The phylogeny of Mallotus s.str. (Euphorbiaceae) inferred from DNA sequence and morphological data

Abstract

Mallotus s.str. is a monophyletic, large, palaeotropical genus in the family Euphorbiaceae. We investigated the phylogeny of the genus in order to (1) determine the evolutionary relationships within the Mallotus s.str. clade; (2) assess whether the six sections as circumscribed in the traditional classification reflect clades and evaluate the characters used in the classification; and (3) determine what are additional new clades and their supporting morphological characters. For this purpose we assembled different datasets: plastid (matK) and nuclear (gpd) DNA sequences, macromorphological features and leaf anatomical data. We found that Mallotus sect. Mallotus, sect. Polyadenii and sect. Stylanthus are monophyletic, M. sect. Axenfeldia and sect. Rottleropsis are polyphyletic, and M. sect. Philippinenses is paraphyletic. Six additional clades with morphological synapomorphies were also identified. An analysis of quantitative morphological data, in combination with qualitative morphological and molecular datasets resulted in almost completely resolved phylogenies and increased support values. However, the higher‐level relationships between the clades are not supported in our analyses and the position of many taxa is still ambiguous.

Molecular and morphological phylogenetic reconstruction reveals a new generic delimitation of Asian Derris (Fabaceae): Reinstatement of Solori and synonymisation of Paraderris with Derris

“…important support for new clades (Wahlberg & al., 2005;Sierra & al., 2010). Our study showed that combined molecular and morphological analyses resulted in better-resolved cladograms (Fig.…”

Leaf anatomy of Mallotus and the related genera Blumeodendron and Hancea (Euphorbiaceae sensu stricto)

“…Airy Shaw (1968), for example, proposed eight sections, based on morphological characters. However, recent morphological and molecular studies by Sierra et al . (2010) indicated that Mallotus was polyphyletic.…”

“…(2006) proposed the exclusion of five species from Airy Shaw's section Hancea , as these were true Mallotus spp. (see phylogenetic analysis in Sierra et al ., 2010). Subsequently, section Hancea (without those five species) was excluded from Mallotus and placed with Mallotus section Oliganthae in the genus Cordemoya , which afterwards had to be renamed Hancea ; at the time writing, Hancea comprises 17 species (Sierra et al ., 2006, 2007; see Fig.…”

“…To resolve these problems of conflicting classifications, a phylogenetic study using molecular (plastid and nuclear DNA sequences), morphological, leaf anatomical and palynological characters was conducted on Mallotus and related genera (Kulju et al ., 2007b; Sierra et al ., 2010). Leaf anatomical characters, which are discussed in detail in this article, were used in the combined phylogenetic analyses, and several leaf anatomical synapomorphies were found for some sections of Mallotus .…”

A revision of Ptychopyxis (Euphorbiaceae) in southeast Asia

“…This revision is important for already performed and still continuing research on the two sister genera Macaranga and Mallotus (Sierra et al 2010). Ptychopyxis is one of the closely related outgroups of these two genera and its inclusion in phylogenetic and biogeographical research will clarify the possible apomorphies of Macaranga and Mallotus and will help to interpret their biogeographic evolution.…”