Systematics and evolution of Carex sects. Spirostachyae and Elatae (Cyperaceae)

Carex sect. Spirostachyae comprises 25 species displaying the centre of diversity in Eurasia, while sect. Elatae comprises 22 species displaying the centre of diversity in tropical African mountainous regions. Phylogenetic analysis of the 136 ITS and 108 5′trnK intron sequences of 23 species of sect. Spirostachyae and 20 species of sect. Elatae revealed that neither section is monophyletic. With the exclusion of C. montis-eeka (sect. Spirostachyae) and C. insularis, C. iynx and C. longibrachiata (sect. Elatae), the sects. Spirostachyae and Elatae constitute a monophyletic group of 38 species, 22 of which were previously included in sect. Spirostachyae and 16 of which were in sect. Elatae (considering C. thomasii as C. mannii ssp. thomasii). Two main groups with different edaphic preferences were identified in the core Spirostachyae, in congruence with some morphological features. One group comprises primarily acidophilus species including 11 species of sect. Spirostachyae and 16 species of sect. Elatae. The other group includes 11 basophilic species of sect. Spirostachyae. Incongruence between nuclear and plastid genomes was detected, suggesting hybridization or lineage sorting processes in the evolution of the core Spirostachyae.     

A multivariate and cladistic study of Vicia L. ser. Vicia (Fabaceae) based on analysis of morphological characters

 Vicia ser. Vicia, which includes the Vicia sativa aggregate, was studied by observing morphological variation. The study is an attempt to resolve the taxonomic relationships within the Vicia sativa aggregate by novel investigations along with a synthesis of the results obtained by previous researchers. The study has included some accessions and characters used previously, but has drawn accessions from a wider geographical range than has been attempted previously. Cluster analysis on the basis of 53 morphological characters justified the delimitation of four species within the series and six subspecies within the Vicia sativa aggregate. Accessions from South Asia could easily be incorporated in the classification, but some of the accessions from North Africa showed morphological differences. The morphometric data were coded using the gap weighting method of Thiele (1993) and used in a phylogenetic analysis to study the relationships between the taxa. The phylogenetic analysis, using 33 variables, showed Vicia pyrenaica closely related to Vicia sativa subsp. amphicarpa. A dichotomous key and a multi-access key to aid the identification of the taxa in the series are presented. Received January 21, 2002; accepted November 8, 2002 Published online: March 20, 2003     

Phylogeny of Isatis (Brassicaceae) and allied genera based on ITS sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA and morphological characters

Systematics of the genus Isatis (Brassicaceae) is difficult and controversial, and previous studies were based solely on morphological characters. Sequence variation of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions and the 5.8S gene of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) were analyzed using parsimony and Bayesian methods. Twenty-eight taxa of Isatis and related genera of the tribe Isatideae were sampled, including 20 Isatis species representing almost all major morphological lineages, all three species of Pachypterygium, two of nine species of Sameraria, and monospecific Boreava, Myagrum, and Tauscheria. Two well-supported clades were resolved in the ITS tree, and they demonstrate the artificiality of the present delimitation of the tribe. One clade includes I. emarginata, I. minima, I. trachycarpa, P. brevipes, P. multicaule, P. stocksii, and T. lasiocarpa. The second clade includes I. buschiana, the polymorphic I. cappadocica with five subspecies, I. gaubae, I. kotschyana, I. leuconeura, I. pachycarpa, I. takhtajanii, I. tinctoria, and S. armena. Pachypterygium is polyphyletic and, together with Boreava, Sameraria, and Tauscheria, all are nested within Isatis. This study is a continuation of our recent systematic survey based on seed-coat microsculpturing ( Moazzeni et al., 2007. Flora 202, 447–454) and reveals that fruit characters mapped onto the molecular tree show considerable convergence. The reliance on fruit characters alone in the delimitation of genera may well lead to erroneous phylogenetic results and thus to incorrect taxonomic conclusions.     

