Despite the recent publication of several phylogenies focused on Rhinantheae, which has been expanded to include three Asian endemic genera, few studies so far have dealt with particular genera within the tribe. Here, we focus on Odontites and related genera because of the high morphological variability of the group and its unclear generic boundaries. Phylogenetic analyses were performed for nrDNA (ITS) and cpDNA (trnK region and rps16 intron) datasets, using Bayesian and Parsimony analyses. Our results cast doubt on the inclusion of Pterygiella and related genera within the Rhinantheae and support the paraphyly of Phtheirospermum, making it necessary to propose three new combinations to avoid it. Odontites is recircumscribed to include Bartsiella, Bornmuellerantha, and Macrosyringion, but not Odontitella. Within Odontites, five distinct lineages are identified. These are distinguishable either by morphological synapomorphies or by a combination of several character states. Most of the Odontites species are regarded as monophyletic. In the O. vernus and O. luteus complexes, some taxonomic changes are made to avoid paraphyly, which results in three new combinations. Supplementary MaterialElectronic Supplement (Appendix S1; Fig. S1) and DNA sequence alignment files are available in the Supplementary Data section of the online version of this article at

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Premise of the study:Microsatellite primers were developed for the first time in the root hemiparasite herb Odontites vernus (Orobanchaceae). These markers will be useful to investigate the role of polyploidization in the evolution of this diploid-tetraploid complex, as well as the extent of gene flow between different ploidy levels.Methods and Results:Fourteen polymorphic and reproducible loci were identified and optimized from O. vernus using a microsatellite-enriched library and 454 Junior sequencing. The set of primers amplified di- to pentanucleotide repeats and showed two to 13 alleles per locus. Transferability was tested in 30 taxa (19 belonging to Odontites and 11 from eight other genera of Orobanchaceae tribe Rhinantheae).Conclusions:The results indicate the utility of the newly developed microsatellites in O. vernus and several other species, which will be useful for taxon delimitation and conservation genetics studies.

Premise of the study:Microsatellite primers were developed in the perennial herbs of the diploid-polyploid complex Veronica subsect. Pentasepalae (Plantaginaceae) to investigate the role that hybridization has played in the evolution of the group, which includes several endangered species.Methods and Results:Twelve pairs of primers leading to polymorphic and readable markers were identified and optimized from V. jacquinii and V. orbiculata using a microsatellite-enriched library method and 454 GS-FLX technique. The set of primers amplified dinucleotide to pentanucleotide repeats, and the number of alleles per locus ranged from one to six, one to 11, and one to nine for V. orsiniana, V. javalambrensis, and V. rosea, respectively. Transferability analyses were performed in 20 species corresponding to 10 different subgenera.Conclusions:These results indicate the utility of the newly developed microsatellites across Veronica subsect. Pentasepalae, which will help in the study of gene flow patterns and genetic structure.

Premise Ecological drivers for genetic differentiation in Mediterranean climates are still underexplored. We have used the strictly Mediterranean endemic Odontites recordonii as a model species to address this question. This species is one of the three Iberian representatives of the O. vernus group, which are morphologically similar. Thus, it was additionally necessary to clarify their phylogenetic relationships. Methods We used amplified fragment length polymorphisms to reveal phylogenetic relationships within O. vernus group, and to reconstruct the phylogeographic patterns within O. recordonii. Additionally, ecological niche models were generated to detect refugia along the Quaternary climatic oscillations. And finally, alleles under natural selection were identified, and correlations between allele presences and environmental variables were calculated in order to shed light on the ecological drivers promoting differentiation. Results The three species from the O. vernus group were recovered as distinct species. Three genetic groups were found within O. recordonii and a putative refugium was detected for each one. Eighty‐one alleles could be under diversifying selection, and 58 alleles showed significant correlations with environmental variables, especially with temperature and precipitation seasonality and summer drought. Conclusions The three Iberian species of the O. vernus group are reciprocal monophyletic taxa. The three genetic groups of O. recordonii could have been restricted to narrow refugia during the Quaternary and displayed present distributions in accordance with bioclimatic conditions. Temperature and precipitation seasonality and the intensity of summer drought are definitory climatic parameters of Mediterranean‐type climates, and they could have acted as drivers of genetic differentiation on O. recordonii.