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Recircumscription of the Lecythidaceae

Abstract:

The phylogenetic relationships of the genera of Lecythidaceae and representatives of Scytopetalaceae were assessed using cladistic analysis of both molecular (rbcL and trnL sequences) and morphological data. The results show that the pantropical family Lecythidaceae is paraphyletic. Support was found for the monophyly of three of the four subfamilies: Lecythidoideae, Planchonioideae, and Foetidioideae. The fourth sub family, Napoleonaeoideae, was found to be paraphyletic, with members of the Scytopetalaceae being nested within it forming a strong clade with Asteranthos. Both families share a number of morphological features, including several distinct characters such as cortical bundles in the stem. The combined analysis produced three trees of 471 steps and consistency index CI = 0.71 and retention index RI = 0.70. Asteranthos and members of Scytopetalaceae should be treated as a subfamily of Lecythidaceae, while Napoleonaea and Crateranthus (the latter based solely on morphological features) should remain in the subfamily Napoleonaeoideae. The Lecythidaceae are recircumscribed, and Asteranthos and members of Scytapetalaceae are included in Scytopetaloideae. A formal taxonomie synopsis accommodating this new circumscription is presented.