Phylogeny and taxonomy of the Pyrenaria complex (Theaceae) based on nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences

• Published in: Nordic journal of botany Vol. 29; no. 6; pp. 780 - 787
• Main Authors: Li, Rong, Yang, Jun-Bo, Yang, Shi-Xiong, Li, De-Zhu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2011
• ISSN: 0107-055X; 1756-1051
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1756-1051.2011.01175.x

The generic limits in the Pyrenaria complex are discussed based on morphological and molecular evidence. The phylogeny of the Pyrenaria complex was reconstructed using parsimony and Bayesian analyses of sequence data from the nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. The Pyrenaria complex is shown to be monophyletic and is sister to the Camellia–Polyspora clade. None of the previously recognized genera (including Pyrenaria, Tutcheria, Parapyrenaria and Sinopyrenaria) is monophyletic, and the species of these genera are scattered and nested within the Pyrenaria complex, suggesting that the four genera should be combined as Pyrenaria sensu lato. This study indicates a close relationship among the genera within the Pyrenaria complex, Camellia and Polyspora, and reveals that Camellia has a closer relationship with Polyspora than with the Pyrenaria complex.