Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Caribbean Island Asteraceae: Systematics, Molecules, and Conservation on a Biodiversity Hotspot

  • Published:
The Botanical Review Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Caribbean Islands are one of the ten insular biodiversity hotspots that are defined based on endemicity, massive habitat loss and vulnerability to extinction. Asteraceae genera endemic to islands have provided well known examples of plant radiation worldwide and illustrate the importance of these insular systems for evolutionary and conservation studies. A review of known patterns of taxonomic diversity and molecular cladistics is provided for Asteraceae genera and species endemic in the Caribbean Island biodiversity hotspot. We found that when compared with other island systems worldwide the Caribbean Islands have the highest number of endemic genera (41), have endemic genera in the highest number of tribes, and harbor the only Asteraceae tribe endemic to an island system, the Feddeeae which is restricted to Cuba. These unique patterns identify the Caribbean Islands as the most important insular area of endemism for this major plant family. Molecular cladistic studies are limited to only seven species in seven endemic genera and six endemic species in five non-endemic genera. These few studies are however relevant as: (1) they confirm the tribal status of the Feddeeae, (2) suggest colonization events from the highlands of Cuba toward low elevation and geologically recent areas of the Bahamas and South Florida, (3) provide evidence for biogeographical links to remote regions of the Pacific Basin, and (4) identify sister relationships with continental taxa, mostly from North America.

Resumen

Las Islas del Caribe son uno de los diez “punto calientes” insulares de biodiversidad, los cuales vienen definidos por sus niveles de endemicidad, masiva pérdida de habitat y vulnerabilidad y extinción. Asteráceas endémicas de islas han proporcionado ejemplos muy bien conocidos de radiación vegetal a nivel mundial, éstos ilustran la importancia de los sistemas insulares en estudios evolutivos y de conservación. Se presenta una revisión de las pautas de diversidad taxonómica y de cladismo molecular en Asteráceas de las Islas del Caribe. Hemos encontrado que comparadas con otros sistemas insulares, las Islas del Caribe tienen el mayor número de géneros endémicos (41), tienen géneros endémicos en el mayor número de tribus y poseen la única tribu de la familia endémica en islas, Feddeeae es endémica de Cuba. Estas pautas de diversidad exclusivas de las Islas del Caribe hacen que éstas sean el área de endemismos insulares más importante para las Asteráceas. Estudios de cladismo molecular se limitan solamente a siete especies en siete géneros endémicos y a seis especies en cinco géneros no endémicos. Este reducido número de estudios son de todas formas relevantes debido a que: (1) confirman el estatus a nivel de tribu de Feddeeae, (2) sugieren una ruta de colonización desde zonas altas de Cuba hacia áreas de baja elevación de las Bahamas y el sur de la Florida, (3) proporcionan evidencia de conexiones biogeográficas con regions remotas del Océano Pacífico, y (4) identifican relaciones de hermandad con táxones continentales, principalmente de América del Norte.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

