An integrative approach clarifies species delimitation and biogeographic history of <i>Debregeasia</i> (Urticaceae).

ABSTRACT: Integrative data from plastid and nuclear loci are increasingly utilized to resolve species boundaries and phylogenetic relationships within major angiosperm clades. Debregeasia (Urticaceae), an economically important genus, presents challenges in species delimitation due to its overlapping morphological traits and unstable taxonomic assignments. Here, we analyzed 14 morphological traits and generated 12 data matrices from the plastomes and nrDNA using genome skimming from the nine recognized morphospecies to clarify species boundaries and assess barcode performance in Debregeasia. We also used a universal set of 353 nuclear genes to explore reticulate evolution and biogeographic history of Debregeasia. Plastomes of Debregeasia exhibited the typical quadripartit

SUBMITTER: Kipkoech A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11962966 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature