PHYLOGENETIC RECONSTRUCTION IN MYRTACEAE USING MATK, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE POSITION OF PSILOXYLON AND HETEROPYXIS

Parsimony analysis of matK sequence data for representatives of Myrtac eae s.1. provides evidence of its potential in phylogenetic inference in this family. Psiloxylon and Heteropyxis comprise a robust clade, ba sal to representatives of Myrtaceae s. str., and strongly clustered wi th it. In a limited sample of Myrtaceae s. str., several strongly supp orted groups are identified: the myrtoid genera (excluding Syzygium), representatives of the Chamelaucium alliance, and the Chamelaucium plu s Leptospermum alliances.