A phylogenetic analysis of the palm subtribe Oncospermatinae (Arecaceae) based on morphological characters

Subtribe Oncospermatinae (Arecaceae: Arecoideae: Areceae) is a diverse group of spiny Old World palms. The subtribe includesOncosperma, a widespread Asian genus of five species, along with seven monotypic genera, all endemic to the Seychelles and Mascarene Islands of the western Indian Ocean. A phylogenetic analysis was conducted in order to test the monophyly of subtribe Oncospermatinae with respect to other Old World genera of tribe Areceae. A matrix of 38 morphological characters was scored for 29 taxa, including 11 species of the Oncospermatinae. A single most parsimonious tree was found, resolving the subtribe as a polyphyletic group of two distinct clades. One clade containingAcanthophoenix, Deckenia, Oncosperma, andTectiphiala was placed as sister to a large group that includes members of subtribes Archontophoenicinae, Arecinae, Iguanurinae, and Ptychospermatinae. The other clade of Oncospermatinae, including the Seychelles endemic generaNephrosperma, Phoenicophorium, Roscheria, andVerschaffeltia, was resolved as sister to the Madagascar endemic subtribe Masoalinae, and may have arisen in the western Indian Ocean region.     

Phylogeny of Steinernema travassos, 1927 (Cephalobina: Steinernematidae) inferred from ribosomal DNA sequences and morphological characters

Entomopathogenic nematodes in Steinernema, together with their symbiont bacteria Xenorhabdus, are obligate and lethal parasites of insects that can provide effective biological control of some important lepidopteran, dipteran, and coleopteran pests of commercial crops. Phylogenetic relationships among 21 Steinernema species were estimated using 28S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences and morphological characters. Sequences of the rDNA internal transcribed spacers were obtained to provide additional molecular characters to resolve relationships among Steinernema carpocapsae, Steinernema scapterisci, Steinernema siamkavai, and Steinernema monticolum. Four equally parsimonious trees resulted from combined analysis of 28S sequences and 22 morphological characters. Clades inferred from analyses of molecular sequences and combined datasets were primarily reliably supported as assessed by bootstrap resampling, whereas those inferred from morphological data alone were not. Although partially consistent with some traditional expectations and previous phylogenetic studies, the hypotheses inferred from molecular evidence, and those from combined analysis of morphological and molecular data, provide a new and comprehensive framework for evaluating character evolution of steinernematids. Interpretation of morphological character evolution on 6 trees inferred from sequence data and combined evidence suggests that many structural features of these nematodes are highly homoplastic, and that some structures previously used to hypothesize relationships represent ancestral character states.     

A new species of Aphis Linnaeus from Guangxi,China (Hemiptera,Aphididae), based on morphological characters and DNA sequences

A new species of the genus Aphis with stridulatory apparatus, Aphis gnetuma Qiao sp. n., feeding on Gnetum parvifolium which is a new host plant record for aphids from Guangxi, China is described. The new species is distinguished by a well-developed median frontal tubercle and body bearing white wax powder in life. The taxonomic position of this new species is supported by analysis results of COI and gnd genes. A key to Aphis species with stridulatory spines on the hind tibiae of apterous viviparous females is provided. The type specimens studied are deposited in the National Zoological Museum of China, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:BBB024DA-8454-4E22-8736-66ED92A3091B.     

A re-evaluation of Hypochnicium (Polyporales) based on morphological and molecular characters

Hypochnicium is a genus of corticioid, wood-inhabiting fungi in the Polyporales with a worldwide distribution. The genus has been characterized by the nature of the spores; they are thick-walled, smooth or ornamented, and cyanophilous. Nine new ITS nrDNA sequences from species of this genus were aligned with 32 sequences from GenBank, and phylogenetic analyses were performed. Six clades were determined within the genus; one contains taxa with smooth spores, and the other three with ornamented spores. Hypochnicium versatum must be included in Gloeohypochnicium, and the new combination Gloeohypochnicium versatum is proposed. Two new species, Hypochnicium michelii from Spain and Hypochnicium guineensis from Equatorial Guinea, are described.     

Cladistic analysis of the subgenus Anopheles (Anopheles) Meigen (Diptera: Culicidae) based on morphological characters

In the present study, we used morphological characters to estimate phylogenetic relationships among members of the subgenus Anopheles Meigen. Phylogenetic analyses were carried out for 36 species of Anopheles (Anopheles). An. (Stethomyia) kompi Edwards, An. (Lophopodomyia) gilesi (Peryassú), Bironella hollandi Taylor, An. (Nyssorhynchus) oswaldoi (Peryassú) and An. (Cellia) maculatus Theobald were employed as outgroups. One hundred one characters of the external morphology of the adult male, adult female, fourth-instar larva, and pupa were scored and analyzed under the parsimony criterion in PAUP. Phylogenetic relationships among the series and several species informal groups of Anopheles (Anopheles) were hypothesized. The results suggest that Anopheles (Anopheles) is monophyletic. Additionally, most species groups included in the analysis were demonstrated to be monophyletic.     

