Helianthemum is the largest, most widely distributed and most taxonomically complex genus of the Cistaceae. To examine the intrageneric phylogenetic relationships in Helianthemum, we used sequence data from plastid DNA (ndhF, psbA-trnH, trnL-trnF) and the nuclear ITS region. The ingroup consisted of 95 species and subspecies (2 subgenera, 10 sections) from throughout the range of Helianthemum, while the outgroup was composed of 30 species representing all the genera in the Cistaceae (Cistus Crocanthemum, Fumana, Halimium, Hudsonia, Lechea, Tuberaria) plus Anisoptera thurifera subsp. polyandra (Dipterocarpaceae). To infer phylogenetic relationships, we analysed three different matrices (cpDNA, nrDNA, cpDNA + nrDNA concatenated) using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference, and performed molecular dating to estimate the ages of origin of the main clades using a Bayesian approach. The cpDNA + nrDNA concatenated dataset provided the highest Bayesian posterior probabilities and bootstrap support values, and the results supported the monophyly of the genus Helianthemum and its sister relationship to a clade consisting of all species of Cistus, Crocanthemum, Halimium, Hudsonia and Tuberaria. This result means that we did not retrieve the sister relationship between Helianthemum and Crocanthemum (plus Hudsonia) that could be expected according to previous published studies. Despite their different statistical support, the topology of the inner branches of all the consensus trees showed that Helianthemum is characterized by the emergence of three major clades in agreement with above-species taxonomy, although unresolved polytomies still remain towards the tips of the trees (species and subspecies). Clade I (mainly distributed in Mediterranean and alpine environments in European and western Asiatic mountain chains) fully coincided with subg. Plectolobum, whereas subg. Helianthemum was retrieved in clade II (arid and semi-arid environments from Macaronesia, the Mediterranean, subtropical northern Africa, Anatolia and central Asia) and clade III (Mediterranean ecosystems around the Mediterranean Basin). The burst of diversification during the Plio-Pleistocene detected in the three main clades of Helianthemum is concomitant with the Messinian salinity crisis, the onset of Mediterranean climatic conditions, and Quaternary glaciations, as found in many other groups of Mediterranean plants. Thus, the general lack of resolution in the trees can be attributed to rapid species diversification and events of reticulate evolution. A series of further taxonomic and evolutionary inferences can be drawn from our analyses: (i) no species occupied an early-diverging position with regard the rest of the species; (ii) a close relationship between H. caput-felis and subg. Plectolobum; (iii) an unexpected close relationship between H. squamatum/ H. syriacum (and H. motae), H. lunulatum/ H. pomeridianum and among H. songaricum/ H. antitauricum/ H. germanicopolitanum; (iv) a close relationship between incertae sedis species and sect. Eri...

IntroductionTurkey has a rich floristic diversity and cultural heritage. Even though many scientific studies have explored the usage of wild plants for the purpose of treatment, foodstuff, or others, efforts carried out in this field are not adequate in documenting this kind of information because of the large surface area of the country and the richness of cultural heritage. In particular, factors such as increased migration from rural areas to urban areas, urbanization, increased coverage of health services, easier accessibility to transportation, and current improvements in technology have gradually reduced the need for ethnobotanical information. Consequently, due to insufficient documentation and the reluctance of new generations to convey such knowledge, this wealth of wisdom is vanishing day by day. Therefore, it would be useful to try various alternative ways and carry out similar studies so as to have access to these data.Folk medicine in the Black Sea region of Turkey has been investigated by several research groups

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