Athroismeae is a small tribe of the Asteraceae‐Asteroideae, the members of which show considerable variation in morphology. A molecular phylogenetic study of the tribe is presented for the first time, based on plastid (ndhF, trnH‐pssbA, trnL‐trnF) and nuclear data (ETS, ITS). The phylogenetic relationships between the different genera within Athroismeae are discussed, and in addition, three unispecific genera: Anissochaeta, Artemissiopssiss and Symphyllocarpuss as well as Duhaldea (Inula) sstuhlmannii, all earlier placed in other tribes, are here shown to belong within Athroismeae. Symphyllocarpuss is sister to Centipeda and the earlier Symphyllocarpinae includes Centipedinae in synonymy. Furthermore, Cardossoa and Philyrophyllum are found to be integrated within Anissopappuss and their generic status cannot be maintained. An outline of an amended circumscription of the Athroismeae is presented, with three new combinations and a description of the new subtribe Lowryanthinae.

Guatteria (Annonaceae) is with ca. 265 species one of the largest genera of Neotropical trees together with Inga and Ocotea. Use of Guatteria in evolutionary studies has been hampered by taxonomic problems caused by lack of morphological variability in the genus. This study focuses on molecular phylogenetic relationships within Guatteria and its satellites Guatteriopsis, Guatteriella and Heteropetalum, and implications of these relationships for classification and character evolution. Results show that Guatteriopsis, Guatteriella and Heteropetalum should be merged with Guatteria. Heteropetalum may be recognized at subgeneric level because of its aberrant morphology and Guatteriopsis and Guatteriella might be given sectional status. Most of the currently recognised sections in Guatteria are probably non-monophyletic. A completely new infrageneric classification of Guatteria would be premature, however, due to the lack of molecular and morphological synapomorphies to define the sections. Synapomorphies defining Guatteria s.str. probably evolved after divergence of several early branching lineages.

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Metalasia is a genus in tribe Gnaphalieae (Asteraceae), endemic to South Africa and with its main distribution in the Cape Floristic Region. The genus comprises 57 species and, with a number of closely related genera, it constitutes the ‘Metalasia clade’. A species‐level phylogenetic analysis is presented, based on DNA sequences from two nuclear (internal and external transcribed spacer: ITS, ETS) and two plastid (psbA‐trnH, trnL‐trnF) regions together with morphological data. Analyses combining molecular and morphological data attempt not only to resolve species interrelationships, but also to detect patterns in character evolution. Phylogenetic analyses corroborate our earlier study and demonstrate that Metalasia is formed of two equally sized, well‐supported sister groups, one of which is characterized by papillose cypselas. The results differ greatly from earlier hypotheses based on morphology alone, as few morphological characters support the phylogenetic patterns obtained. The two clades of Metalasia do, however, appear to differ in distribution, corresponding to the different rainfall regimes of South Africa. Analyses show a few taxa to be problematic; one example is the widely distributed M. densa which appears to be an intricate species complex. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 174, 173–198.

Anisopappus (Asteraceae: Athroismeae) is a genus with its main distribution in Africa (one species also in Asia), currently considered to include around 21 species. A molecular phylogenetic study of Anisopappus is presented for the first time, based on plastid (ndhF, trnL-trnF, trnQ-rps16) and nuclear (ETS, ITS) data. Anisopappus is confirmed to be monophyletic, and species interrelationships are resolved. The results differ from earlier treatments based on morphology, and the phylogenetic analyses reveal a need for changes in species circumscriptions as compared to those of the most recent treatment. Consequently, many taxa currently treated as synonyms are here shown to represent separate species indicating that the genus includes well over 40 species. Distribution patterns now emerge where several clades are found to consist of species restricted to a particular geographical region. The Anisopappus of Madagascar, many of which were earlier placed in synonymy with species found on the African continent, are here shown to be endemic, and the results reveal a need for further studies of that group.