Literature Cited

  • Adams, C. D. 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica. University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1997. Regional overview: Caribbean Islands. Pp. 233–258 in S. D. Davis, V. H. Heywood, O. Herrera-MacBryde, J. Villa-Lobos & A. C. Hamilton (eds.), Centres of plant diversity. A guide and strategy for their conservation. Vol. 3. The Americas. WWF & IUCN, IUCN Publications Unit, Cambridge, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adsersen, H. 1995. Research on islands: classic, recent, and prospective approaches. Pp. 7–21 in P. M. Vitousek, L. L. Loope & H. Adsersen (eds.), Islands. Biological diversity and ecosystem function (Ecological Studies Vol. 115). Springer, Berlin, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderberg, A. A., P. Eldenäs, R. J. Bayer & M. Englund. 2005. Evolutionary relationships in the Asteraceae tribe Inuleae (inc. Plucheeae) evidenced by DNA sequences of ndhF; with notes on the systematic positions of some aberrant genera. Organisms Diversity Evol. 5: 135–146.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ——— & ———. 2007. Tribe Inuleae Cass. Pp. 374–391 in J. W. Kadereit & C. Jeffrey (eds.), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. VIII. Flowering plants. Eudicots. Asterales. Springer, Berlin, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———, B. G. Baldwin, R. G. Bayer, J. Breitwieser, C. Jeffrey, M. O. Dillon, P. Eldenäs, V. Funk, N. García-Jacas, D. J. N. Hind, P. O. Karis, H. W. Lack, G. Nesom, B. Nordenstam, Ch. Oberprieler, J. L. Panero, C. Puttock, H. Robinson, T. F. Stuessy, A. Susanna, E. Urtubey, R. Vogt, J. Ward & L. E. Watson. 2007. Compositae. Pp. 61–588 in J. W. Kadereit & C. Jeffrey (eds.), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. VIII. Flowering plants. Eudicots. Asterales. Springer, Berlin, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Arriagada, J. E.. 2003. Revision of the genus Clibadium (Asteraceae, Heliantheae). Brittonia 55: 245–301.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baldwin, B. G. 2003. A phylogenetic perspective on the origin and evolution of Madiinae. Pp. 193–228 in S. Carlquist, B. G. Baldwin & G. D. Carr (eds.), Tarweeds and silverswords: evolution of the Madiinae (Asteraceae). Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, Missouri.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———, G. B. L. Wesa & J. L. Panero. 2002. Nuclear rDNA evidence for major lineages of Helenioid Heliantheae (Compositae). Syst. Bot. 27: 161–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bayer, R. J., I. Breitwieser, J. Ward & C. Puttock 2007. Tribe Gnaphalieae (Cass.) Lecoq & Juillet. Pp. 246–284 in J. W. Kadereit & C. Jeffrey (eds.), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. VIII. Flowering plants. Eudicots. Asterales. Springer, Berlin, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berazaín, R., F. Areces, J. C. Lazcano & L. R. González. 2005. Lista roja de la flora vascular cubana. Documentos 4. Jardín Botánico Atlántico de Gijón, Gijón, Spain.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blake, S. F. 1923. Two new genera related to Narvalina. J. Wash. Acad. Sci. 13: 102–105.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1925. On the status of the genus Chaenocephalus, with a review of the section Lipactinia of Verbesina. Amer. J. Bot. 12: 625–640.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bolick, M. R. 1991. Systematics of Salmea DC. (Compositae: Heliantheae). Syst. Bot. 16: 462–477.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Borhidi, A. 1996. Phytogeography and vegetation ecology of Cuba. Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— & O. Muñiz. 1983. Catálogo de plantas cubanas amenazadas o extinguidas. Editorial Academia, Havanna, Cuba.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bremer, K. 1994. Asteraceae. Cladistics & classification. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cariaga, K. A., J. F. Pruski, R. Oviedo, A. A. Anderberg, C. E. Lewis & J. Francisco-Ortega. 2008. Phylogeny and systematic position of Feddea (Asteraceae: Feddeeae): a taxonomically enigmatic and critically endangered genus endemic to Cuba. Syst. Bot. 33: 193–202.

  • Carlquist, S. 1965. Island life. The Natural History Press, Garden City, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1974. Island biology. Columbia University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carr, G. D., B. G. Baldwin & J. L. Strother. 2003. Appendix 1. Accepted names and synonyms for specific taxa in Madiinae. Pp. 229–243 in S. Carlquist, B. G. Baldwin & G. D. Carr (eds.), Tarweeds and silverswords: evolution in the Madiinae (Asteraceae). Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis, Missouri.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cattell, M. V. & S. A. Karl 2004. Genetics and morphology in a Borrichia frutescens and B. arborescens (Asteraceae) hybrid zone. Amer. J. Bot. 91: 1757–1766.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Correll, D. S. & H. B. Correll. 1982. Flora of the Bahama archipelago (including the Turks and Caicos Islands). A. R. Gantner Verlag, Vaduz, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eastwood, A., M. Gibby & Q. C. B. Cronk. 2004. Evolution of St Helena arborescent Astereae (Asteraceae): relationships of the genera Commidendrum and Melanodendron. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 144: 69–83.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Francisco-Ortega, J., D. J. Crawford, A. Santos-Guerra & R. K. Jansen. 1997. Origin and evolution of Argyranthemum (Asteraceae: Anthemideae) in Macaronesia. Pp. 407–431 in T. J. Givnish & K. J. Sytsma (eds.), Molecular evolution and adaptive radiation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———, E. Santiago-Valentín, P. Acevedo-Rodríguez, C. Lewis, J. Pipoly III, A. W. Meerow & M. Maunder. 2007. Seed plant genera endemic to the Caribbean Island biodiversity hotspot: a review and a molecular phylogenetic perspective. Bot. Rev. 73: 183–234.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freire, S. E., L. Katinas & G. Sancho. 2002. Gochnatia (Asteraceae, Mutisieae) and the Gochnatia complex: taxonomic implications from morphology. Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 89: 524–550.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gentry, A. H. 1982. Neotropical floristic diversity: phytogeographical connections between Central and South America, Pleistocene climatic fluctuations, or an accident of the Andean orogeny? Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 69: 557–593.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Givnish, T. J. 1998. Adaptive plant evolution on islands: classical patterns, molecular data, new insights. Pp. 281–304 in P. R. Grant (ed.), Evolution on islands. Oxford University Press, Oxford, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gooding, E. G. B., A. R. Loveless & G. R. Proctor. 1965. Flora of Barbados. Ministry of Overseas Development, London, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hedges, S. B. 1996. Historical biogeography of West Indian vertebrates. Annual Rev. Ecol. Syst. 27: 163–196.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herrera, P., M. L. Prede & F. Cejas. 1999. Evaluación del estado de conservación de la familia Asteraceae en Cuba. Acta Bot. Cub. 130: 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———, ——— & ———. 2000. Composición de la familia Asteraceae en Cuba. Acta Bot. Cub. 141: 1–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— & I. Ventosa. 2005a. Biogeography of Cuban Asteraceae. Compositae Newslett. 42: 55–67.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— & ———. 2005b. Ecology of Cuban Asteraceae. Compositae Newslett. 42: 89–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hind, D. J. N. 2007. Tribe Mutisieae Cass. Pp. 90–123 in J. W. Kadereit & C. Jeffrey (eds.), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. VIII. Flowering plants. Eudicots. Asterales. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— & H. Robinson. 2007. Tribe Eupatorieae Cass. Pp. 510–574 in J. W. Kadereit & C. Jeffrey (eds.), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. VIII. Flowering plants. Eudicots. Asterales. Springer, Berlin, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Holmes, W. C. 1993. The genus Mikania (Compositae: Eupatorieae) in the Greater Antilles. Sida, Bot. Misc. 9: 1–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howard, R. A. (ed.). 1989. Flora of the Lesser Antilles, Vol. 6. Arnold Arboretum, Harvard University, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.

  • Ito, M., T. Yahara, R. M. King, K. Watanabe, S. Oshita, J. Yokoyama & D. J. Crawford. 2000a. Molecular phylogeny of Eupatorieae (Asteraceae) estimated from cpDNA RFLP and its implication for the polyploid origin hypothesis of the tribe. J. Pl. Res. 113: 91–96.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ———, Y. Kita, T. Kawahara, D. J. Crawford & T. Yahara. 2000b. Phylogeny and phytogeography of Eupatorium (Eupatorieae, Asteraceae): Insights from sequence data of the nrDNA ITS regions and cpDNA RFLP. J. Pl. Res. 113: 79–89.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IUCN. 2001. IUCN red list categories and criteria: Version 3.1. IUCN Species Survival Commission. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. Published in the internet; http://www.redlist.org/info/categories_criteria2001.

  • Jansen, R. K. 1985. The systematics of Acmella (Asteraceae – Heliantheae). Syst. Bot. Monogr. 8: 1–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jiménez, F., L. Katinas, M. C. Telleria & J. V. Crisci. 2004. Salcedoa gen. nov. a biogeographic enigma in the Caribbean Mutisieae (Asteraceae). Syst. Bot. 29: 987–1002.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Källersjö, M. & B. Ståhl. 2003. Phylogeny of Theophrastaceae (Ericales s. lat.). Int. J. Pl. Sci. 164: 579–591.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keeley, S. C. 1978. A revision of the West Indian Vernonias (Compositae). J. Arnold Arbor. 59: 360–413.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———, Z. H. Forsman & R. Chan. 2007. A phylogeny of the “evil tribe” (Vernonieae: Compositae) reveals Old/New World long distance dispersal: Support from separate and combined congruent datasets (trnL-F, ndhF, ITS). Molec. Phylogenet. Evol. 44: 89–103.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keil, D. J. 1983. Biogeography of Pectis (Asteraceae) in the West Indies. Amer. J. Bot. 70 (5 Part 2): 119 (abstract).

    Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, D. L. 1988. The threatened flowering plants of Jamaica. Biol. Conservation 46: 201–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, H. G., D. J. Loockerman & R. K. Jansen. 2002. Systematic implications of ndhF sequence variation in the Mutisieae (Asteraceae). Syst. Bot. 27: 598–609.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, S.-C., D. J. Crawford, J. Francisco-Ortega & A. Santos-Guerra. 1996. The common origin for woody Sonchus and five related genera in the Macaronesian Islands: Molecular evidence for extensive radiation. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 93: 7743–7748.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ———, L. Chunghee & J. A. Mejías. 2007. Phylogenetic analysis of chloroplast DNA matK gene and ITS of nrDNA sequences reveals polyphyly of the genus Sonchus and new relationships among the subtribe Sonchinae (Asteraceae: Cichorieae). Molec. Phylogenet. Evol. 44: 578–597.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kimball, R. T. & D. J. Crawford. 2004. Phylogeny of Coreopsidae (Asteraceae) using ITS sequences suggests lability in reproductive characters. Molec. Phylogenet. Evol. 33: 127–139.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • King, R. M. & H. Robinson. 1987. The genera of the Eupatorieae (Asteraceae). Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 22: 1–581.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knox, E. B. & J. D. Palmer. 1995a. The origin of Dendrosenecio within the Senecioneae (Asteraceae) based on chloroplast DNA evidence. Amer. J. Bot. 82: 1567–1573.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ——— & ———. 1995b. Chloroplast DNA variation and the recent radiation of the giant Senecios (Asteraceae) on the tall mountains of Eastern Africa. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 92: 10349–10353.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lane, M. A. 1996. Taxonomy of Gundlachia (Compositae: Astereae). Brittonia 48: 532–541.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lavin, M. & M. Luckow. 1993. Origins and relationships of tropical North America in the context of the boreotropics hypothesis. Amer. J. Bot. 80: 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———, M. F. Wojciechowski, A. Richman, J. Rotella, M. J. Sanderson & A. Beyra-Matos. 2001. Identifying Tertiary radiations of Fabaceae in the Greater Antilles: Alternatives to cladistics vicariance analysis. Int. J. Pl. Sci. 162: S53–S76.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liogier, H. H. 1962. Flora de Cuba, Vol. 5. Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, Puerto Rico.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1996. La flora de la Española VIII. Universidad Central del Este, San Pedro de Macorís, Dominican Republic.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1997. Descriptive flora of Puerto Rico and adjacent islands, Vol. V. Editorial de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, Puerto Rico.

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu, H., J. Trusty, R. Oviedo, A. Anderberg & J. Francisco-Ortega. 2004. Molecular phylogenetics of the Caribbean genera Rhodogeron and Sachsia (Asteraceae). Int. J. Plant Sci. 165: 209–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Loockerman, D. J., B. L. Turner & R. K. Jansen. 2003. Phylogenetic relationships within the Tageteae (Asteraceae) based on nuclear ribosomal ITS and chloroplast ndhF gene sequences. Syst. Bot. 28: 191–207.

    Google Scholar 

  • McMullen, C. 1999. Flowering plants of the Galápagos. Comstock Publishing Associates (Cornell University Press), Ithaca, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mittermeier, R. A., R. Robles Gil, M. Hoffman, J. Pilgrim, T. Brooks, C. G. Mittermeier, J. Lamoreux & G. A. B. da Fonseca (eds.). 2004. Hotspots revisited: Earth’s biologically richest and most threatened terrestrial ecoregions. CEMEX, Mexico DF.

