Abstract Detail

Systematics Section / ASPT

Bush, Catherine [1], Kron, Kathleen A. [1].

"Rose of the Andes" Revealed: A Phylogenetic Analysis of Bejaria.

Bejaria (Ericoideae, Ericaceae) contains 15 species and occurs in the southeastern United States, Cuba, Mexico, isolated areas in Central America and in South America from Columbia to Bolivia and eastward to Guyana. The genus has been revised four times with the most recent treatment done in 1984 by Steven E. Clemants. Bejaria has been named “Rose of the Andes” because of its profuse blooming of brilliantly colored flowers in pinks, reds and purples. The genus exhibits an impressive altitudinal range from sea level to 3700 meters. An interesting morphological characteristic of the genus is the range of corolla shapes exhibited, from widely spreading and campanulate to tubular and there is a general correlation between high elevations and tubular corollas. All corollas, however, are composed of separate petals. DNA sequence data for three chloroplast genes/regions (matK, ndhF, and trnS-trnG spacer) and one nuclear region (waxy) were obtained for most of the currently recognized species. Combined parsimony analyses strongly support the monophyly of the genus. Based on these analyses, Bejaria racemosa, the only species found in the southeastern United States, is derived from within the South American taxa. This evidence does not support previous studies that suggested B. racemosa was the most primitive member of the genus. Bejaria aestuans and B. resinosa, both widespread species which share overlapping distributions, are strongly supported as sister taxa. When corolla shape is mapped onto the molecular phylogeny a complex pattern of evolution is indicated such that open flowered species are closely related to tubular flowered species.

1 - Wake Forest University, Department of Biology, P.O. Box 7325, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27109-7325, U.S.A.

Keywords:
Bejaria
Ericaceae
Ericoideae
phylogeny.

Presentation Type: Paper
Session: 37-5
Location: Cottonwood B (Snowbird Center)
Date: Tuesday, August 3rd, 2004
Time: 3:00 PM
Abstract ID:213