Phylogenetic relationships and evolution in Chrysosplenium (Saxifragaceae)based on matK sequence data

Chrysosplenium (Saxifragaceae) consists of 57 species widely distributed in temperate and arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with two species restricted to the southern part of South America. Species relationships wit hin the genus are highly problematic. The genus has traditionally been divi ded into two groups, sometimes recognized as sections (Oppositifolia and Al ternifolia), based on leaf arrangement, or, alternatively, into 17 series. Based on morphological features, Hara suggested that the genus originated i n South America and then subsequently migrated to the Northern Hemisphere. We conducted phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequences of the chloroplast gene matK for species of Chrysosplenium to elucidate relationships, test Hara's biogeographic hypothesis for the genus, and examine chromosomal and gynoec ial diversification. These analyses revealed that both sections Oppositifol ia and Alternifolia are monophyletic and form two large sister clades. Henc e, leaf arrangement is a good indicator of relationships within this genus. Hara's series Pilosa and Macrostemon are each also monophyletic; however. series Oppositifolia, Alternifolia, and Nepalensia are clearly not monophyl etic. MacClade reconstructions suggest that the genus arose in Eastern Asia , rather than in South America, with several independent migration events f rom Asia to the New World. In one well-defined subclade, species from easte rn and western North America form a discrete clade, with Old World species as their sister group, suggesting that the eastern and western North Americ an taxa diverged following migration to that continent. The South American species forms a clade with species from eastern Asia; this disjunction may be the result of ancient long-distance dispersal. Character mapping demonst rated that gynoecial diversification is dynamic, with reversals from inferi or to half-inferior ovaries, as well as to ovaries that appear superior. Ch romosomal evolution also appears to be labile with several independent orig ins of n = 12 (from an original number of n = 11) and multiple episodes of aneuploidy.