A revised chloroplast DNA phylogeny of the Ranunculaceae

Abstract

Phylogenetic analyses of chloroplast DNA restriction site variation among thirty-one genera of the Ranunculnceae were performed using three species of Berberidaceae and Lardizabalaceae as outgroups. 598 phylogenetically informative restriction sites were analysed cladistically. Two most-parsimonious trees were obtained using Wagner parsimony and a single most-parsimonious tree using Dollo parsimony. Many strongly supported monophyletic groups were found, although most of the basal clades varied depending on the parsimony method used. Hydrastis is positioned outside of the Ranunculaceae, whereas Coptis and Xanthorhiza form a clade that is sister group to the remaining genera. Several basal clades are weakly supported, and the analyses do not suggest an unambiguous subdivision of the family. A comparison between chloroplast DNA phylogeny and the distribution of morphological, cytological, and phytochemical characters is made.