Phylogenetic inference in velloziaceae using chloroplast TrnL-F sequences

The chloroplast trnL-F region was sequenced for 20 species of Velloziaceae sensu stricto plus Acanthochlamys and representative species of Cyclanthus (Cyclanthaceae) and Pandanus (Pandanaceae) as outgroups. Phylogenetic analy sis of the trnL intron and trnL-F intergenic spacer placed the Asian Acanth ochlamys as a distant but well-supported sister-group to a monophyletic Vel loziaceae sensu stricto. Within the Velloziaceae, the subfamily Barbacenioi deae sensu Menezes is well supported as monophyletic, in agreement with chr omosomal and morphological data, while the subfamily Vellozioideae may be p araphyletic. At least two of the currently recognized genera within the Bar bacenioideae (Aylthonia and Barbacenia) appear to be paraphyletic or polyph yletic as currently delimited, while the genus Burlemarxia appears to have arisen recently within a subgroup of Barbacenia. These results appear most consistent with the inclusion of all or almost all of the taxa of the Barba cenioideae within a broadly delimited genus Barbacenia. Within the subfamil y Vellozioideae, trnL-F data are consistent with the segregation of the Sou th American Nanuza from Vellozia as a distinct genus, while the South Ameri can species sometimes placed in Xerophyta are not distinct from Vellozia.