A review of the systematics and phylogeny of the African proteaceae

In Africa the Proteaceae are represented by 16 genera of which two (Dilobei a Thouars. and Malagasia L.Johnson and B.Briggs) are endemic to Madagascar and one (Faurea Harv.) is common to both Madagascar and Africa where it is widespread in forest and savannah woodland from the southern Cape to Eritre a. The remaining 13 genera are Cape-centred (10 are endemic to the western Cape) and with the exception of the monotypic riverine Brabejum L. (Grevill eoideae), are confined to fynbos (heathland) communities on oligotrophic so ils. These 12 Cape heathland genera currently assigned to two subtribes (Pr oteinae and Aulacinae) within the subfamily Proteoideae have all been recen tly revised or are in the final stages of revision. Preliminary cladistic s tudies now suggest that they could be arranged in several new subtribes wit hin the subfamily Proteoideae to reflect more accurately their phylogenetic relationships. Using morphological characters in a cladistic analysis, the South African Proteoideae (tribe Proteeae) resolve into two broad groups; Aulax Berg., Faurea Harv. and Protea L. form a weakly supported group while the second, large, well-supported group resolves into two clades in which the heterogeneous Leucadendron R.Br. stands apart while the other clade und erpinned by Vexatorella Rourke resolves into two further groups, the 'Leuco spermum group' and the 'Serruria group'. The dioecious genera Leucadendron and Aulax previously united in the subtribe Aulacinae have been shown to di ffer markedly and should probably be placed in separate subtribes. Selectio n pressure, especially from fire and pollinators, has resulted in major mor phological modifications in the 12 fynbos genera from the western Cape.