Phylogenetic Position of Corchoropsis Siebold & Zucc. (Malvaceae s.l.) Inferred from Plastid DNA Sequences

摘要

Recent phylogenetic research suggests that Malvaceae s.l. comprises formerly Tiliaceae, Byttneriaceae, Bombacaceae, and Sterculiaceae. Corchoropsis is traditionally included in Tiliaceae or Sterculiaceae and is distributed in China, Korea, and Japan. One to three species have been recognized for this genus. Phylogenetic relationships among the Malvacean taxa have been intensively studied with molecular data, and the evolution of their morphological characteristics has been re-interpreted accordingly. However, no Corchoropsis species have been included for their phylogenetic position. Here, three chloroplast coding regions-rbcL, atpB, and ndhF, from Corchoropsis psilocarpa and Corchoropsis crenata-were amplified and sequenced, then compared with other Malvacean taxa. This analysis of the three plastid gene sequences now places Corchoropsis species in Dombeyoideae, as previously proposed by Takeda (Bull Misc Inform Kew 365, 1912), Tang (Cathaya 4:131-150, 1992), and Bayer and Kubitzki (2003). Within Dombeyoideae, Corchoropsis forms a strongly supported sister relationship with the Dombeya-Ruizia clade.