Generic concepts in Australian Gardenieae (Rubiaceae): a cladistic approach

Cladistic analyses of a morphological database for 37 Australian species of Gardenia Ellis and Randia Houst. ex L. demonstrate the polyphyly of both g enera. Five clades are identified, with Randia audasii C. T. White: placed in an isolated position. Four of these clades are assigned to extant genera : Aidia Lour., Atractocarpus Schltr. et K. Krause, Gardenia s.s. and Kailar senia Tirveng. The following genera are considered as falling within Atract ocarpus: Neofranciella Guillaumin, Sukunia A. C. Sm., and Trukia Kaneh. Pel agodendron Seem. belongs with Aidia. Whereas Randia audasii falls within th e current concept of Rothmannia Thunb., available data suggest that genus i s paraphyletic, and should be confined to the African taxa.