  • Morgan, G. S. & C. A. Woods. 1986. Extinction and the zoogeography of West Indian land mammals. Biol. J. Linn. Soc. 28: 167–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Motley, T. J., K. J. Wurdack & P. G. Delprete. 2005. Molecular systematics of the Catesbaeeae-Chiococceae complex (Rubiaceae): flower and fruit evolution and biogeographic implications. Amer. J. Bot. 92: 316–329.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Namoff, S., H. E. B. Thornton, C. E. Lewis, R. Oviedo & J. Francisco-Ortega. 2007. Molecular evidence for phylogenetic relationships of Jacquemontia reclinata House (Convolvulaceae)—a critically endangered species from south Florida. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 154: 443–454.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, G. & N. I. Platnick. 1981. Systematics and biogeography: cladistics and vicariance. Columbia University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nesom, G. & H. Robinson. 2007. Tribe Astereae Cass. Pp. 284–342 in J. W. Kadereit & C. Jeffrey (eds.), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. VIII. Flowering plants. Eudicots. Asterales. Springer, Berlin, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nordenstam, B. 1978. Taxonomic studies in the tribe Senecioneae (Compositae). Opera Bot. 44: 1–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1996. Jessea gunillae B. Nord. (Compositae, Senecioneae), a new species from Costa Rica. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 118: 147–152.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2006a. Ignurbia, a new genus of the Asteraceae-Senecioneae from Hispaniola. Willdenowia 36 (Special Issue): 463–468.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2006b. New genera and combinations in the Senecioneae of the Greater Antilles. Compositae Newslett. 44: 50–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2007. Tribe Senecioneae Cass. Pp. 208–241 in J. W. Kadereit & C. Jeffrey (eds.), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. VIII. Flowering plants. Eudicots. Asterales. Springer, Berlin, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— & R. Lunden. 2002. Oldfeltia, a new genus of the Compositae-Senecioneae from Cuba. Compositae Newslett. 38: 65–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noyes, R. D. 2000. Biogeographical and evolutionary insights on Erigeron and allies (Asteraceae) from ITS sequence data. Pl. Syst. Evol. 220: 93–114.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Olsen, J. 1986. Revision of Verbesina section Verbesina (Asteraceae: Heliantheae). Brittonia 38: 362–368.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1989. A new species of Verbesina section Verbesinaria from the Dominican Republic. Phytologia 67: 107–108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Panero, J. L. 2007a. Tribe Coreopsideae Lindl. Pp. 406–417 in J. W. Kadereit & C. Jeffrey (eds.), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. VIII. Flowering plants. Eudicots. Asterales. Springer, Berlin, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2007b. Tribe Neurolaeneae Rydb. Pp. 417–420 in J. W. Kadereit & C. Jeffrey (eds.), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. VIII. Flowering plants. Eudicots. Asterales. Springer, Berlin, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2007c. Tribe Tageteae Cass. Pp. 420–431 in J. W. Kadereit & C. Jeffrey (eds.), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. VIII. Flowering plants. Eudicots. Asterales. Springer, Berlin, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2007d. Tribe Heliantheae Cass. Pp. 440–477 in J. W. Kadereit & C. Jeffrey (eds.), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. VIII. Flowering plants. Eudicots. Asterales. Springer, Berlin, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2007e. Tribe Bahieae B. G. Baldwin. Pp. 433–439 in J. W. Kadereit & C. Jeffrey (eds.), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. VIII. Flowering plants. Eudicots. Asterales. Springer, Berlin, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • ——— & R. K. Jansen. 1997. Chloroplast DNA restriction site study of Verbesina (Asteraceae: Heliantheae). Amer. J. Bot. 84: 382–392.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • ———, ——— & J. A. Clevinger. 1999a. Phylogenetic relationships of subtribe Ecliptinae (Asteraceae: Heliantheae) based on chloroplast DNA restriction site data Amer. J. Bot. 86: 413–427.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ———, J. Francisco-Ortega, R. K. Jansen & A. Santos-Guerra. 1999b. Molecular evidence for multiple origins of woodiness and a New World biogeographic connection of the Macaronesian Island endemic Pericallis (Asteraceae: Senecioneae). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 96: 13886–13891.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ——— & V. A. Funk. 2002. Toward a phylogenetic subfamilial classification for the Compositae. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 115: 909–922.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pelser, P. B., B. Gravendeel & R. van der Meijden. 2002. Tackling speciose genera: species composition and phylogenetic position of Senecio sect. Jacobaea (Asteraceae) based on plastid and nrDNA sequences. Amer. J. Bot. 89: 929–939.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez, J. & I. Ventosa. 2002. Biogeographic area relationships of Cuba with the rest of the Neotropical region based on the distributions of genus Gochnatia Kunth. Compositae Newslett. 38: 54–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prede, M. L., P. P. Herrera & F. Cejas. 2000. Actualización de las especies comprendidas en el volumen V de la obra “Flora de Cuba” (1964): Caprifoliaceae a Asteraceae. Acta Bot. Cub. 142: 1–22.

