Systematics of the tribe Podalyrieae (Fabaceae) based on DNA, morphological and chemical data

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships among nine genera and 28 species of the southern African tribe Podalyrieae were estimated from sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA as well as morphological and chemical data. Morphological and ITS sequence data produced cladograms with similar topologies, both supporting the monophyly of Podalyrieae (excluding Hypocalyptus). The combined data sets indicate that subtribe Xiphothecinae are monophyletic, but embedded within Podalyriinae. The high degree of congruence between previous taxonomic hypotheses and those based on DNA data provides further evidence for the utility of ITS sequences in studying phylogeny. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London.