A review of molecular phylogenetic studies of Rubiaceae.

• Rubiaceae is one of the five largest families of flowering plants with over 13,000 species. We have seen a tremendousincrease in our understanding of the phylogeny of the family through studies on molecular data during the 15-year period from1991 to 2005; some new relationships are completely unexpected and different from traditional classification. At the end of2005, ca. 50 phylogenetic reconstructions from the family had been published based on more than 4400 sequences. Moststudies are based on ITS and rbcL sequences, but 13 different markers have been used. Most sequences available in GenBank(as of 2005) are from rps16, trn(T)L-F, rbcL, and ITS. We can now see a framework of the family phylogeny with support forthree subfamilies and over 43 tribes; subfamily Cinchonoideae (Chiococceae, Cinchoneae, Guettardeae, Hamelieae, Hillieae,Hymenodictyeae, Isertieae, Naucleeae, Rondeletieae), subfamily Ixoroideae (Alberteae, Bertiereae, Coffeeae, Condamineeae,Cremasporeae, Gardenieae, Ixoreae, Mussaendeae, Octotropideae, Pavetteae, Posoquerieae, Retiniphylleae, Sabiceeae,Sipaneeae, Vanguerieae), and subfamily Rubioideae (Anthospermeae, Argostemmateae, Coussareeae, Craterispermeae,Danaideae, Gaertnereae, Knoxieae, Lasiantheae, Morindeae, Ophiorrhizeae, Paederieae, Psychotrieae, Putorieae, Rubieae,Schradereae, Spermacoceae, Theligoneae, Urophylleae), and tribe Coptosapelteae, which is placed outside the threesubfamilies. Two of these tribes, Gardenieae and Morindeae, are paraphyletic/polyphyletic. Only about half of the tribes havebeen the focus of specific investigations. However, we have seen increased interest in using Rubiaceae phylogenies for studiesof ecology, evolution, and biogeography, e.g., and also for morphological and anatomical investigations. Evolution of fruittraits, flower types, and myrmecophytism has been investigated, and biogeographic patterns for specific taxa in Africa, theCaribbean, and the Pacific have been studied. In addition, distribution of pollen types, chemical substances, and woodcharacteristics have been compared with molecular phylogenies.Key words:

Subject headings

NATURVETENSKAP  -- Biologi (hsv//swe)

NATURAL SCIENCES  -- Biological Sciences (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Biogeography

classification

ecology

evolution

ITS

morphological characters

phylogeny

rbcL

rps16

Rubiaceae review

trn(T)L-F

Biology

Biologi

systematisk botanik

Systematic Botany

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)