    Google Scholar 

  • Proctor, G. R. 1984. Flora of the Cayman Islands. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rankin, R. & F. Areces 2003. Contribución a la actualización taxonómica y localización geográfica de especies amanazadas y endémicas en Cuba I. Revista Jard. Bot. Nac. Univ. Habana 24: 81–128.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rauscher, J. T. 2002. Molecular phylogenetics of the Espeletia complex (Asteraceae): evidence from nrDNA ITS sequences on the closest relatives of an Andean adaptive radiation. Amer. J. Bot. 89: 1074–1084.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Roalson, E. H., J. K. Boggan, L. E. Skog & E. A. Zimmer. 2005. Untangling Gloxinieae (Gesneriaceae). I. Phylogenetic patterns and generic boundaries inferred from nuclear, chloroplast, and morphological cladistics datasets. Taxon 54: 389–410.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, B. L. & J. M. Greenman 1899. Synopsis of the genus Verbesina, with an analytical key to species. Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 39: 534–566.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robinson, H. 1990. Studies in the Lepidaploa complex (Vernonieae: Asteraceae), VII: the genus Lepidaploa. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 103: 464–498.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1992. A new genus Vernonanthura (Vernonieae, Asteraceae). Phytologia 73: 65–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1998. New species and new combinations of neotropical Eupatorieae (Asteraceae). Phytologia 84: 347–353.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 1999. Generic and subtribal classification of American Vernonieae. Smithsonian Contr. Bot. 89: 1–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • ———. 2007. Tribe Vernonieae Cass. Pp. 149–174 in J. M. Kadereit & C. Jeffrey (eds.), The families and genera of vascular plants, vol. VIII. Flowering plants. Eudicots. Asterales. Springer, Berlin, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, D. E. 1976. A vicariance model of Caribbean biogeography. Syst. Zool. 24: 431–464.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sang, T., D. J. Crawford, S.-C. Kim & T. F. Stuessy. 1994. Radiation of the endemic genus Dendroseris (Asteraceae) on the Juan Fernandez Islands: Evidence from sequences of the ITS regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Amer. J. Bot. 81: 1494–1501.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santiago-Valentín, E. & R. G. Olmstead. 2004. Historical biogeography of Caribbean plants: introduction to current knowledge and possibilities from a phylogenetic perspective. Taxon 53: 299–319.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schilling, E. E., J. L. Panero & P. B. Cox. 1999. Chloroplast DNA restriction site data support a narrowed interpretation of Eupatorium (Asteraceae). Pl. Syst. Evol. 219: 209–223.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt, G. J. & E. E. Schilling 2000. Phylogeny and biogeography of Eupatorium (Asteraceae: Eupatorieae) based on nuclear ITS sequence data Amer. J. Bot. 87: 716–726.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, T. M. 1997. Miocene to Holocene history of Florida. Pp. 1–12 in A. F. Randazzo & D. S. Jones (eds.), The geology of Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, M. L., S. B. Hedges, W. Buck, A. Hemphill, S. Inchaustegui, M. A. Ivie, D. Martina, M. Maunder & J. Francisco-Ortega. 2004. Caribbean Islands. Pp. 112–118 in R. A. Mittermeier, R. Robles Gil, M. Hoffman, J. Pilgrim, T. Brooks, C. G. Mittermeier, J. Lamoreux & G. A. B. da Fonseca (eds.), Hotspots revisited: Earth’s biologically richest and most threatened terrestrial ecoregions. CEMEX, Mexico DF.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tadesse, M. & D. J. Crawford. 2005. Resurrection of the genus Selleophytum (Asteraceae: Coreopsideae). Nord. J. Bot. 24: 161–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Turner, B. L. 1996. The genus Liabum (Asteraceae, Liabeae) in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Phytologia 80: 115–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Urban, L. 1907. Compositarum genera nonnulla. Pp. 212–286 in I. Urban (ed.), Symbolae Antillanae, vol. V. Fratres Borntraeger, Leipzig, Germany.

