THE FAMILIAL AND SUBFAMILIAL RELATIONSHIPS OF APOCYNACEAE AND ASCLEPIADACEAE EVALUATED WITH RBCL DATA

Sequence data for the rbcL gene from twenty-four taxa of the families Apocynaceae and Asclepiadaceae were cladistically analysed in order to evaluate the existing familial and subfamilial classification. The ta xa sampled represent all described subfamilies and a majority of the d escribed tribes. The cladistic analysis shows that the Asclepiadaceae are nested within the Apocynaceae. An amalgamation of the two families is therefore recommended. The subfamilial classification is also in n eed of revision: the subfamilies Plumerioideae and Apocynoideae of the current classifications are paraphyletic, as are many of the tribes. Potential subfamily candidates and characters traditionally used in th e classification are discussed.