Abstract Detail

Systematics Section/ASPT

STRUWE, LENA [1], Soza, Valerie L [2], Manickam, Sugumaran  [3], OLMSTEAD , RICHARD G [4].

Enigmatic Pteleocarpa finds a new home in Gelsemiaceae (Gentianales).

Since its description the family classification of the tropical tree Pteleocarpa has confounded botanists.  This yellow-flowered Southeast Asian tree with alternate leaves, yellow petals, and broadly winged samaras has been placed in nearly a dozen families, and never with clear certainty.  Its placements have included Boraginaceae, Cardiopteridaceae, Icacinaceae, Olacaceae, and Sapindaceae, as well as its own monotypic family, Pteleocarpaceae (without order assignment). New investigations of its phylogenetic position based on chloroplast and nuclear ribosomal regions (matK, ndhF, rbcL, and ETS), as well as detailed comparative analyses of its morphology and anatomy has finally placed it in its evolutionary neighborhood, in the Gentianales.  It is one of very few members of this order with alternate leaves.  It is most closely related to Gelsemium and Mostuea of Gelsemiaceae, a small pantropical family of only two genera (now three). Its inclusion in Gelsemiaceae are supported by bootstrap and posterior probability numbers of 96-100%. Synapomorphies for the Gelsemiaceae that also occur in Pteleocarpa are imbricate and commonly yellow corollas, latrorse anther dehiscence, divided styles, and compressed seeds.  An unique character for Pteleocarpa in the Gelsemiaceae is its indehiscent samaras.

1 - Rutgers University, Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resorces, 237 Foran Hall, 59 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
2 - University Of Washington, Department Of Biology, BOX 351800, SEATTLE, WA, 98195-1800, USA
3 - Rimba Ilmu Botanic Garden, University of Malaya, Institute of Biological Sciences, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia
4 - University Of Washington, Department Of Biology, CAMPUS BOX 355325, SEATTLE, WA, 98195-5325, USA

Keywords:
anatomy
Boraginaceae
molecular systematics
phylogenetics
Gentianales
Phylogenetic classification
Morphology
tropical tree species
Southeast Asia
Gelsemiaceae.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 33
Location: River Fork/Grove
Date: Wednesday, July 30th, 2014
Time: 8:30 AM
Number: 33003
Abstract ID:200
Candidate for Awards:None