A cladistic analysis of the Solatium sessile species group (section Geminata pro parte: Solanaceae)

The Solanum sessile species group is one of eight putatively monophyletic subgroups of the large and diverse Solanum section Geminata. The species group comprises ten species of mostly northern South American trees and shrubs. Characters and character states peculiar to Solanum are discussed in detail. A cladistic analysis of the sessile group yielded four equally parsimonious trees which represent two basic tree topologies. The consensus cladogram is composed of three main clades. Biogeographic analysis using the consensus tree revealed no components in common to the three clades. Possible geographical scenarios are discussed with reference to the geological history of northern South America.