Phylogenetic relationships in Cyperaceae subfamily Mapanioideae inferred from pollen and plastid DNA sequence data

Cyperaceae are the third largest monocotyledon family, with considerable economic and conservation importance. In subfamily Mapanioideae there is particular specialization of the inflorescence into units termed spicoids. The structural homology of the spicoid is difficult to interpret, making determination of intrafamilial relationships problematic. To address this, pollen from eight species in Mapanioideae was investigated using light microscopy and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Pollen development was also examined to identify the type of pollen present in these species. We also analyzed DNA sequence data using the trnL-F and rps16 regions from 25 genera and 35 species of Cyperaceae, Juncaceae, and Thurniaceae. Two types of pollen, Mapania-type and pseudomonad, were identifed. Analysis of combined DNA and pollen data resolved a clade sister to the rest of Cyperaceae, corresponding to Mapanioideae. Within this, two further clades were resolved. One comprised taxa assigned to tribe Hypolytreae, which had Mapania-type pollen. The other comprised taxa mainly assigned to tribe Chrysitricheae, but included two taxa from Hypolytreae, Capitularina and Exocarya. All taxa in this clade had pseudomonad pollen. Thus new groupings within the subfamily have been discovered based on the specialization of some taxa in terms of their pollination biology.     

Palynological variation in Balsaminoid Ericales. II. Balsaminaceae, Tetrameristaceae, Pellicieraceae and general conclusions

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The objective of this study is to examine the palynological diversity of Balsaminaceae (two genera/+/-1000 species), Tetrameristaceae (two genera/two species) and Pellicieraceae (one genus/one species). The diversity found will be used to infer the systematic value of pollen features within the balsaminoid clade. METHODS: Pollen morphology and ultrastructure of 29 species, representing all families of the balsaminoid clade except Marcgraviaceae, are investigated by means of light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. KEY RESULTS: Balsaminaceae pollen is small to medium sized with three to four apertures, which can be either colpate or porate, and a sexine sculpturing varying from coarsely reticulate to almost microreticulate. Tetrameristaceae pollen is small sized, 3-colporate, with a heterobrochate reticulate sculpturing and granules present in the lumina. Pellicieraceae pollen is large sized, 3-colporate with long ectocolpi and a perforate sexine sculpturing with large verrucae. Furthermore, Pelliciera is characterized by the occurrence of aggregated orbicules, while orbicules are completely absent in both Balsaminaceae and Tetrameristaceae. Balsaminaceae pollen differs from the other balsaminoid families due to the occurrence of colpate or porate grains with an oblate to peroblate shape, a very thin foot layer and a lamellated endexine. CONCLUSIONS: From a pollen morphological point of view, Balsaminaceae are completely different from the other balsaminoid families. Therefore, no pollen morphological synapomorphies could be defined for the balsaminoid clade. However, various pollen features were observed that could indicate a possible relationship between Tetrameristaceae, Pellicieraceae and Marcgraviaceae. Despite the palynological similarities in the latter three families, it remains unclear to what extent they are related to each other.     

Distribution of tintinnid species from 42° N to 43° S through the Indian Ocean

Taking advantage of the transfer of the Italian R/V “Italica” from Italy to New Zealand for the Italian Research Expedition in the Antarctic, surface sampling of plankton was carried out from 42°N to 43°S from 14 November to 16 December 2001. Collaboration between several Italian research groups resulted in the Mediterranean, Indian and Pacific Ocean Transect (MIPOT), aimed to merge oceanographic measurements with remotely sensed data and to study latitudinal changes in plankton communities. We present preliminary results on the tintinnids (abundance and species composition) along the MIPOT1 transect. Tintinnid distributions and food vacuole contents are discussed in relation to chlorophyll concentrations and contribution of phytoplankton size classes. Generally, chlorophyll concentrations were well below 0.5 mg m^?3 and tintinnid numbers were only a few tens per liter. Eighty-six tintinnid species belonging to 27 genera were recorded. Highest diversity and number of tintinnid species occurred in the warm-water regions, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Tropic of Capricorn. Shannon diversity index ranged from 1.0 (Tasman Sea) up to 2.9 (tropical Indian Ocean). Each of the oceanic provinces showed a well defined tintinnid assemblage, a tintinnid ‘fingerprint’ characterizing each area. Data are compared to previous records for the different areas and the persistence in time of typical tintinnid species is discussed.     

