PHYLOGENY OF THE HAMAMELIDACEAE BASED ON THE ITS SEQUENCES OF NUCLEARRIBOSOMAL DNA

The phylogeny of Hamamelidaceae was constructed based on sequences of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and the 5.8S coding region of n uclear ribosomal DNA. The monophyly of both the Altingioideae and the Hamamelidoideae was strongly supported. The tribe Kamamelideae was, ho wever, shown to be polyphyletic. Loropetalurn of the tribe Hamamelidea e formed a monophyletic group with Corylopsis of the tribe Coryopsidea e. Hamamelis of the tribe Hamamelideae was closely related to Distyliu m, Fothergilla and Shaniodennl on of the tribe Fothergilleae. The ITS data supported Endress' treatment of merging the tribes Distylieae and Fothergilleae. Fortuneal ia of the tribe Eustigmateae was phylogeneti cally basal to the Hamamelis-Fothergilleae monophyletic group. The sub family AItingioideae was cladistically basal within Hamamelidaceae. Li quidambar of the Altingioideae was paraphyletic and Altingia and Semil iquidambar formed a sister group relationship. Disanthus was highly di vergent from other taxa and its subfamiliaI status was supported. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.