Molecular phylogeny of Brachycome (Asteraceae)

Intrageneric relationships in the genus Brachycome were investigated by the comparison of nucleotide sequences of the chloroplast gene matK. Evolution ary trends of some morphological and cytological characters were estimated based on the matK tree. The results indicate that Brachycome is divided int o four major clades, and circumscription of superspecies based primarily on fruit morphology is not fully supported. Fruit morphology has evolved in p arallel from simple to complex structures in several lineages. The ancestra l basic chromosome number is x = 9, and lower chromosome numbers are the pr oducts of several dysploid reductions from n = 9 in two of four major clade s of Brachycome.