A PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE EUCRYPHIACEAE

A range of characters from modern and fossil species are used to prese nt a phylogeny of Eucryphia Cav. (Eucryphiaceae). Amongst the extant t axa, the Australian species form a monophyletic group, but the South A merican species are paraphyletic. This, coupled with their present-day distribution and the fossil record, supports the view that Eucryphia had a Gondwanic origin at least 50 million years prior to the disrupti on of Australia from Antarctica. Although based on a limited data set with only vegetative characters available, the inclusion of the fossil members of Eucryphiaceae has demonstrated several trends that have be en inferred to represent a response to the changing climatic condition s of the Cenozoic. These responses have included a general decrease in leaf size, loss of senate leaf margins and the development of peltifo rm cuticular extensions on the abaxial leaf surface. These extensions may aid in decreasing transpirational water loss and/or increasing fro st resistance.