Thlaspi s.str. (Brassicaceae) versus Thlaspi s.l.: morphological and anatomical characters in the light of ITS nrDNA sequence data

Nuclear ribosomal (ITS) DNA sequence data from representatives of eleven ou t of 12 genera previously included in Thlaspi sensu late were analyzed to e lucidate relationships within the former genus Thlaspi sensu late. Sequence s from Thlaspi segregates Noccaea, Masmenia, Callothlaspi, Kotschyella, Mic rothlaspi, and Noccidium were added to the existing data sets, and only som e Thlaspi sensu late segregates formed a monophyletic group. The recently r enamed genus Pseudosempervivum, formerly part of the genus Cochlearia, has been shown to be closely related to this group as well. Microthlaspi consis ts of three independent lineages of which Microthlaspi umbellatum is closel y related to Neurotropis. The Thlaspi s.str. taxa including the type specie s T. arvense, are closely related to Peltaria and Alliaria and they represe nt a monophyletic group. Kotschyella and Noccidium, which were also integra ted into Thlaspi s.l. are not closely related to any Thlaspi lineage. There fore, we suggest major taxonomical changes which are not in agreement with concepts based on morphological data. Our ITS based phylogeny demonstrates that subtribe Thlaspidinae comprises some additional genera such as Teesdal ia, Peltaria, and Alliaria, the latter two even previously classified in ot her tribes than tribe Lepidieae.