Polemoniaceae phylogeny and classification: Implications of sequence data from the chloroplast gene ndhF

The chloroplast gene ndhF was used to study phylogenetic relationships of t he Polemoniaceae at two levels: among members of the Ericales and among gen era of the family. Sequence data for interfamilial analyses consisted of 22 66 bp for 13 members of the Ericales, including four species of the Polemon iaceae, plus three outgroup taxa. The Polemoniaceae were found to be relate d to Diospyros, Fonquieria. thr Primulales, Rhododendron, and Impatiens, bu t relationships among taxa were generally not well supported. The precise p osition of the Polemoniaceae within the Ericales remains obscure. Data for intrafamilial analyses consisted of 1031 bp for 27 species of the Polemonia ceae, including at least one species from most genera of the family, plus f ive outgroup taxa. A single most parsimonious tree was identified. The anal yses suggested that subfamily Cobaeoideae, excluding Loeselia, is monophyle tic and that Huthia is sister to Cantua. Acanthogilia was sister to the rem ainder of subfamily Cobaeoideae. Subfamily Polemonioideae plus Loeselia for med four subclades that were strongly supported as monophyletic and represe nt the major lineages of the subfamily.