Sequence data for the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA were collected from 27 terrestrial Mediterranean orchid species. These data were included in parsimony (MP) and maximum likelihood (ML) analyses. Tree topologies from the parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses were largely congruent. Both topologies shows that Neottieae are strongly supported as monophyletic (MP = 100% and ML = 86%). Within Orchideae, Dactylorhiza + Orchis + Neotinea are sister groups; the Himantoglossum + Anacamptis clase is well delimited by the cy1ological synapomorphy of n = 18, in both parsimony and maximum likelihood analysis; Serapias is monophyletic according to molecular evidence, though it does not exist unequivocal distinction between the tetraploid S. lingua and the remaining diploid species; section Pseudophrys of genus Ophrys is isolated, showing unequivocal morphological (type of labellum and pollination) and karyological (tetraploid species with 2n = 72) cohesion.
Resume.-Des sequences de Ia region ITS (espaceur interne transcrit) de I'ADN ribosomal ont ete obtenues pour vingt sept especes d'orchidees mediterraneenes terrestres. Les donnees ont ete analysees en maximum de parcimonie (MP) et maximum de vraisemblance (ML). Les topologies des arbres obtenus sont congruentes. Les deux topologies suggerent clairement que les Neottieae son! monophyletiques (MP = 100% et ML = 86%). Parmi les Orchideae, les Dactylorhiza + Orchis + Neotinea son! des groupes-freres. Les analyses MP et ML montrent que le groupe Himantoglossum + Anacamptis est bien delimite par Ia synapomorphie cy1ologique de n = 18. Quoique les donnees moleculaires soutiennent Ia monophylie de Serapias, il n'existe pas une distinction claire entre le tetraplo"ide S. lingua et les especes diplo"ides. La section Pseudophrys du genre Ophrys se trouve isolee, ce qui supporte une coherence morphologique (type de Iabeiie et pollinisation) et caryologique (especes tetraplo"ides avec 2n = 72).