Systematics of Halosarpheia based on morphological and molecular data

The genus Halosarpheia (Halosphaeriales) was established for marine ascomycetes with obpyriform to sub-globose, coriaceous, brown to black ostiolate ascomata with long necks; hamathecia of catenophyses; thin-walled, unitunicate, persistent asci with thick-walled apices; and ellipsoid, one septate, hyaline ascospores equipped with coiled, threadlike apical appendages that unfurl in water. Emphasis on ascospore appendage morphology has led to the inclusion in the genus of morphologically disparate fungi from a variety of marine and freshwater habitats. To better understand the evolutionary relationships of Halosarpheia species, phylogenetic analyses were conducted on 16 Halosarpheia species, 13 other species of Halosphaeriales and representatives of the Microascales, Hypocreales, Sordariales and Xylariales using 18S and 28S rDNA sequence data. All of the Halosarpheia species occurred on the Halosphaeriales clade. The type species of the genus, H. fibrosa, occurred on a well-supported clade with two morphologically similar species, H. trullifera and H. unicellularis. This clade, which phylogenetically was distant from the clades of other Halosarpheia species, represents the genus Halosarpheia sensu stricto. The other Halosarpheia species were distributed among eight other well-supported clades clearly separated from one another based on molecular data. New generic names are established for six of these clades, one new species is described, and one species is transferred to Aniptodera. A table (Table I) comparing the morphology, habitat, substrate and distribution of the genera of aquatic ascomycetes with coiled, threadlike apical appendages treated in this study is provided, along with a key for their identification.     

Phylogenetic relationships of Pestalotiopsis and allied genera inferred from ribosomal DNA sequences and morphological characters

The taxonomy of the coelomycetous fungus Pestalotiopsis and other closely related genera based on morphological characters has been equivocal. To gain insight in the phylogenetic relationships of Pestalotiopsis and its allies, part of the large subunit (28S) ribosomal DNA region was examined and compared with existing morphological information. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted using parsimony, distance, and likelihood criteria. Results of the analyses showed that Bartalinia, Pestalotiopsis, Seimatosporium, and Seiridium represent distinct monophyletic groups with high bootstrap support. However, Truncatella species are paraphyletic with Bartalinia, sharing a common ancestor. Pestalotia species sequenced clustered together with Pestalotiopsis. These genera should be recognized as distinct natural groups except for Monochaetia and Discosia, which need to be further resolved. Tree topologies are generally in concordance with previous morphological hypotheses, most notably the placement of all Pestalotia species, except the type P. pezizoides, in Pestalotiopsis. Well-supported clades corresponding to groupings based on conidial morphology were resolved and the relative importance of morphological characters for generic delimitation is discussed. Molecular data also provide further evidence to support the association of these coelomycetes with the Amphisphaeriaceae.     

苜蓿属和胡卢巴属植物的形态特征及数量分类研究

为研究苜蓿属(Medicago L.)与胡卢巴属(Trigonella L.)间的亲缘关系,寻找两属间的分属依据,解决中间过渡类群的分类归属问题,对苜蓿属与胡卢巴属种类的种皮结构和花粉形态特征进行了观察和测量,并以苜蓿属和胡卢巴属植物的40个形态性状为依据、应用数量分类方法对供试的16个种类进行了聚类分析(UPGMA)和主成分分析(PCA).此外,还根据具有重要分类学意义的形态性状,编写了供试的苜蓿属和胡卢巴属16个种类的分类检索表.观察结果表明,供试的两属植物(11种)的种皮结构基本相同,均由栅栏组织细胞、厚壁细胞和薄壁细胞组成,但胡卢巴属种皮的帽状结构和栅栏组织的厚度均小于苜蓿属.供试的两属植物(9种)花粉形态特征相似,均为椭球形或近球形,赤道面观为椭圆形,极面观为三裂圆形;极轴和赤道轴长分别为22.67～34.67 μm和17.34～31.60 μm;花粉表面纹饰较简单,呈小穴状.种皮结构和花粉特征显示两属的亲缘关系较近,仅种皮结构中的帽状结构差异具有一定的属间分类学意义.聚类分析结果表明,在欧氏距离10.85处,供试的苜蓿属(11种)和胡卢巴属(5种)的16个种类被划分为2组,A组均由胡卢巴属种类组成,B组均由苜蓿属种类组成;在欧氏距离9.32处,B组可被进一步划分为3个亚组,所包含的种类分别为苜蓿属的阔荚亚属(Subgen. Platycarpos D. F. Cui)、镰荚亚属(Subgen. Medicago Tutin)和天蓝苜蓿亚属(Subgen. Lupulina Gressh.)的种类.主成分分析结果表明,前3个主成分的累积贡献率较低,仅57.50%;在前3个主成分中,果实和小叶的长宽比、花萼长和被毛状况、茎和小叶的被毛状况、小叶尖形状、花序长等相关性状的绝对权重值均在0.6以上,具有重要的分类学意义;基于前2个主成分所做的二维散点图中供试的16个种类组成4个表征类群,与聚类分析结果一致.     

