A phylogenetic analysis of the Schisandraceae based on morphology and nuclear ribosomal ITS sequences

Cladistic analyses were conducted using morphological and ITS sequence data to examine phylogenetic relationships within the Schisandraceae. The most parsimonious trees obtained from the morphological data consistently show a dichotomy, with clades corresponding with the two currently accepted gener a, Kadsura and Schisandra. In the ITS trees S. propinqua consistently group s with the Kadsura clade, and the position of S. glabra is uncertain. The t rees resulting from the analysis of combined data are polytomous, due to th e variable positions of R. scandens, K coccinea and S. propinqua. The monop hyletic status of Kadsura subgen. Kadsura sect. Kadsura and Schisandra subg en. Pleiostema are strongly supported, although the monophyly of other supr aspecific taxa is unclear. Further studies are required before an unambiguo us phylogeny is achieved for the family. (C) 2001 The Linnean Society of Lo ndon.