Relationships between lorica volume, carbon, nitrogen, and ATP content of tintinnids In Narragansett Bay

Lorica volume, carbon, nitrogen, and ATP content were measuredin nine species of tintinnid ciliates spanning a size rangeof two orders of magnitude. Tintinnid carbon was linearly relatedto both lorica volume and ATP content. The mean C:ATP ratiowas 65. Tintinnid ATP as a percentage of total ATP in the <153µm fraction averaged 7% over an annual cycle in NarragansettBay. It is concluded that ATP is a useful indicator of livingphytoplankton carbon in pre-screened, small-volume samples duringperiods of moderate to high phytoplankton biomass, but thatprotozoan microzooplankton interference is significant whenphytoplankton standing stocks are low.     

A molecular systematic framework for equine strongyles based on ribosomal DNA sequence data

In this study, molecular data sets were used to address the controversies relating to the systematics of strongyloid nematodes of equids utilising morphological data sets. DNA sequences of the first and second internal transcribed spacers (ITS-1 and ITS-2) of ribosomal DNA were determined for 30 species of equine strongyles and the systematic relationships reconstructed using phenetic and phylogenetic tree-building methods. The molecular data provided support for the hypothesis that the genera with large subglobular buccal capsules are ancestral to those with small cylindrical buccal capsules, but did not provide support for the current division of the subfamilies Strongylinae and Cyathostominae or for some taxonomic groupings (i.e. generic designations of species) within the Cyathostominea based on morphological data. Although not entirely concordant, the current molecular data provide a systematic framework for future studies of equine strongyles, which could be exploited in combination with new, phylogenetically informative morphological data sets.     

Molecular phylogeny of new world primates (Platyrrhini) based on beta2-microglobulin DNA sequences

Neotropical primates, traditionally grouped in the infraorder Platyrrhini, comprise 16 extant genera. Cladistic analyses based on morphological characteristics and molecular data resulted in topologic arrangements depicting disparate phylogenetic relationships, indicating that the evolution of gross morphological characteristics and molecular traits is not necessarily congruent. Here we present a phylogenetic arrangement for all neotropical primate genera obtained from DNA sequence analyses of the beta2-microglobulin gene. Parsimony, distance, and maximum likelihood analyses favored two families, Atelidae and Cebidae, each containing 8 genera. Atelids were resolved into atelines and pitheciines. The well-supported ateline clade branched into alouattine (Alouatta) and ateline (Ateles, Lagothrix, Brachyteles) clades. In turn, within the Ateline clade, Lagothrix and Brachyteles were well-supported sister groups. The pitheciines branched into well-supported callicebine (Callicebus) and pitheciine (Pithecia, Cacajao, Chiropotes) clades. In turn, within the pitheciine clade, Cacajao and Chiropotes were well-supported sister groups. The cebids branched into callitrichine (Saguinus, Leontopithecus, Callimico, Callithrix-Cebuella), cebine (Cebus, Saimiri), and aotine (Aotus) clades. While the callitrichine clade and the groupings of species and genera within this clade were all well supported, the cebine clade received only modest support, and the position of Aotus could not be clearly established. Cladistic analyses favored the proposition of 15 rather than 16 extant genera by including Cebuella pygmaea in the genus Callithrix as the sister group of the Callithrix argentata species group. These analyses also favored the sister grouping of Callimico with Callithrix and then of Leontopithecus with the Callithrix-Callimico clade.     

2013年夏威夷东南部海区表层砂壳纤毛虫的群落结构和分布特征

鉴于东太平洋热带海区表层砂壳纤毛虫和其他微型浮游动物的群落结构资料几乎空白, 我们于2013年8月14日至9月18日在夏威夷东南部海区的23个站位采样调查了表层砂壳纤毛虫群落。23个站位共采集到砂壳纤毛虫22属36种, 均为透明壳种类。各站砂壳纤毛虫种丰富度范围为15-21种, 总丰度范围为4,730-23,693个/m³, 生物量范围为9.60-88.61 μg C/m³。本海区主要优势种为镯形囊坎虫(Ascampbelliella armilla)、斯廷细瓮虫(Steenstrupiella steenstrupii)、薄壳真铃虫(Eutintinnus tenuis)和纤弱细瓮虫(Steenstrupiella gracilis), 这4种主要优势种的口径范围不同。     

