Abstract Detail

Systematics Section / ASPT

Morris, Ashley B. [3], Bell, Charles [1], Gitzendanner, Matthew A. [2], Soltis, Douglas E. [2], Soltis, Pamela S. [1].

From molecules to macrofossils: estimating divergence times within Illicium (Illiciaceae).

Illicium (Illiciaceae) is primarily Asian in distribution, but is represented in the New World by six recognized species: I. floridanum and I. parviflorum from the southeastern U.S.; I. mexicanum from eastern Mexico; I. ekmanii and I. hottense from Hispaniola; and I. cubense from eastern Cuba. The family has historically been split into two sections (Illicium and Cymbostemon) based primarily on tepal characters, but both sections have been rendered paraphyletic by recent molecular studies, providing strong support for separate North American and East Asian clades. However, due to inaccessibility of material, I. cubense was not included in previous molecular phylogenies, making it difficult to examine relationships within the New World clade. Here we present an updated molecular phylogeny for the genus by adding I. cubense as well as additional molecular characters for previously included taxa. Our objective in updating the molecular phylogeny was to identify possible biogeographic hypotheses to explain the current geographic distribution of the New World species. In addition, we used published fossil accounts and current dating methods to estimate divergence times between the two major clades and within the New World clade.

1 - University of Florida, Department of Natural History, Florida Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 117800, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-7800, USA
2 - University of Florida, Department of Botany, 220 Bartram Hall, P.O. Box 118526, Gainesville, Florida, 32611-8526, USA
3 - University of Missouri-Columbia, Biological Sciences, 105 Tucker Hall, Columbia, Missouri, 65211, USA

Keywords:
chloroplast DNA
fossils
Illicium
ITS.

Presentation Type: Paper
Session: 58-2
Location: Cottonwood B (Snowbird Center)
Date: Wednesday, August 4th, 2004
Time: 1:45 PM
Abstract ID:725