erodium chrysanthum subsp. somanum had been given but the new name of the author was not provided (Fiz et al 2006). As shown there are contradictions in the nomenclature of this species.…”

Reproductive biology of the critically endangered endemic plantErodium somanum in Turkey

“…Erodium L'Herit is one of the six genera belonging to the family Geraniaceae (Takhtajan, 1997;Aldasoro et al, 2002;Fiz et al, 2006) and is represented by 74 species on all continents except Antarctica (Fiz et al, 2006). North America has 1, South America 1, Australia 5, and Asia 4 species, while the Mediterranean region, as the largest center of diversity, has 63 species (Fiz et al, 2006).…”