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Violaceae (Malpighiales) based on plastid and nuclear DNA sequences

A phylogenetic analysis of Violaceae is presented using sequences from rbcL, atpB, matK and 18S rDNA from 39 species and 19 genera. The combined analysis of four molecular markers resulted in only one most parsimonious tree, and 33 of all 38 nodes within Violaceae are supported by a bootstrap proportion of more than 50%. Fusispermum is in a basal-most position and Rinorea, Decorsella, Rinoreocarpus and the other Violaceae are successively diverged. The monogeneric subfamily Fusispermoideae is supported, and it shares a number of plesiomorphies with Passifloraceae (a convolute petal aestivation, actinomorphic flowers and connate filaments). The other monogeneric subfamily Leonioideae is sunken within the subfamily Violoideae and is sister to Gloeospermum, sharing some seed morphological characteristics. The present molecular phylogenetic analysis suggests that the convolute, apotact and quincuncial petal aestivation is successively derived within the family. The evolutionary trends of the other morphological characteristics, such as a filament connation, the number of carpels and floral symmetry, are discussed. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

A phylogenetic analysis of the Gruiformes (Aves) based on morphological characters,with an emphasis on the rails (Rallidae)

The order Gruiformes, for which even familial composition remains controversial, is perhaps the least well understood avian order from a phylogenetic perspective. The history of the systematics of the order is presented, and the ecological and biogeographic characteristics of its members are summarized. Using cladistic techniques, phylogenetic relationships among fossil and modern genera of the Gruiformes were estimated based on 381 primarily osteological characters; relationships among modern species of Grues (Psophiidae, Aramidae, Gruidae, Heliornithidae and Rallidae) were assessed based on these characters augmented by 189 characters of the definitive integument. A strict consensus tree for 20,000 shortest trees compiled for the matrix of gruiform genera (length = 967, CI = 0.517) revealed a number of nodes common to the solution set, many of which were robust to bootstrapping and had substantial support (Bremer) indices. Robust nodes included those supporting: a sister relationship between the Pedionomidae and Turnicidae; monophyly of the Gruiformes exclusive of the Pedionomidae and Turnicidae; a sister relationship between the Cariamidae and Phorusrhacoidea; a sister relationship between a clade comprising Eurypyga and Messelornis and one comprising Rhynochetos and Aptornis; monophyly of the Grues (Psophiidae, Aramidae, Gruidae, Heliornithidae and Rallidae); monophyly of a clade (Gruoidea) comprising (in order of increasingly close relationship) Psophia, Aramus, Balearica and other Gruidae, with monophyly of each member in this series confirmed; a sister relationship between the Heliornithidae and Rallidae; and monophyly of the Rallidae exclusive of Himantornis. Autapomorphic divergence was comparatively high for Pedionomus, Eurypyga, Psophia, Himantornis and Fulica; extreme autapomorphy, much of which is unique for the order, characterized the extinct, flightless Aptornis. In the species-level analysis of modern Grues, special efforts were made to limit the analytical impacts of homoplasy related to flightlessness in a number of rallid lineages. A strict consensus tree of 20,000 shortest trees compiled (length = 1232, CI = 0.463) confirmed the interfamilial relationships resolved in the ordinal analysis and established a number of other, variably supported groups within the Rallidae. Groupings within the Rallidae included: monophyly of Rallidae exclusive of Himantornis and a clade comprising Porphyrio (including Notornis) and Porphyrula; a poorly resolved, basal group of genera including Gymnocrex, Habroptila, Eulabeornis, Aramides, Canirallus and Mentocrex; an intermediate grade comprising Anurolimnas, Amaurolimnas, and Rougetius; monophyly of two major subdivisions of remaining rallids, one comprising Rallina (paraphyletic), Rallicula, and Sarothrura, and the other comprising the apparently paraphyletic ''long-billed'' rails (e.g. Pardirallus, Cyanolimnas, Rallus, Gallirallus and Cabalus and a variably resolved clade comprising ''crakes'' (e.g. Atlantisia, Laterallus and Porzana, waterhens (Amaurornis), moorhens (Gallinula and allied genera) and coots (Fulica). Relationships among ''crakes'' remain poorly resolved; Laterallus may be paraphyletic, and Porzana is evidently polyphyletic and poses substantial challenges for reconciliation with current taxonomy. Relationships among the species of waterhens, moorhens and coots, however, were comparatively well resolved, and exhaustive, fine-scale analyses of several genera (Grus, Porphyrio, Aramides, Rallus, Laterallus and Fulica) and species complexes (Porphyrio porphyrio -group,Gallirallus philippensis -group and Fulica americana -group) revealed additional topological likelihoods. Many nodes shared by a majority of the shortest trees under equal weighting were common to all shortest trees found following one or two iterations of successive weighting of characters. Provisional placements of selected subfossil rallids (e.g. Diaphorapteryx, Aphanapteryx and Capellirallus ) were based on separate heuristic searches using the strict consensus tree for modern rallids as a backbone constraint. These analyses were considered with respect to assessments of robustness, homoplasy related to flightlessness, challenges and importance of fossils in cladistic analysis, previously published studies and biogeography, and an annotated phylogenetic classification of the Gruiformes is proposed.     