    Google Scholar 

  • Urbatsch, L. E., R. P. Roberts & V. Karaman. 2003. Phylogenetic evaluation of Xylothamia, Gundlachia, and related genera (Asteraceae, Astereae) based on ETS and ITS nrDNA sequence data. Am. J. Bot. 90: 634–649.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Den Berg, C., W. E. Higgins, R. L. Dressler, W. M. Whitten, M. A. Soto-Arenas, A. Culham & M. W. Chase. 2000. A phylogenetic analysis of Laeliinae (Orchidaceae) based on sequence data from Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Lindleyana 15: 96–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wagstaff, S. J. & I. Breitwieser. 2004. Phylogeny and classification of Brachyglottis (Senecioneae, Asteraceae): An example of a rapid species radiation in New Zealand. Syst. Bot. 29: 1003–1010.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Westermann, J. H. 1953. Nature preservation in the Caribbean. A review of literature on the destruction and preservation of flora and fauna in the Caribbean area. Foundation for Scientific Research in Surinam and the Netherlands Antilles, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

  • Wing, E. S. 2001. Native American use of animals in the Caribbean. Pp. 481–518 in C. A. Woods & F. E. Sergile (eds.), Biogeogrpahy of the West Indies. Patterns and perspectives. 2nd Edition. CRC, Boca Raton, Florida.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wussow, J. R., L. E. Urbatsch & G. A. Sullivan. 1985. Calea (Asteraceae) in Mexico, Central America, and Jamaica. Syst. Bot. 10: 241–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeou-Ruenn, L. 1995. The new world Artemisia L. Pp. 255–281 in D. J. N. Hind, C. Jeffrey & G. V. Pope (eds.), Advances in Compositae systematics. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, England.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We dedicate this paper to Milcíades Mejía, his enthusiasm, hard work, and interest made possible the celebration of the symposium on molecular systematics of Antillean plants during the 9th Latin American Botanical Congress. Attendance to the congress for JFO was supported by travel funds from Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden (FTBG) and the Arts and Science College of Florida International University (FIU). Summer research funds from FTBG supported JFO during 2006–2007. Pedro Acevedo, Bruce Baldwin, Sterling Keeley, Guy Nesom, and Mesfin Tadesse provided valuable information on the taxonomy and distribution of insular Asteraceae worldwide. Christopher Humphries and Dennis Stevenson critically reviewed the manuscript. This is contribution number 143 from the Tropical Biology Program of FIU.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    Javier Francisco-Ortega & Michael Maunder

  2. Center for Tropical Plant Conservation, Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Coral Gables, Miami, FL, 33156, USA

    Javier Francisco-Ortega & Michael Maunder

  3. The Herbarium, Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática, Apartado Postal 8029, 10800, La Habana, Cuba

    Iralys Ventosa, Ramona Oviedo & Pedro Herrera

  4. Jardín Botánico Nacional, Apartado Postal 21-9, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

    Francisco Jiménez

  5. Integrative Biology and Plant Resources Center, The University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA

    José L. Panero

Authors
  1. Javier Francisco-Ortega
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Iralys Ventosa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ramona Oviedo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Francisco Jiménez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Pedro Herrera
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Michael Maunder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. José L. Panero
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Javier Francisco-Ortega.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Francisco-Ortega, J., Ventosa, I., Oviedo, R. et al. Caribbean Island Asteraceae: Systematics, Molecules, and Conservation on a Biodiversity Hotspot. Bot. Rev 74, 112–131 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12229-008-9008-6

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12229-008-9008-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation