Chiangiodendron (Achariaceae): An Example of the Laurasian Flora of Tropical Forests of Central America

Using plastid rbcL DNA sequences, we evaluated relationships of the monotypic genus Chiangiodendron (C. mexicanum), which has been thought to be the only New World member of Flacourtiaceae, tribe Pangieae, by some authors. The analysis consisted of two steps. In the first, we analyzed the rbcL seque...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Taxon 2003-08, Vol.52 (3), p.519-524
Main Authors: Sosa, Victoria, Chase, Mark W., Barcenas, Cristina
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Achariaceae
Angiosperms
Chiangiodendron
Flacourtiaceae
Flora
Forest ecology
Genera
Molecular Phylogenetics
Parsimony
Phylogenetics
Pleistocene refuge theory
Polymerase chain reaction
Rbcl sequences
Taxa
Tropical forests
Tropical rain forests
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Using plastid rbcL DNA sequences, we evaluated relationships of the monotypic genus Chiangiodendron (C. mexicanum), which has been thought to be the only New World member of Flacourtiaceae, tribe Pangieae, by some authors. The analysis consisted of two steps. In the first, we analyzed the rbcL sequence of Chiangiodendron in a large eudicot matrix (more than 500 representatives). Based on these results, a second, restricted analysis with 142 taxa was conducted. Chiangiodendron belongs to tribe Pangieae (which is now recognized as part of Achariaceae, whereas the rest of former Flacourtiaceae fall into Salicaceae s.l.), making Chiangiodendron the only American representative of that tribe. Its closest relatives are from Asia. Chiangiodendron is a relict of a wet-tropical Laurasian flora that has been preserved in Neotropical refugia.
ISSN:0040-0262
1996-8175
DOI:10.2307/3647450