Analysis of the systematic relationships among ticks of the genera Rhipicephalus and Boophilus (Acari: Ixodidae) based on mitochondrial 12S ribosomal DNA gene sequences and morphological characters

A portion of mitochondrial 12S rDNA sequences (337-355 base pairs) and 63 morphological characters of 36 hard-tick species belonging to 7 genera were analyzed to determine the phylogenetic relationships among groups and species of Rhipicephalus and between the genera Rhipicephalus and Boophilus. Molecular and morphological data sets were first examined separately. The molecular data were analyzed by maximum parsimony (MP), maximum likelihood, and neighbor-joining distance methods; the morphological data were analyzed by MP After their level of congruence was evaluated by a partition homogeneity test, all characters were combined and analyzed by MP. The branches of the tree obtained by combining the data sets were better resolved than those of the trees inferred from the separate analyses. Boophilus is monophyletic and arose within Rhipicephalus. Boophilus species clustered with species of the Rhipicephalus evertsi group. Most of the clustering within Rhipicephalus was, however, consistent with previous classifications based on morphological data. Morphological characters were traced on the molecular reconstruction in order to identify characters diagnostic for monophyletic clades. Within the Rhipicephalus sanguineus complex, the sequences of specimens morphologically identified as Rhipicephalus turanicus were characterized by a high level of variability, indicating that R. turanicus-like morphology may cover a spectrum of distinct species.     

Systematics of Gagea and Lloydia (Liliaceae) and infrageneric classification of Gagea based on molecular and morphological data

Our study represents the first phylogenetic analyses of the genus Gagea Salisb. (Liliaceae), including 58 species of Gagea and 6 species of the closely related genus Lloydia Salisb. ex Rchb. Our molecular results support the infrageneric classification of the genus Gagea in sections according to Levichev and demonstrate that Pascher's subdivision of this genus into two subgenera can no longer be upheld. Certain Gagea sections (e.g., Gagea, Minimae, and Plecostigma) are well supported by cpDNA and nrDNA data. Gagea sect. Fistulosae is closely related to G. sect. Didymobolbos. Gagea sect. Graminifoliae and G. sect. Incrustatae are closely related to G. sect Platyspermum. The analyses support the monophyly of Gagea and Lloydia collectively. The molecular analyses reveal the basal position of G. graeca in proportion to all other species of Gagea and Lloydia investigated. Minor morphological differences could be established between both genera which support their close relationship.     

