Phylogenetic relationships in Epidendroideae (Orchidaceae), one of the great flowering plant radiations: progressive specialization and diversification.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

The largest subfamily of orchids, Epidendroideae, represents one of the most significant diversifications among flowering plants in terms of pollination strategy, vegetative adaptation and number of species. Although many groups in the subfamily have been resolved, significant relationships in the tree remain unclear, limiting conclusions about diversification and creating uncertainty in the classification. This study brings together DNA sequences from nuclear, plastid and mitochrondrial genomes in order to clarify relationships, to test associations of key characters with diversification and to improve the classification.

Methods

Sequences from seven loci were concatenated in a supermatrix analysis for 312 genera representing most of epidendroid diversit

SUBMITTER: Freudenstein JV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4343289 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature