Phylogenetic Relationships within Zaluzianskya (Scrophulariaceae s. s., tribe Manuleeae): Classification Based on DNA Sequences from Multiple Genomes and Implications for Character Evolution and Biogeography

Abstract

Zaluzianskya (Scrophulariaceae s.s., tribe Manuleeae) is a diverse genus of 55 species of annual and perennial herbs, endemic to southern Africa. This study used DNA sequence data from the nrDNA ITS regions, rpl16, and trnL-trnF to produce the first broad phylogenetic hypotheses for Zaluzianskya, allowing the first tests of the monophyly of the genus and its sections, as well as an examination of character evolution. Reyemia nemesioides was placed within Zaluzianskya with strong support. This is consistent with several morphological characteristics of both species of Reyemia. Sections Zaluzianskya and Holomeria are not monophyletic. The single species sampled from section Macrocalyx (Z. mirabilis) was nested within section Nycterinia according to the chloroplast and combined data, but placed sister to Nycterinia according to the ITS data. Several species do not form clades. Populations of Z. villosa and Z. gracilis were nested within a Z. affinis clade while Z. divaricata was nested within a Z. pusilla clade. Finally, populations of the sole day-flowering species within section Nycterinia, Z. microsiphon, were separated on the phylogenies. The source of this division is unknown but could be hybridization or convergent evolution via pollinator selection. Analyses suggest that the plesiomorphic condition for Zaluzianskya is annual, distributed within arid regions. Subsequent derivations of a perennial life history appear associated with distribution in relatively mesic regions.

Maintenance of species integrity in the context of a recent radiation: the case ofJamesbrittenia(Scrophulariaceae: Limoselleae) in southern Africa

“…4). This result matches the pattern observed in other genera of Limoselleae (Zaluzianskya: Archibald et al, 2005;Nemesia: Datson et al, 2008) and in Scrophulariaceae as a whole (Linder & Verboom, 2015). Although an Eocene (45.13 [34.49,55.97] Mya) origin in the desert zone, geographically centred in the southern Namib, appears at odds with suggestions based on palaeontological and sedimentary evidence that the Namib originated c. 17-16 Mya (Pickford & Senut, 1999Pether, Roberts & Ward, 2000;Senut, Pickford & S egalen, 2009), faunal deposits from the Sperrgebiet (southwestern Namibia) indicate semi-arid conditions in this area from the Eocene epoch (Pickford et al, 2008(Pickford et al, , 2014.…”

“…). This result matches the pattern observed in other genera of Limoselleae ( Zaluzianskya : Archibald et al ., ; Nemesia : Datson et al ., ) and in Scrophulariaceae as a whole (Linder & Verboom, ). Although an Eocene (45.13 [34.49, 55.97] Mya) origin in the desert zone, geographically centred in the southern Namib, appears at odds with suggestions based on palaeontological and sedimentary evidence that the Namib originated c .…”

“…(Gentianaceae; Kissling et al, 2009), Zaluzianskya F.W. Schmidt section Nycterinia (D. Don) Hilliard (Scrophulariaceae; Archibald, Mort & Wolfe, 2005), the southern African summer-rainfall-clade of Gladiolus L. (Iridaceae; Valente et al, 2011), the Hypoxis L. clade (Hypoxidaceae; Kocyan et al, 2011), Macowania Oliv. (Asteraceae; Bentley et al, 2014), Melianthus L. (Melianthaceae; Linder et al, 2006), Nemesia Vent.…”

Taking the scenic route – the southern Great Escarpment (South Africa) as part of the Cape to Cairo floristic highway

“…Galley and Linder (2007) Linder and Ellis (1990) Zaluzianskya (Scrophulariaceae) Archibald et al (2005) Hilliard (1994 Zuurberg and GWA as there is between the Zuurberg and adjacent Cape centres. There is comparatively much lower sharing of species between the southern Escarpment and the Baviaanskloof-Cockscomb.…”

Biosystematics, chromosomes and molecular data: melding the old and the new

“…A common theme running through several past columns is that new trends in the form of novel data (primarily molecular) and new analytical methods, while of inherent value, are of even greater general interest when considered within the context of prior information or hypotheses. One example is the considerable interest in examining character evolution and biogeography within a phylogenetic context (e.g., Archibald & al., 2005;Krosnick & Freudenstein, 2005;Yuan & al., 2005;Nie & al., 2005;Winkworth & Donoghue, 2005).…”