BeyondGenera Palmarum: progress and prospects in palm systematics

Abstract

The systematic biology of the palm family (Arecaceae) is probably better known than that of any other tropical plant family of comparable size. As a result, the palms are now regarded as a model group for tropical rain forest research. Ten years ago, the first phylogenetic classification of palms was established as a foundation for the second edition of the palm systematic synthesis, Genera Palmarum (GP2), which was published in 2008. Here, we review progress in palm systematics since GP2, summarizing the latest developments in an updated palm classification and schematic phylogenetic tree. To date, the palms comprise 181 genera and c. 2600 species. In just 8 years, six new genera and 200 new species have been described, whereas eight genera have been sunk into synonymy. This reflects the highly dynamic nature of systematic discovery of palms at both forest and phylogenetic frontiers. Palm phylogenetics is a vibrant field, with new trees being generated and utilized in increasingly innovative and ambitious ways. Existing understanding of relationships among the five subfamilies has been confirmed and deep nodes in the subfamilies are crystallizing, especially in subfamilies Arecoideae and Coryphoideae. We conclude that palm systematic knowledge is far from complete and that tools, such as GP2, only stimulate further scientific research and discovery. Despite recent advances, however, many aspects of the palm Tree of Life still remain scarcely known. The vast datasets that the phylogenomic revolution is now bringing to bear on palms promise to elucidate many of these unknowns. The ultimate goal, a species-level phylogenetic tree for palms, is now coming within reach.

A monograph of the Hydriastele wendlandiana group (Arecaceae: Hydriastele)

“…(both polyphyletic) and Siphokentia Burret (paraphyletic). As a result, Hydriastele was expanded to include these three genera (Baker & Loo 2004) and this delimitation prevails today (Dransfield et al 2008;Baker & Dransfield 2016).…”

“…The monophyly of Hydriastele is well supported, as is its placement in the major Indo-Pacific tribe Areceae, but current molecular evidence is insufficient to place the genus to subtribe (Loo et al 2006;Dransfield et al 2008;Baker et al 2009;Baker et al 2011;Baker & Dransfield 2016). The phylogenetic relationships among the species of Hydriastele have been explored (Loo et al 2006).…”

A review of the massive Chilean palm Jubaea chilensis

“…The species J. chilensis belongs to the subtribe Attaleinae, and with another ten genera to the tribe Cocoseae, subfamily Arecoideae, family Arecaceae and order Arecales (Baker and Dransfield 2016). Jubaea is a monotypic genus and the only genus endemic to the Pacific coast of South America (Pintaud and Ludeña 2008).…”

“…Arecaceae, the palm tree family, has 181 genera, classified in five sub-families, with more than 2,600 species (Baker and Dransfield 2016). Although the Arecaceae family has a wide distribution and a large number of species, the endemic Chilean palm, Jubaea chilensis (Mol.)…”

More new rattans from New Guinea and the Solomon Islands (Calamus, Arecaceae)

“…Calamus is the largest genus of palms with ca. 520 species ranging across the Asia-Pacific region with one outlier in Africa (Dransfield et al 2008, Baker 2015, Baker & Dransfield 2016. New Guinea is a significant hotspot for Calamus diversity (Baker & Couvreur 2012), but until recently the taxonomy of the island's species has been unclear.…”