A preliminary phylogeny of the 'didymocarpoid Gesneriaceae' based on three molecular data sets: Incongruence with available tribal classifications

The 'didymocarpoid Gesneriaceae' (traditional subfam. Cyrtandroideae excluding Epithemateae) are the largest group of Old World Gesneriaceae, comprising 85 genera and 1800 species. We attempt to resolve their hitherto poorly understood generic relationships using three molecular markers on 145 species, of which 128 belong to didymocarpoid Gesneriaceae. Our analyses demonstrate that consistent topological relationships can be retrieved from data sets with missing data using subsamples and different combinations of gene sequences. We show that all available classifications in Old World Gesneriaceae are artificial and do not reflect natural relationships. At the base of the didymocarpoids are grades of clades comprising isolated genera and small groups from Asia and Europe. These are followed by a clade comprising the African and Madagascan genera. The remaining clades represent the advanced Asiatic and Malesian genera. They include a major group with mostly twisted capsules. The much larger group of remaining genera comprises exclusively genera with straight capsules and the huge genus Cyrtandra with indehiscent fruits. Several genera such as Briggsia, Henckelia, and Chirita are not monophyletic; Chirita is even distributed throughout five clades. This degree of incongruence between molecular phylogenies, traditional classifications, and generic delimitations indicates the problems with classifications based on, sometimes a single, morphological characters.     

A preliminary study of tintinnid diversity in the NW Mediterranean Sea

Tintinnid diversity in surface waters was investigated in the Bay of Villefranche in March, before the formation of the seasonal thermocline, and in May, following water column stratification. Tintinnid abundance was much greater in March (500 cells l^-1), corresponding to a bloom of Stensomella nivalis compared to May (30 cells l^-1). Nonetheless, high numbers of species were encountered on both dates: 32 in March and 39 in May, respectively. Diversity was higher (H2.5) for the May date with low tintinnid concentrations. We examined taxonomic diversity and morphological diversity. Variance of lorica length was correlated with taxonomic diversity, in contrast to variance of lorica diameter, which was nearly invariant. We suggest that either species with similar lorica diameters exploit different prey items or competition for prey items is not the dominant factor in structuring tintinnid communities.      

Molecular phylogenetic and scanning electron microscopical analyses places the Choanephoraceae and the Gilbertellaceae in a monophyletic group within the Mucorales (Zygomycetes, Fungi)

A multi-gene genealogy based on maximum parsimony and distance analyses of the exonic genes for actin (act) and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (tef), the nuclear genes for the small (18S) and large (28S) subunit ribosomal RNA (comprising 807, 1092, 1863, 389 characters, respectively) of all 50 genera of the Mucorales (Zygomycetes) suggests that the Choanephoraceae is a monophyletic group. The monotypic Gilbertellaceae appears in close phylogenetic relatedness to the Choanephoraceae. The monophyly of the Choanephoraceae has moderate to strong support (bootstrap proportions 67% and 96% in distance and maximum parsimony analyses, respectively), whereas the monophyly of the Choanephoraceae-Gilbertellaceae clade is supported by high bootstrap values (100% and 98%). This suggests that the two families can be joined into one family, which leads to the elimination of the Gilbertellaceae as a separate family. In order to test this hypothesis single-locus neighbor-joining analyses were performed on nuclear genes of the 18S, 5.8S, 28S and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 ribosomal RNA and the translation elongation factor 1 alpha (tef) and beta tubulin (betatub) nucleotide sequences. The common monophyletic origin of the Choanephoraceae-Gilbertellaceae clade could be confirmed in all gene trees and by investigation of their ultrastructure. Sporangia with persistent, sutured walls splitting in half at maturity and ellipsoidal sporangiospores with striated ornamentations and polar ciliate appendages arising from spores in persistent sporangia and dehiscent sporangiola represent synapomorphic characters of this group. We discuss our data in the context of the historical development of their taxonomy and physiology and propose a reduction of the two families to one family, the Choanephoraceae sensu lato comprising species which are facultative plant pathogens and parasites, especially in subtropical to tropical regions.     

