We conducted a molecular phylogenetic study of the tribe Stipeae using nine plastid DNA sequences (trnK‐matK, matK, trnH‐psbA, trnL‐F, rps3, ndhF, rpl32‐trnL, rps16‐trnK, rps16 intron), the nuclear ITS DNA regions, and micromorphological characters from the lemma surface. Our large original dataset includes 156 accessions representing 139 species of Stipeae representing all genera currently placed in the tribe. The maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses of DNA sequences provide strong support for the monophyly of Stipeae; including, in phylogenetic order, Macrochloa as remote sister lineage to all other Stipeae, then a primary stepwise divergence of three deep lineages with a saw‐like (SL) lemma epidermal pattern (a plesiomorphic state). The next split is between a lineage (SL1) which bifurcates into separate Eurasian and American clades, and a lineage of three parts; a small Patis (SL2) clade, as sister to Piptatherum s.str. (SL3), and the achnatheroid clade (AC). The AC exhibits a maize‐like lemma epidermal pattern throughout. AC consists of a core clade of Austral‐Eurasian distribution and a “major American clade” of North and South American distribution. The base chromosome number for Stipeae is somewhat ambiguous but based on our survey it seems most likely to be x = 11 or 12. Our phylogenetic hypothesis supports the recognition of the following genera and groups (listed by region): Eurasia—Achnatherum, “Miliacea group”, “Neotrinia” (monotypic), Orthoraphium (monotypic), Patis (also 1 from North America), Piptatherum s.str., Psammochloa (monotypic), Ptilagrostis, Stipa, “Timouria group”, and Trikeraia; Mediterranean—Ampelodesmos (monotypic), Celtica (monotypic), Macrochloa (monotypic), and “Stipella‐Inaequiglumes group”; Australasia—Anemanthele (monotypic), and Austrostipa; North America (NA)—“Eriocoma group”, Hesperostipa, Oryzopsis (monotypic), Piptatheropsis, “Pseudoeriocoma group”, and “Stillmania” (monotypic); South America—Aciachne, Amelichloa (also NA), Anatherostipa (s.str.), Jarava (polyphyletic), Lorenzochloa, Nassella (also NA), Ortachne, Pappostipa (also NA), and Piptochaetium (also NA). Monophyly of Phaenospermateae including Duthieinae is demonstrated, and its inclusion within or treatment as sister to Stipeae is rejected.

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Phylogenetic analysis of ITS has been useful in identifying the major lineages in the group, and unraveling many inconsistencies in the sectional classification. However, most recent groups in the eastern Mediterranean clade are not resolved and reticulation in the western Mediterranean group of sections makes phylogenetic relationships within these two groups somewhat obscure.

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a b s t r a c tWe reconstruct here the spatial and temporal evolution of the Campanula alliance in order to better understand its evolutionary history. To increase phylogenetic resolution among major groups (Wahlenbergieae-Campanuleae), new sequences from the rbcL region were added to the trnL-F dataset obtained in a previous study. These phylogenies were used to infer ancestral areas and divergence times in Campanula and related genera using a Bayesian approach to molecular dating and dispersal-vicariance analyses that takes into account phylogenetic uncertainty. The new phylogenetic analysis confirms Platycodoneae as the sister group of Wahlenbergieae-Campanuleae, the two last ones inter-graded into a well-supported clade. Biogeographic and dating analyses suggest that Western Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean have played a major role as centers of migration and diversification within the Campanula alliance, probably in relation to the intense orogenic activity that took place in this region during the Late Neogene, and that could have promoted isolation and allopatric speciation within lineages. Diversification rates within several Campanula lineages would have increased at the end of the Miocene, coinciding with the Messinian Stage. Strong selective pressures from climate changes and the expansion of mountainous regions during this period are suggested to explain the adaptation to drought, cold or disturbed environments observed in many Campanula species. Several independent long-distance dispersal events to North America are inferred within the Rapunculus clade, which seem to be related to high ploidy levels.