Phylogeny of thePolygalaceae and its taxonomic implications

The phylogeny of thePolygalaceae is analysed cladistically. The two tribesXanthophylleae andMoutabeae are maintained in their former circumscription while a new tribe, theCarpolobieae, comprising the African generaCarpolobia andAtroxima is detached from thePolygaleae. Within thePolygaleae, the generaPolygala andMonnina appears to be polyphyletic. It is concluded thatMonnina subg.Monninopsis andM. subg.Pterocarya are better recognized as independent genera, here described asAncylotropis andPteromonnina, respectively. More work needs to be done before taxonomical decisions are made regardingPolygala. Bredemeyera andComesperma, which are often joined in a single genus, are found to be only distantly related.