The family Pennantiaceae and its relationships to Apiales

• The early evolution of the flowering plant order Apiales is discussed based on information from morphology and DNAsequences from four genes (ndhF,rbcL,atpBandmatK). A model-based approach of analysis, Bayesian inference, isused to analyse the data and the results are compared with those from parsimony analysis. In particular, a new familyof the order, the monogeneric Pennantiaceae from New Zealand and Australia, aids in the understanding of howthe order originated. The ancestor of Apiales was probably a shrub or small tree with alternate, simple leaves, paniculateinflorescences, five-merous flowers with free petals, and drupes.

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art (subject category)