SAWYER, NEIL W.*, DONALD H. LES, AND GREGORY J. ANDERSON. Biological Sciences, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, Whitewater, WI, 53190. - Systematics of Deprea and Larnax (Solanaceae).
Problems with the classificatory status of Deprea and
Larnax and their affinities with other genera have persisted.
Nuclear and plastid molecular sequence data were used in cladistic
analyses, both separately and combined with morphological data, to
clarify the relationships between Deprea and Larnax and
among these and related genera. Results provided by ITS-2 nrDNA
sequence data, especially in combined analysis with morphology, served
to clearly delineate Deprea and Larnax, and to support
the transfer of D. glabra and its sister species D.
sylvarum to Larnax. The trnL intron cpDNA sequence data
was conserved, evolving predominately by insertion/deletions.
Results from the trnL data provided evidence that Athenaea is
the closest sister to Withania and that neither are closely
related to Deprea or Larnax as has been suggested by
morphology. Based on divergence patterns observed among the trnL
sequences, Brachistus appears to be closely related to
Witheringia and these genera more closely related to
Physalis than to any other genera included in this study.
These data further suggest that a Saracha/Vassobia clade is
sister to Deprea and Larnax. Based on these findings,
Deprea and Larnax will be treated as distinct. Further,
D. glabra and D. sylvarum will be transferred to
Larnax.
Key words: Deprea, ITS-2 sequence data, Larnax, morphology, systematics, trnL sequence data