Phylogeny of Gaultherieae (Ericaceae: Vaccinioideae) Based on DNA Sequence Data from matK, ndhF, and nrITS

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships within the tribe Gaultherieae (Chamaedaphne, Diplycosia, Eubotrys, Gaultheria, Leucothoë, and Tepuia) were examined with DNA sequence data from matK, ndhF, and nrITS. Parsimony analyses were performed in PAUP* for each gene region, combined chloroplast data, and total combined data. A Bayesian analysis was performed in MrBayes on the chloroplast and total combined data sets. The total combined parsimony and Bayesian analyses both strongly support the monophyly of the Gaultherieae and the wintergreen group (Diplycosia, Gaultheria, and Tepuia). Diplycosia is monophyletic and nested within part of Gaultheria. In the Bayesian total combined analysis, Tepuia is strongly supported as sister to a clade containing Gaultheria procumbens, Gaultheria hispidula, Gaultheria leucocarpa var. cumingiana, Gaultheria leucocarpa var. leucocarpa, and all sampled Diplycosia species. Optimization of morphological characters emphasized in classifications of the Gaultherieae onto the molecular phylogeny revealed that (1) fleshy calyces evolved either early in the lineage leading to the wintergreen group or later in two separate clades; (2) capsular fruits are plesiomorphic and berry fruits have evolved independently in Diplycosia and Tepuia and once or twice within a large clade containing all sampled sect. Pernettya members and Gaultheria species not exhibiting a berry fruit; and (3) the ancestral state for both the Gaultherieae and wintergreen group is a racemose inflorescence; solitary-flowered inflorescences have evolved at least eight times within the Gaultherieae, with several changes back to racemose or fascicular inflorescences.

New species, taxonomic renovations, and typifications in Gaultheria series Trichophyllae (Ericaceae)

“…Within Gaultheria the group is characterized by the combination of leaves generally less than 1 cm long, solitary axillary flowers, paired apical bracteoles, and five calyx and corolla lobes. Gaultheria series Trichophyllae has consistently been recovered as monophyletic in molecular phylogenetic studies (Bush et al 2009;Lu et al 2010;Fritsch et al 2011). In the most recent global classification of Gaultheria (Middleton 1991), it is placed together with three other series [G. series Hispidulae Airy Shaw (1941: 308), series Novaguineenses D.J.…”

Diplycosia platyphylla (Ericaceae), a new species from Mindanao, Philippines

“…The genus can be delimited from other genera of the tribe by a base chromosome number of x = 18 (vs 11), and a combination of (usually) entire leaf margins, fasciculate inflorescences, paired bracteoles borne at the apex of the pedicel, anthers with terminal tubules but with neither spurs nor disintegration tissue, and a capsule surrounded by an accrescent, fleshy calyx, or rarely a berry. Molecular studies strongly support the monophyly of the genus, and place it as phylogenetically nested within Gaultheria Kalm ex L. in the Wintergreen Group clade (Powell and Kron 2001; Bush et al 2009; Fritsch et al 2011). …”

Ericaceae no Parque Estadual do Ibitipoca, Minas Gerais, Brasil

“…Gaultheria compreende aproximadamente 130 espécies distribuídas nas regiões temperadas e tropicais das Américas, Himalaia/Indo-China, sudeste da Ásia e Oceania (Bush et al 2009;Fritsch et al 2011). No Brasil, estão relacionadas 10 espécies e um híbrido natural, com distribuição predominante nas regiões de maiores altitudes nos domínios da Floresta Atlântica nas regiões Sudeste e Sul e da Floresta Amazônica (Judd 1995, BFG 2015.…”