XVI International Botanical Congess

Phylogenetic relationships of African and Australian Thymelaeaceae were investigated by separate parsimony analyses of 120 plastid rbcL and trnL-F nucleotide sequences. Results from separate analyses produced highly congruent results, and we then combined both sequence regions in one analysis to improve resolution. Results show Thymelaeaceae are monophyletic, as are Thymelaeoideae, Aquilarioideae and Gonystyloideae. Gonystylus and Lethedon are grouped together, contrary to previous hypotheses, which placed Lethedon in Aquilarioideae. Molecular evidence does not support monophyly of Gnidia (Africa), at least four lineages could be identified. Pimelea (Australia) is embedded within one of these lineages. The molecular clades will be correlated with classical morphological patterns to provide guidance for further morphological and molecular research.