PHYLOGENETIC-RELATIONSHIPS OF PSEUDOPANAX SPECIES (ARALIACEAE) INFERRED FROM PARSIMONY ANALYSIS OF RDNA SEQUENCE DATA AND MORPHOLOGY

Sequence data from internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of rDNA a nd data from morphology, cytology and wood anatomy are used to study p hylogenetic relationships in Pseudopanax. The molecular and non-molecu lar data are analysed as independent data sets and in combination usin g parsimony. Results supported the conclusion that the genus Pseudopan ax is polyphyletic. Pseudopanax species emerge in two major monophylet ic groups. The Anomalus group contains Pseudopanax anomalus, P. edgerl eyi, and P. simplex; these species share a common ancestor with Cheiro dendron trigynum and more distantly with Pseudopanax gunnii. The secon d major group consists of two smaller groups: the Arboreus group, incl uding Pseudopanax arboreus, P. colensoi, P. kermadecensis, P. laetus, and P. macintyrei, and the Crassifolius/Discolor group, including P. c hathamicus, P. crassifolius, P. discolor, P. ferox, P. gilliesii, P. l essonii, and P. linearis. Meryta species are close relatives of the Ps eudopanax Arboreus and Crassifolius/Discolor groups.