Phylogenetic Relationships and Biogeography of the Endemic Caribbean Genera Crenea, Ginoria, and Haitia (Lythraceae)

摘要

Previous phylogenetic analyses of the Lythraceae have indicated close, but incompletely resolved relationships among the endemic Caribbean genera Crenea, Ginoria, and Haitia, and the monotypic Tetrataxis of Mauritius. Cladistic analyses using morphological data were performed to examine the origins, phylogeny, and biogeographic relationships among these taxa and within the species of Ginoria. Results indicate that Crenea and Tetrataxis are sister genera but their relationship to Ginoria remains unresolved. Within Ginoria, the most basal species is G. rohrii from the eastern Greater Antilles or G. nudiflora from southern Mexico. Haitia is nested in Ginoria at the highest levels of divergence, making the genus para-phyletic. The biogeographic distribution of Ginoria is partially correlated with evolutionary advancement, but no unidirectional pattern of dispersion is evident. Long-distance dispersal of the minute, abundant seeds is considered to be the major dispersing mechanism.