Phylogenetic relationships among sloths (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Tardigrada): the craniodental evidence

This study is undertaken in order to evaluate specific hypotheses of relationship among extant and extinct sloths (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Tardigrada). Questions of particular interest include the relationship among the three traditional family groupings of extinct ground sloths and the monophyletic or diphyletic origin of the two genera of extant tree sloths. A computer‐based cladistic investigation of the phylogenetic relationships among 33 sloth genera is performed based upon 286 osteological characteristics of the skull, lower jaw, dentition and hyoid arch. Characters are polarized via comparisons with the following successive outgroups, all members of the supraordinal grouping Edentata: the Vermilingua, or anteaters; the Cingulata, or armadillos and glyptodonts; the Palaeanodonta; and the Pholidota, or pangolins. The results of the analysis strongly corroborate the diphyly of living tree sloths, with the three‐toed sloth Bradypus positioned as the sister‐taxon to all other sloths, and the two‐toed sloth Choloepus allied with extinct members of the family Megalonychidae. These results imply that the split between the two extant sloth genera is ancient, dating back perhaps as much as 40 Myr, and that the similarities between the two taxa, including their suspensory locomotor habits, present one of the most dramatic examples of convergent evolution known among mammals. The monophyly of the three traditional ground sloth families Megatheriidae, Megalonychidae and Mylodontidae is confirmed in the present study, and the late Miocene–Pleistocene nothrotheres are shown to form a clade. It is suggested that this latter clade merits recognition as a distinct family‐level grouping, the family Nothrotheriidae. The monophyly of the Megatherioidea, a clade including members of the families Megatheriidae, Megalonychidae and Nothrotheriidae, is also supported. Within Megatherioidea, the families Nothrotheriidae and Megatheriidae form a monophyletic group called the Megatheria. The relationships within the families Megatheriidae and Mylodontidae are fully and consistently resolved, although the hypothesized scheme of relationships among the late Miocene to Pleistocene members of the mylodontid subfamily Mylodontinae differ strongly from any proposed by previous authors. Within the family Megalonychidae, Choloepus is allied to a monophyletic grouping of West Indian sloths, although the relationships within this clade are not fully resolved. © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2004, 140 , 255–305.     

Two unusual myxozoans,Kudoa quadricornis n. sp. (Multivalvulida) from the muscle of goldspotted trevally (Carangoides fulvoguttatus) and Kudoa permulticapsula n. sp. (Multivalvulida) from the muscle of Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus commerson) from the Great Barrier Reef,Australia

Two unusual myxozoan parasites are described from the somatic muscle of 2 reef fishes from Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Kudoa quadricornis n. sp. from the somatic muscle of Carangoides fulvoguttatus is morphologically consistent with other Kudoa sp., having 4 polar capsules and 4 shell valves. Kudoa quadricornis n. sp. is unique in that it has a pyriform spore body with a greater length than width (7.82-9.95 and 5.94-8.66 microm, respectively) and distinct posterolateral projections. Spores of Kudoa permulticapsula n. sp. observed within pseudocysts of the somatic muscle tissue of Scomberomorus commerson are different from those of all other myxozoans. The ovoid spores (length, 4.69-6.65 microm; width, 8.42-9.92 microm; thickness, 6.36-8.33 microm) contain 13 polar capsules with an equal number of shell valves. Phylogenetic analysis using small subunit ribosomal DNA sequences of K. quadricornis n. sp. and K. permulticapsula n. sp. showed that these parasites cluster within a clade comprised of Kudoa species. This brings into question the division of parasites of the Multivalvulida into genera based solely on polar capsule numbers.     

Ombrohydrochory: Rain-operated seed dispersal in plants – With special regard to jet-action dispersal in Aizoaceae

The present review describes the ombrohydrochoric dispersal syndrome in plants, i.e. seed expulsion by raindrops. There are two different ombrohydrochoric dispersal modes – dispersal by rain wash and by ballistic forces. Both have been reported from the understory of tropical and temperate forests, from wetlands and from deserts, and from numerous families and genera. A special form of ombrohydrochoric dispersal is the jet-action rain-operated seed dispersal mechanism which is restricted to the semi-desert ice plants, Aizoaceae, one of the major families of the angiosperms. Within this family, 98% of the species possess hygrochastic capsules with an ombrohydrochoric seed dispersal mechanism which in part are also responsible for the remarkable speciation burst and radiation. The highly complex capsules open when wet, and the seeds are expelled by a ‘jet action’ with the kinetic energy of raindrops. The halves of the covering membranes of a locule form a nozzle near the centre of the capsule which serves as a jet. Drops of water falling on the distal opening (after the locule has been filled with water) result in an explosive expulsion of water droplets and seeds through that jet. More seeds are dispersed further away from the capsule than in those capsule types without such a jet mechanism.     

