Ja. Compton et al., PHYLOGENY OF ACTAEA INCLUDING CIMICIFUGA (RANUNCULACEAE) INFERRED FROM NRDNA ITS SEQUENCE VARIATION, Biochemical systematics and ecology, 26(2), 1998, pp. 185-197
Phylogenetic analysis of the rapidly changing nuclear ribosomal DNA IT
S region in all 23 taxa of Cimicifuga and in all five taxa of Actaea w
as performed. The phylogenetic affinities of Souliea were investigated
. Eranthis and Anemonopsis were shown to be separated from the ingroup
by a similar number of steps. A monophyletic clade including all stud
ied species of Actaea, Cimicifuga and Souliea is strongly supported an
d within it a group consisting of all Actaea species and Cimicifuga ra
cemosa is identified. A large but weakly supported clade consisting of
only Eurasian species is divided into two subclades; one with taxa po
ssessing yellow staminodia, the other with taxa possessing white stami
nodia. Three other well supported groups are indicated: one clade cons
isting of two North American species with long carpel stipes: C. ameri
cana and C. laciniata, another with three North American species with
short carpel stipes: C. arizonica, C. elata and C. rubifolia, and a th
ird with three eastern Asian species with caducous bracts: C. biternat
a, C. japonica and C. purpurea. Cimicifuga is paraphyletic at least wi
th respect to Actaea and possibly also with respect to Souliea. (C) 19
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