Phylogenetic placement of the enigmatic angiospermHydrostachys

Abstract
Summary: Albach, D. C., Soltis, D. E., Chase, M. W. & Soltis, P. S.: Phylogenetic placement of the enigmatic angiospermHydrostachys. ‐ Taxon 50: 781–805. 2001. ‐ ISSN 0040‐0262.Hydrostachys, an enigmatic aquatic plant genus from Madagascar and southern to central Africa, has been suggested to be related toLamialesbased on embryology, whereasrbcLsequences have indicated a relationship withHydrangeaceae (Cornales). We investigated these hypotheses by combiningrbcLwithatpBandndhFsequences and increased taxon sampling inHydrangeaceaecompared to previous analyses. Rates and patterns of molecular evolution vary acrossndhFwith the 3′ portion giving a different result than the 5′ portion. The highly divergent sequences ofHydrostachysmake phylogenetic placement difficult, but maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses of combined data sets agree in placingHydrostachyswithinHydrangeaceae, as do separate analyses ofrbcL, atpB, and the 5′ portion ofndhF. Few morphological and embryological characters support this relationship.

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