Phylogenetic relationships of the New World monkeys (Primates, platyrrhini) based on nuclear G6PD DNA sequences

In order to test hypotheses about the phylogenetic relationships among living genera of New World monkeys, 1.3 kb of DNA sequence information was collected for two introns of the glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) locus, encoded on the X chromosome, for 24 species of New World monkeys. These data were analyzed using a maximum parsimony algorithm. The strict consensus of the three most-parsimonious gene trees that result shows support for the following clades: a pitheciine clade including Callicebus within which Chiropotes and Cacajao are sister taxa, an Alouatta-atelin clade within which Brachyteles is the sister taxon of Lagothrix and which is sister to another clade containing the callitrichines, and a callitrichine/Aotus/Cebus/Saimiri clade. Within the callitrichines, Callimico is the sister taxon of Callithrix. Cebus and Saimiri form a clade. These results are broadly consistent with previously published DNA sequence analyses of platyrrhine phylogeny and provide additional support for groupings provisionally proposed in those earlier studies. Nevertheless, questions remain as to the relative phylogenetic placement of Leontopithecus and Saguinus, the branching order within the Aotus/Cebus/Saimiri/callitrichine clade, and the placement of the pitheciine clade relative to the atelines and the callitrichines.     

Phylogenetic relationships in Taxodiaceae and Cupressaceae sensu stricto based on matK gene, chlL gene, trnL-trnF IGS region, and trnL intron sequences

Nucleotide sequences from four chloroplast genes, the matK, chlL, intergenic spacer (IGS) region between trnL and trnF, and an intron of trnL, were determined from all species of Taxodiaceae and five species of Cupressaceae sensu stricto (s.s.). Phylogenetic trees were constructed using the maximum parsimony and the neighbor-joining methods with Cunninghamia as an outgroup. These analyses provided greater resolution of relationships among genera and higher bootstrap supports for clades compared to previous analyses. Results indicate that Taiwania diverged first, and then Athrotaxis diverged from the remaining genera. Metasequoia, Sequoia, and Sequoiadendron form a clade. Taxodium and Glyptostrobus form a clade, which is the sister to Cryptomeria. Cupressaceae s.s. are derived from within Taxodiaceae, being the most closely related to the Cryptomeria/Taxodium/Glyptostrobus clade. These relationships are consistent with previous morphological groupings and the analyses of molecular data. In addition, we found acceleration of evolutionary rates in Cupressaceae s.s. Possible causes for the acceleration are discussed.     

Nematocysts and Taxonomy in Laomedea, Gonothyraea and Obelia (Hydrozoa, Campanulariidae)

The cnidoms of Laomedea flexuosa, Gonothyraea loveni, Obelia geniculata, O. longissima and O. dichotoma were studied by light and scanning electron microscopy to find out whether the nematocysts could be used as taxonomic characters. Three b-rhabdoid heteroneme nematocysts (microbasic b-mastigophore) and three isorhizous haploneme nematocysts (atrichous isorhiza) were distinguished. A small b-rhabdoid nematocyst with spindle-shaped capsule occurred in all the species examined. In the polyp and planula of G. loveni , and the planula of L. flexuosa it was the only nematocyst present. Specific for L. flexuosa was a b-rhabdoid with curved capsule. In the polyp and newly-liberated medusa of O. longissima another b-rhabdoid appeared with bean-shaped capsule and markedly long spines at the distal tube. The polyp and newly-liberated medusa of O. dichotoma were characterized by two different isorhizas. A special type of isorhiza occurred in the polyp of O. geniculata . The curved capsules of the different isorhizas varied somewhat in shape and size. Differences in nematocyst structure and occurrence are presumed to provide characters for taxonomy. Thus, O. dichotoma and O. Iongissima are regarded as separate species due to their distinctly different nematocysts, in conjunction with other morphological and ecological differences.     

