Es. Fernando et al., SIMAROUBACEAE, AN ARTIFICIAL CONSTRUCT - EVIDENCE FROM RBCL SEQUENCE VARIATION, American journal of botany, 82(1), 1995, pp. 92-103
Phylogenetic analyses of rbcL sequence data of representatives of all
subfamilies indicate that Simaroubaceae sensu late is polyphyletic. It
represents at least five separate lineages, only three of which (Sima
rouboideae, Harrisonia, and Kirkioideae) cluster within a robust sapin
dalean clade. The family is monophyletic only when comprised of member
s of the subfamily Simarouboideae plus Leitneriaceae, but excluding Ha
rrisonia. Harrisonia is most closely related to Cneorum and Rutaceae.
Kirkioideae is distant from Simaroubaceae sensu stricto, although its
affinities remain within Sapindales. The other two lineages show an af
finity to taxa at some distance from Sapindales: Irvingia with a group
of poorly sampled rosid I taxa comprising in part members of Linales
and Malphigiales; Picramnia and Alvaradoa cluster together in an isola
ted position between the broadly comprised groups of rosid I and rosid
II. Support for the affinities suggested here is also evident in nonm
olecular data sources: wood anatomy, pericarp structure, pollen, and p
hytochemistry. The elevation of the picramnioid clade, comprising Picr
amnia and Alvaradoa, to family rank is signaled, and the recognition o
f Kirkiaceae and Irvingiaceae is substantiated.