Phylogenetic Systematics of Berberidaceae and Ranunculales (Magnoliidae)

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Abstract
Based on a cladistic study employing outgroup comparison and parsimony analysis of 34 genera within Ranunculales, we infer that Berberidaceae, Lardizabalaceae, Menispermaceae, and Ranunculaceae are monophyletic groups. Berberidaceae and Lardizabalaceae are sister groups with the synapomorphies of comound leaves and flowers with a biseriate androecium. The sister group of (Berberidaceae-Lardizabalaceae) remains unresolved, as we find equally parsimonious positions for Menispermaceae and Ranunculaceae. Earlier proposals to associate Berberidaceae with Ranunculaceae, and Lardizabalaceae with Menispermaceae appear to be based on plesiomorphies and convergence. The subordinated hierarchy for Lardizabalaceae is summarized as: (Decaisneoideae-(Sinofranchetieae-Lardizabaleae)), with Decaisneoideae and Sinofranchetieae recognized as a new subfamily and tribe, respectively. Sargentodoxa is the sister taxon of Boquila within Lardizabaleae. The classification for Berberidaceae is summarized as: (Nandinoideae-(Leonticeae-(Berberidinae-Epimediinae))). The subtribe Epimediinae, characterized by striate pollen exine and a chromosome base number of x = 6, comprises the Epimedium group, the Podophyllum group, and Bongardia. The resemblance of Bongardia and Leontice is the result of convergent evolution.