PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF EREMOSYNE-PECTINATA (SAXIFRAGACEAE S-L) BASED ON RBCL SEQUENCE DATA

Earlier analyses of rbcL sequences clarified phylogenetic relationship s of 16 of 17 subfamilies of Saxifragaceae s. 1. This study investigat es the affinities of the monotypic Eremosynoideae, the only subfamily of Saxifragaceae s. 1. not examined previously for rbcL sequence varia tion. Our analyses suggest that Eremosyne is only distantly related to core members of Saxifragaceae s. 1. (i.e. Saxifragoideae = Saxifragac eae s. str.); it is allied instead with members of Asteridae. A partic ularly dose relationship is indicated between Eremosyne and Escallonia , another traditional member of Saxifragaceae s. 1. that also appears as part of Asteridae. Inclusion of Eremosyne within Asteridae is in ag reement with embryology, as well as with 18S rDNA sequence data.