Redefining Phrymaceae: the placement of Mimulus, tribe Mimuleae, and Phryma

Chloroplast trnL/F and nuclear ribosomal ITS and ETS sequence data were used to analyze phylogenetic relationships among members of tribe Mimuleae (Scrophulariaceae) and other closely related families in Lamiales. The results of these analyses led to the following conclusions. (1) The Australian genera Glossostigma and Peplidium and the taxonomically isolated Phryma join four genera of tribe Mimuleae to form a well-supported clade that is distinct from other families in the Lamiales. We refer to that clade as the subfamily Phrymoideae. (2) The genera Mazus and Lancea (tribe Mimuleae) together form a well-supported clade that we recognize as the subfamily Mazoideae. Mazoideae is weakly supported as sister to Phrymoideae. We assign Mazoideae and Phrymoideae to a redefined family Phrymaceae. (3) Mimulus is not monophyletic, because members of at least six other genera have been derived from within it. In light of the molecular evidence, it is clear that species of Phrymaceae (about 190 species) have undergone two geographically distinct radiations; one in western North America (about 130 species) and another in Australia (about 30 species). Phylogenetic interpretations of morphological evolution and biogeographical patterns are discussed.     

Cytological studies of the nematocysts of Hydra. I. Desmonemes,isorhizas, cnidocils,and supporting structures

Entire hydras or tentacles were fixed in OsO(4) or in KMnO(4) and thereafter washed, dehydrated, and embedded in a methacrylate mixture. Ultrathin sections were cut on an experimental model, thermal expansion type ultramicrotome or on a Porter-Blume microtome. The sections were examined in an RCA electron microscope. Type EMU-2 D. "Squash preparations" for light microscopy, were made from the hydra mouth region and the attached tentacles. These were observed with an AO Baker interference microscope. In the mature organism, three of the four types of nematocysts normally found in hydra could be positively identified with the electron microscope. The desmonemes, the smallest type, have a dense matrix and a thin capsule. The two different types of mature isorhizas could not be distinguished with certainty. They are intermediate in size between the desmonemes and stenoteles and have a capsule with a dense matrix. The cnidocil, or triggering hair, which is composed of a dense core and a fibrillar sheath has nine supporting elements arranged in a semi-circle near its base. Twenty "supporting structures" are arranged around the nematocyst capsule and interconnections between the supporting elements and these latter structures have been observed. Development of the nematocysts involves an increase in density of the matrix. Spines can be seen in the interior of tubular structures within the capsules of the holotrichous isorhizas.     

Phylogeny of fossil and extant glypheid and litogastrid lobsters (Crustacea,Decapoda) as revealed by morphological characters

A phylogenetic analysis of a total of 31 species: 27 fossil species from seven families (Glypheidae, Litogastridae, Mecochiridae, Pemphicidae, Erymidae, Clytiopsidae, Chimaerastacidae), and four extant species from three families (Glypheidae, Nephropidae, Stenopodidae) is proposed. Most of the genera considered are coded exclusively based upon their type species and, as much as possible, based upon the type specimens. The cladistic analysis demonstrates that the glypheidean lobsters (infraorder Glypheidea) form a monophyletic group including two superfamilies: Glypheoidea and Pemphicoidea new status. Glypheoidea includes three families: Glypheidae, Mecochiridae and Litogastridae. Litogastridae is the sister group of the clade Glypheidae + Mecochiridae. Pemphicoidea includes a single family: Pemphicidae. A new classification of Glypheidea is proposed and currently known genera are rearranged based upon the phylogenetic analysis.     

Wood and bark anatomy of Muntingiaceae: A phylogenetic comparison within Malvales s. l.

Quantitative and qualitative data on wood and bark anatomy are given for Muntingia calabura L. and Dicraspidia donnell-smithii Standley. These data are compared with phylogenetic schemes, based on DNA analysis, in which Muntingiaceae belong to the “dipterocarp clade” within Malvales. The data are consistent with this hypothesis, although Muntingiaceae lack pit vestures in vessels, which are seen in the other malvalean families (Cistaceae, Dipterocarpaceae, Neuradaceae, Sarcolaenaceae, Thymeleaceae), and this may represent a loss of pit vestures. All families of the dipterocarp clade agree with both genera of Muntingiaceae in having tracheids as the imperforate tracheary element type (at least ancestrally), although fiber-tracheids also occur in some Dipterocarpaceae and Thymeleaceae. The large size of some malvalean families (with attendant greater diversity in character states) and a paucity of wood studies in those families make for difficulty in comparison of features such as axial parenchyma and ray types with those of Muntingiaceae; character states of these features are consistent with placement of Muntingiaceae in the dipterocarp clade of Malvales. Banded phloem fibers in bark of Muntingiaceae are much like those of other Malvales. Wood of Muntingiaceae is highly mesomorphic according to quantitative vessel features.