Abstract
The revision of theRutaceae into 17 provisional tribes, based primarily on the distribution of secondary metabolites (da Silva & al. 1988) is critically reviewed. In three areas where sufficient phytochemical data is available, i.e. the “proto-Rutaceae”, (provisional tribesZanthoxylum, Phellodendron, Toddalia, andEuodia pro parte), the AfricanToddalioideae sensuEngler, (provisional tribesEuodia pro parte,Acronychia), andClauseneae sensuSwingle, (provisional tribesClausena, Glycosmis, Micromelum, Merrillia), it is shown that the proposals made byda Silva & al. are seriously flawed. It is suggested that for other areas of the family insufficient phytochemical information is available to justify these proposals. In a wider context it is suggested that this approach, based on only one set of characters and on a wholly insufficient data base, is unhelpful to the task of producing a new classification of the family.
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Waterman, P.G. Chemosystematics of theRutaceae: Comments on the interpretation ofda Silva & al.. Pl Syst Evol 173, 39–48 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00937761
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00937761