A phylogenetic study of the Anthozoa (phylum Cnidaria) based on morphological and molecular characters

The phylogenetic relationships within the Anthozoa were re-evaluated based on 41 morphological characters and nuclear sequences of 18S ribosomal DNA (29 anthozoans as ingroups and 3 hydrozoans as outgroups). The parsimony trees derived from the morphological data did not coincide closely with the molecular data, and the presence of several polytomies at some nodes of the trees resulted in ambiguities among the systematic relationships. On the other hand, the combined analysis using total evidence presents a more resolved and highly supported topology, as is indicated by higher bootstrap values and decay indices than either analysis alone. However, strict and semi-strict consensus trees derived from taxonomic congruence show a poorer resolution for the phylogeny of Anthozoa. The trees constructed from the molecular data, using neighbor-joining and maximum-likelihood methods, are nearly congruent with the result from the total evidence. Based on these results, Anthozoa is divided into three subclasses: Alcyonaria, Zoantharia, and Ceriantipatharia. The Ceriantipatharia now includes only one order, Ceriantharia, since the order Antipatharia is more closely related to orders within the Zoantharia. The Alcyonaria is a monophyletic group, in which the order Pennatulacea is basal, and orders Alcyonacea and Telestacea branch later. The order Gorgonacea is divided into two suborders, Holaxonia and Scleraxonia. Bellonela is more related to order Stolonifera, forming a monophyletic group. In Zoantharia, the order Zoanthinaria is basal, and the remaining taxa are divided into two clades: one includes the order Actiniaria and the other includes orders Antipatharia, Corallimorpharia, and Scleractinia. The latter two orders form a monophyletic group. This study presents a different phylogeny of actiniarians from the earlier hypothesis of scleractinian ancestry.     

Phylogeny of Androcymbium (Colchicaceae) based on morphology and DNA sequences

The inclusion of species of Colchicum within Androcymbium in a previous cpDNA phylogeny of the Colchicaceae, questioned the monophyly of Androcymbium, and it was proposed to unite the two genera in Colchicum. Here we expand the previous phylogenetic analyses of Androcymbium by increasing the taxon sampling and adding more data. The analysis include 29 of the 57 species of Androcymbium, more cpDNA (trnL intron, trnL-trnF IGS, trnY-trnD IGS, and trnH-psbA IGS), and nDNA (RNApol2 intron 23) regions, and morphological and life-history traits data. Both parsimony and Bayesian inference were used. According to our data there is no reason to expand Colchicum to include Androcymbium, but we support the inclusion of Bulbocodium and Merendera within Colchicum. Morphology and life history traits are the main arguments in favor of recognizing Androcymbium as a well-circumscribed genus. In the phylogeny two Androcymbium groups are clearly differentiated: (1) one including species from Western and Eastern South Africa, Namibia, and North Africa, and (2) one including species from the north west of South Africa and south of Namibia.     

基于多基因序列和形态性状的牡丹组种间关系

牡丹被认为是中国的国花,具有很高的医学、观赏和经济价值.野生牡丹被认为是栽培牡丹的野生祖先,因此弄清牡丹组的种间亲缘关系具有重要的理论和实践意义.由于受到信息量的限制,根据单基凼数据或形态数据往往无法对牡丹组的种间关系得到明确的结果.本研究用12份样品代表野生牡丹组(Paeonia section Moutan DC.,Paeoniaceae)8个种,利用包括核基因(Adh1A、Adh2和GPAT)和叶绿体基因(trnS-trnG和rps16-trnQ)的DNA序列以及形态性状的多套数据来探讨野牛牡丹的种间关系.合并分析得到具高支持率的牡丹组物种间的系统发育关系.结果表明,芍药属牡丹组8个野生种分为两个亚组,即肉质花盘亚组subseet.Delavayanae和革质花盘亚组subsect.Vaginatae.肉质花盘亚组包括滇牡丹P delavayi和大花黄牡丹P.ludlowii;革质花盘亚组包括其余6个种.革质花盘亚组中,四川牡丹P.decomposita ssp.decomposita和紫斑牡丹P. rockii ssp. rockii关系密切;卵叶牡丹P.qiui和矮牡丹P. jishanenMs关系密切;银屏牡丹P. suffruticosa ssp.yinpingmudan与风丹P. ostii关系 密切,并且后两个分支为姊妹群.