Inclusion
of Tenaris and Macropetalum in Brachystelma
(Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae-Ceropegieae) inferred from non-coding nuclear and chloroplast
DNA sequences
U.
Meve and S. Liede
Abstract. The
inclusion of Tenaris and Macropetalum in Brachystelma as proposed by Peckover in 1996 and
contested by Victor and Nicholas in 1998 is supported by molecular studies. Parsimony
analysis of sequence data from two non-coding molecular markers (ITS region of nrDNA and trnT-L and trnL-F
spacers as well as the trnL intron of cpDNA)
suggests a well-supported Brachystelma s.l.
clade (including Tenaris and Macropetalum) with little internal resolution. The Brachystelma s.l. clade occupies a sistergroup
position to the Ceropegia / stapeliad clade,
and both clades together are sister to an Anisotoma
/ Sisyranthus / Neoschumannia clade.
Keywords:
Apocynaceae-Asclepiadoideae, Brachystelma,
Ceropegieae, corona morphology, ITS region,
karyology, Macropetalum, molecular systematics,
taxonomy, Tenaris, trnT-L spacer, trnL
intron, trnL-F spacer.